Public Communication

These courses are focused on developing the professional communication skills and strategies required for a career in public relations or advertising, fields which are converging into a new, broader and more challenging future. Students explore the communication contexts for these practices - cultural, social and political, and develop their professional skills in campaign design and production, copywriting, media liaison and writing, research and evaluation, sponsorship and event management.

Our courses teaching staff are communication professionals who have a wealth of practical knowledge and expertise.

We aim to challenge our students to think critically and independently within the framework of ethical and responsible communication.

The courses are accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Australia (opens an external site) and the International Advertising Association (opens an external site), and are also endorsed by the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) (opens an external site) and the Media Federation of Australia (opens an external site).

UTS: Communication offers outstanding public communication graduates from any university the opportunity to pursue advanced work in the area by completing a separate one-year, full-time honours course.

UTS: Communication also offers postgraduate coursework in communication management.

Undergraduate courses

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication) (C10248v1)

Combined courses

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication) and in International Studies (C10254v1)
Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication) Bachelor of Laws (C10261v1)

Why public communication at UTS?

• Students use real clients and case studies to develop their understanding and professional skills; and actively engage with industry by undertaking internships, and entering industry competitions (eg UTS students won the International Advertising Associations 'Big Idea' competition in 2008).
• Our lecturers and tutors have strong backgrounds in professional practice as well as their academic credentials, with several of our staff well-known industry leaders;
  • Dr Jim Macnamara is a former President of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and an internationally recognised authority on media and communication research. He was appointed Professor of Public Communication at UTS in 2007. He has a 30-year career spanning journalism, public relations, advertising and media research;
  • Other well-known academic staff with substantial industry experience are: Jannet Pendleton, Mai Hansford and Vicki Bamford. Their professional experience spans consultancy, government, not-for-profit and corporate communication.
  • Our advertising staff include: Dr Martin Williams, co-founder and head of Cartwright Williams one of Australia's leading direct marketing agencies, Ruth Spence-Stone, co-author of the Australasian edition of Advertising Principles and Practice, and Dr Robert Crawford author of "A History of Australia's Advertising Industry".
• We involve industry leaders as guest lecturers, and as members on the advisory board of our Australian Centre for Public Communication including; Simon Reynolds, Michael Newman and Michelle Hutton.
• The public communication undergraduate major is accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the International Advertising Association provides a diploma in marketing communications to students with an agreed pattern of subjects.

What students say

Find out from:

• Natalie Greaves, Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication)
• Sonja Bertrand, Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication)
• Noeline Bautista, Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication) and in International Studies
• Eimear Elkington, Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication), Graduate
• Peter Harrison, Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication), Graduate
• Laura Glendinning, Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Communication) and in International Studies, Graduate
• Ingo Stefes, Exchange student

Careers

Graduates work as communication strategists, public relations consultants, advertising executives, media liaison officers, event coordinators, publicity officers, political media advisers, advertising copywriters, community relations managers, and marketing communication specialists.