Program Overview

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Introduction to Communication and Social Change

The Communication and Social Change major focuses on key concepts and strategies for understanding and practising social change communication. It includes topics like social change and development, social change activism, and the efficacy of social change platforms, including art, film, and social media.

Subject Overview

As well as engaging with various concepts, students will learn to apply them to real-world examples. The program covers everything from climate change to campaigns for gender equality, indigenous rights, and poverty alleviation. Courses in the Communication and Social Change major are designed to provide a balance between understanding the key theories used to analyse social change communication and building effective and progressive social change messages.

What You Gain from the Communication and Social Change Major

A Bachelor of Communication, with a major in Communication and Social Change, will equip students for a wide range of careers. These include mainstream and alternative media writing and production; communication work for charity, non-profit, or community organisations; and advocacy and strategic communication design in government and policymaking roles.

The essential skills students will pick up include:

• Critical analysis
• Clear and impactful writing and expression
• Agile use of various communication tools and techniques

These skills are honed through different kinds of assessments, including:

• Multimodal manifesto design
• Deconstructing successful social change campaigns
• Building creative portfolios focusing on contemporary issues

Structuring Your Major in Communication and Social Change

Communication and Social Change is a major in the Bachelor of Communication. Students will need to pass at least 120 points (eight courses) towards the major.

Students must pass the following courses as part of their major:

• Two courses: COMMS 212, 313
• One course from: ENV 102, GENDER 101, POLITICS 106, SOCIOL 100
• Two courses from: COMMS 213, KOREAN 203, MEDIA 231, PHIL 225, POLITICS 222, 229, SOCIOL 210, 217, 229
• Three courses from: COMMS 304, 312, 314, 315, 316, 318, GENDER 301, KOREAN 303, MEDIA 332, PHIL 345, POLITICS 313, SOCIOL 333

Courses

Students can explore the available courses they can take. Normally, Stage I courses are taken in the first year, Stage II in the second, and Stage III in the third.

Core Courses

• Semester 1, 2026: COMMS 100, DRAMA 100, LINGUIST 100, SCIGEN 101
• Semester 2, 2026: COMMS 101, COMMS 106, PHIL 104, LINGUIST 100, 101, SCIGEN 101
• Stage II: COMMS 207, COMMS 209, CRIM 205
• Stage II: COMMS 210, LINGUIST 203
• Stage III: COMMS 307*, COMMS 321, COMMS 323
• Stage III: COMMS 308, SPORT 305

*Please note this is an internship course that will require students to go through the application process.

Courses for the Communication and Social Change Major Requirements

• Stage I: POLITICS 106, SOCIOL 100, ENV 102
• Stage I: GENDER 101, ENV 102
• Stage II: COMMS 213, KOREAN 203
• Stage II: COMMS 212, PHIL 225, POLITICS 222, SOCIOL 229
• Stage III: COMMS 315, KOREAN 303
• Stage III: COMMS 312, COMMS 313, COMMS 318, PHIL 345, SOCIOL 333

Help and Advice

The friendly Student Hub staff will provide advice on planning a degree and enrolling in courses. For more information about studying Communication and Social Change, students can contact the Undergraduate Adviser.

Discussing the Bachelor of Communication

Professor Luke Goode and Dr Bingjuan Xiong discuss the BC and what students can look forward to studying.

Explore Your Study Options in Communication and Social Change

Undergraduate Study

• Bachelor of Communication

Related Subjects

• Modules
• Communication and Technology
• Communication in Leadership

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