Master of Communication

2021 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2021 course information
Award granted	Master of Communication
Course Map	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021. Option A Option B These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021. Option A Option B These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2021. Option A Option B Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	2-years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	084000E Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course code	A743
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The media and communications landscape is ever-changing, frequently in a state of flux. Future-proof your communications career – advance your current skill-set, delve into contemporary research and develop the critical knowledge required to become a leader in this rapidly evolving industry.

Ready to become a highly sought-after, communications practitioner with thoroughly honed strategic and problem-solving skills?

With unprecedented advancement in technology and the increasing globalisation of business enterprises, strategic communication and critical thinking skills are a highly-valued, modern day commodity. Deakin’s Master of Communication will place you ahead of the game and empower you to thrive in roles that influence and shape opinion.

Tailor your degree to your career goals – specialise in journalism, television production, public relations, digital media or visual communication design, with complementary electives. Enjoy a flexible, supported and stimulating learning environment, while collaborating with like-minded students, including those already working in industry. Learn from experienced staff and experts in the field, who ensure our course content stays up-to-date with the latest technological advances, industry demands and market conditions.

Explore theoretical concepts and frameworks and learn how to apply them in a practical setting. With internship and work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities available, you can enhance your employment capabilities while expanding your professional networks.

As part of a professional capstone program, you’ll undertake a research project designed for an industry or scholarly audience under the guidance of academic supervision.

Whether you’re looking to upskill, change roles or challenge yourself in a new discipline, you’ll graduate as a holistic and reflexive communications practitioner well-prepared for the inevitable industry advances, challenges and opportunities yet to come.

Professional recognition

Students specialising in public relations may qualify for accredited membership of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) by completing 6 credit points of ALR-coded units in addition to their PR-related research project.

Career opportunities

Now more than ever is a great time to be in the media and communications industry. From media agencies and newsrooms, to publications, community relations and government organisations, anywhere in the world – the career opportunities are vast.

Our Master of Communication prepares you for roles such as:

public relations specialist
investigative journalist
corporate affairs director
media adviser
communications consultant
technical writer
visual designer
social media manager.

For more information go to 'DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Communication (A539)
Graduate Diploma of Communication (A639)
Graduate Diploma of Digital Media (A634)
Graduate Diploma of Journalism (A649)
Graduate Diploma of Public Relations (A643)
Graduate Diploma of Visual Communication Design (A638)

Research information

Students will undertake a capstone research design and preparation unit worth one-credit-point, resulting in the completion of a professional practice-focused project for an industry audience. An academic research project (scholarly thesis) option is also available. Students who undertake the academic research project may be eligible to apply for future PhD study.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Acquire advanced and integrated understanding of one or more complex knowledge domains relating to professional communication. Demonstrate expert knowledge and specialist skills in contemporary communication methods, and their application in one or more specialist areas of communication including Journalism, Public Relations, Digital Media, Television Production and Visual Communication Design and in scholarly contexts.
Communication	Use specialist cognitive and technical skills in communicating ideas, problems and arguments in a variety of modes across a range of specialist areas of communication and in scholarly research.
Digital literacy	Acquire specialist skills in generic and specific digital technologies used to address a range of communication needs in research and professional contexts and for diverse audiences within and outside the communications industries.
Critical thinking	Acquire expert cognitive skills in the analysis and critical evaluation of communications theory and its application in professional practice and scholarship. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate complex ideas, develop appropriate methodologies and communicate conclusions in the context of professional decision-making and scholarship.
Problem solving	Use expert and specialised knowledge of and skills in communications to identify, investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems and concepts and develop creative solutions in professional practice and scholarly contexts.
Self-management	Employ high level autonomy, accountability and initiative in responding creatively to new situations in professional practice and/or in the completion of a substantial research-based project.
Teamwork	Demonstrate initiative and accountability in working and learning collaboratively in professional communications practice and scholarly contexts.
Global citizenship	Acquire high-level understanding and the ability to reflect on issues in communications in both domestic and global contexts as a scholar and in professional practice, taking into consideration cultural and socio economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards.
Approved by Faculty Board November 2017

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Master of Communication, students must successfully complete 16 credit points of study comprising:

AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit) plus;

Core Communication Program (4 credit points)

Students must complete a common foundation program in contemporary professional communication focusing on key communication concepts and applied research methods, studying these two units in the first year of study:

ACX701 Communication Concepts (2 credit points)
ACX702 Applied Research Methods for Communication (2 credit points)

Specialisation (8 credit points)

Students must complete 8 credit points from one specialisation, to provide in-depth knowledge and professional expertise in a sub-field of communication, completing both of the following:

four one-credit-point specialisation-specific units selected from one only of five specialisations (Digital Media; Journalism; Public Relations; Television Production; or Visual Communication Design); and
a four-credit-point professional capstone program including a mandatory research project whose topic is relevant to that specialisation

Electives (4 credit points)

Students select 4 credit points of electives from any specialisation in the course to create a distinctive degree to advance their professional careers and/or extend their academic knowledge in related areas. Students may complete up to two electives from any equivalent postgraduate course at Deakin University.

Students seeking course-accredited PRIA membership for their degree must complete at least two credit points of electives using ALR-coded units, unless advised otherwise.

Specialisations

Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.

Digital Media

Journalism

Public Relations

Television Production (Burwood campus only)

Visual Communication Design

Core units

ACX701

Communication Concepts (2 credit points)

ACX702

Applied Research Methods for Communication (2 credit points)

Professional capstone program

Students will either take Option A or Option B noting that Option B requires approval of the Course Director; most students will normally complete Option A

Option A

ACX703 Developing a Communication Research Project
ACX707 Professional Research Project 1
ACX708 Professional Research Project 2
ACC700 Communication and Creative Arts Internship

Or an elective related to the research project where no appropriate internship is available

Option B

(Only by approval of Course Director, achievement of a Distinction or higher average in previous coursework including ACX703, and agreement of supervisor)

ACX703 Developing a Communication Research Project
ACX704 Academic Research Project 1
ACX705 Academic Research Project 2
ACX706 Academic Research Project 3

Work experience

Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

Details of specialisations

Journalism

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Cloud (online)

Units

Select four units from the following list as well as the 4-unit professional capstone option:

ACC717

Law, Media and Communication

ALJ710

Multimedia Journalism

ALJ712

Broadcast Journalism

ALJ721

International News

ALJ722

Investigative and Narrative Journalism

ALJ728

Feature Writing

ALJ729

Newsroom Practice

Details of specialisations

Digital Media

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Cloud (online)

Units

Select four units from the following list as well as the 4-unit professional capstone option:

ACC717

Law, Media and Communication

ACG706

Designing for Web Environments

ACI700

Introduction to Digital Photography

ALC701

Social Media Collaboration

ALC702

Making Sense of Communities Online

ALC703

Digital Curation

ALC708

Social Media Content Creation

ALR703

Digital Marketing

Public Relations

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Cloud (online)

Units

Select four units from the following list as well as the 4-unit professional capstone option:

ALR700

Public Relations Campaigns

ALR701

Public Relations Writing and Tactics

ALR704

Reputation Management: Crisis, Risk and Responsibility

ALR710

Marketing Communication

ALR718

Public Relations, Activism and Social Change

ALR731

Public Relations Theory and Practice (this unit will not be available in 2022)

ALR733

Advertising Theory and Practice

ALR782

Public Affairs and Opinion Formation

Note: Students wishing to qualify for course-accredited membership of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) must select at least 6 credit points of ALR-coded units and complete their capstone project on a public relations-related topic.

ALR733

Advertising Theory and Practice

ALR782

Public Affairs and Opinion Formation

ALR733

Advertising Theory and Practice

ALR782

Public Affairs and Opinion Formation

ALR733

Advertising Theory and Practice

ALR782

Public Affairs and Opinion Formation

Television Production*

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne)

Units

Select four units from the following list as well as the 4-unit professional capstone option:

ACA715

Creating Your Arts Business (this unit replaces ACF703 from 2022)

ACF700

Writing with the Camera

ACF701

Television Studio Production

ACF702

Television Commercial Production

ACF705

Documentary Production Practice

*Note: Students seeking to undertake the Television Production specialisation please discuss unit selection with the Course Director for appropriate course mapping advice and approvals.