Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media)

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media)
Deakin course code	D354
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Campus	Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online. For students who commenced prior to 2023 only
Duration	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS code	104738D Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Students and Applicants to Geelong Waterfront Campus Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined degree. The Bachelor of Commerce degree will be taught at Waterfront campus and the Bachelor of Communications (Digital Media) degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus.
The final intake for this course was Trimester 3 2022. Continuing students should discuss unit selections with their enrolment officer and refer to the Handbook Archives for their course structure.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin's Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media) is designed to meet the needs of an increasingly online world.

Learn to think more critically as you gain a strong foundation in all aspects of commerce at Deakin's world class business school. Your commerce degree will arm you with versatile skills that prepare you for the commercial roles of the future. At the same time, learn to produce real-world digital and social media content through your complementary communication (digital media) degree. Both degrees offer opportunities to get involved in hands-on learning including overseas study tours, international and domestic internships, work placements and exchanges. Graduate with two sought-after skills sets and get ready for an exciting career in your chosen field.

Want versatile, job-ready skills in both commerce and communication (digital media)?

In this double degree, you will study a range of topics across both areas. Develop your business knowledge through one of our commerce majors:

accounting
economics
finance
financial planning
human resources management
management
management information systems
marketing.

At the same time, explore the complementary communication (digital media) component. You will gain an understanding of the function and influence of communications industries locally and globally, learning practical skills in social media content creation, podcasting, website creation, video production and more. With an emphasis on emerging technologies and real-world learning, you'll explore themes like:

how to build social media identities
engaging audiences with podcasts and videos
how to run crowdfunding campaigns
how to become a digital media entrepreneur
how to manage social media in organisations.

Because your teachers are active in their fields, you'll enjoy a classroom that is innovative, contemporary and provides industry expertise. Plus, you will have the chance to grow your connections through their professional networks.

Indicative student workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School is in the top 1% of business schools globally by holding both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide.

Depending on the major sequence you choose, your Bachelor of Commerce component may give you eligibility for a range of professional memberships and accreditations.

Students who complete the accounting major sequence are eligible to apply for:

the CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)
Associate membership for the CPA Program
IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Students who complete the marketing major sequence are eligible for a one-year credit reduction from the five years needed to become a Certified Practicing Marketer by the Australian Marketing Institute (AIM).

Students who complete the financial planning major sequence will satisfy the education standards prescribed by the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) to be able to provide financial advice in Australia and be eligible for entry into the certification programs of the professional financial planning associations – the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Certification Program offered by the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner designation offered by the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA).

Commerce graduates may also be eligible to apply for membership to these key professional bodies (depending on units taken):
* Australian HR Institute (AHRI)
* Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML)
* Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)

Students should consult with a course adviser to identify any additional requirements for membership for each professional body, and also consult with the professional body.

Career opportunities

As a Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media) graduate, you’ll be ready for a variety of career opportunities including:

accountant
economist
financial planner
human resource manager
marketing manager
account manager
content producer/digital producer
social media officer/coordinator
media assistant/officer/advisor
community engagement officer/coordinator
marketing analyst/coordinator
various social media specialist freelance work.

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

Bachelor of Commerce (M300)
Diploma of Business Studies (M201)

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce (M300)	Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Communications (Digital Media) (A333)
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply a broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of commerce and its applications	Review, understand and analyse major media theories and concepts relating to digital media culture, technological innovation, research methods, and professional practices in digital industry contexts.
Communication	Communicate commerce concepts and information effectively including in oral, written and visual forms in a cohesive and understandable manner to academic audiences, business professionals and laypersons	Develop high level communication skills to effectively engage and interact with different audiences by demonstrating the ability to merge creativity and critical thinking across various media modes.
Digital literacy	Use technologies to identify, locate, evaluate, synthesise and disseminate and communicate information in the field of commerce	Use a range of generic and industry specific digital media technologies to address diverse communication needs for a range of audiences and to deliver creative projects, media products, and accessible presentations to diverse audiences within and outside the field.
Critical thinking	Evaluate and critically analyse academic, professional and business information and values	Critically and analytically evaluate media issues, debates, organisations, and industries and practices, while using sound judgement and initiative to examine assumptions underpinning available theoretical perspectives
Problem solving	Identify solutions to a diverse range of authentic problems in commerce	Apply critical thinking and creative practice to identify and resolve practical, real-world problems that apply to professional media industry contexts.
Self-management	Take personal responsibility for actions, self-reflect and critique own performance and identify and plan future professional development	Demonstrate independent, motivated, and self-directed learning and the ability to complete work consistently and effectively as an independent researcher and practitioner.
Teamwork	Interact and collaborate with others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds	Collaborate in an active and productive manner as part of teams that may include people of diverse backgrounds working on media-related projects, while simultaneously maintaining personal responsibility for individual learning and contributions.
Global citizenship	Engage effectively in different environments and contexts reflecting social, sustainable, ethical, economic, and global perspectives in the field of commerce	Operate effectively and responsibly in a variety of social, economic, political and professional contexts, participating across a range of media platforms with an awareness of professional legal and ethical responsibilities.

Approved by Faculty Board

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media) students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period

16 credit points from the Bachelor of Commerce include:

8 credit points of core units
1 major (8 credit points)
a minimum of 4 credit points of Faculty of Business and Law units at level 3

16 credit points from the Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media) include:

12 credit points of core units
4 credit points of course electives from specified lists

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University's vocabulary.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin [replaces MAI010]

Core units

Bachelor of Commerce -

MAA103

Accounting for Decision Making

MAE101

Economic Principles

MAF101

Fundamentals of Finance

MIS171

Business Analytics

MLC101

Law for Commerce

MMK101

Marketing Fundamentals

MMM132

Management

MWL101

Professional Insight

Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media) -

Level 1

ACC100

Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: Communication in Everyday Life

ALM101

Making Social Media

ALM102

Making Video

Level 2

ACC213

Dilemmas, Defamation, Deception and Disinformation

ALM201

Gamified Media

ALM202

Quantified Media

ALM215

Global Media

Level 3

ACC320 Communication Internship A: Placement [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit AWL300]

ACC321 Communication Internship B: Career Development [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit AWL302]

ALC302 Digital Medial Entrepreneurship (2 credit points) [No longer available for enrolment, replacement units ALM302 and ACC302]

ALM305

Media Ecologies

Course Electives

Complete 2 credit points of course electives from level 1 (List A)

ADT103

UX Fundamentals [replaces ACG103]

ALA101

Advertising Principles and Practices

ALA102

Creative Brand Communication

ALJ111

Introduction to Journalism

ALJ112

News Reporting

ALR103

Introduction to Public Relations

ALR104

Strategic Communication and Writing

Either

IND101

Introduction to Aboriginal Studies

IND102

Aboriginal Australian Stories and Songlines

Complete 2 credit points of course electives from level 2/3 (List B):

ACF202 Documentary Production [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit TBC]

MIS203

Managing Information in the Digital Age

ACC302

Advertising: Desire, Consumption and the Attention Economy

ALA302

Transmedia Storytelling for Brands

ALM216

Social Media Strategy [replaces ACC303]

ALR376

Ethics, Persuasion and Society

Either

IND203

Caring for Country

IND301

Politics of Resistance in Indigenous Australia

ACG103 Design Skills [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit ADT103]

ACC303 Communication Research Practices [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit ALM216]

ADV201 Web Design and Interactivity [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit ADT202]

Majors

Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
All students in the Bachelor of Commerce are required to complete at least one major sequence chosen from the following:

^ These majors are the recommended pathway to qualify for membership of professional organisations.

*Offer offered to continuing students only

Work experience

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

Other course information

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose 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.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as photocopying or travel.