Bachelor of Media and Communication/ Bachelor of Business
with majors in Advertising and Finance – Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Selected major: Advertising
Gain vital knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the complex and creative world of advertising. Explore effective design and strategy, as well as advertising development, implementation and evaluation. Learn how to design advertisements that not only please clients but achieve the ultimate purpose of reaching the audience in the desired way.
Selected major: Finance
Take this major if you're interested in a career in investment banking, financial consultancy, asset management, financial securities, trading stocks and brokerage.
In this CFA-affiliated finance program, you'll develop a deep knowledge of finance, ethics, financial technologies, and financial markets.
Learn to analyse and assess financial forecasts and the value of companies, identify and manage risk, investigate investment opportunities, and drill down to work out the real value of assets like shares and bonds.
The strong industry links in this major will help prepare you for your career, including getting to know a variety of relevant financial technologies used in the industry to analyse financial data.
The Bachelor of Business with a major in Finance incorporates at least 70 per cent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, emphasising the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Completing this will position you well towards obtaining the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, one of the world's most respected and recognised investment credentials.
Majors for Bachelor of Media and Communication:
AdvertisingCinema and Screen StudiesCreative Writing and LiteratureDigital Advertising TechnologyJournalismMedia Industries Professional Writing and EditingPublic RelationsSocial MediaMajors for Bachelor of Business:
AccountingBusiness AdministrationBusiness Analytics and AnalysisEntrepreneurship and InnovationFinanceFinancial PlanningHuman Resource ManagementLogistics and Supply Chain ManagementManagementMarketingSports ManagementThe Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Business equips students with knowledge and skills essential for a career that encompasses the challenging and dynamic area of media and communication and the business sector.
You'll learn how to think critically and to develop problem-solving skills, research issues and analyse information. Gain an understanding of media and media production, public relations and the impact of design on these specialised areas of communication.
Work Integrated Learning is a guaranteed part of all our bachelor degrees. In this double degree, in a Media and Communications Project relevant to your major study area, and an Industry Consulting Project (BUS30009), you'll have the opportunity to apply your learning in professionally focused, industry-linked projects.
Start dates
Hawthorn campus
- Semester 1 - 26 February 2024
- Semester 2 - 29 July 2024
VTAC codes
- 3400210861 (CSP)
- 3400210863 (IFP)
Professional Placement Experience
In her double degree, Natalie chose majors in Advertising, and Marketing. Her professional placement with Bendigo Bank gave her a taste of life as a marketing professional and allowed her to put her past three years of study in these areas into practice. She became a stronger strategic decision-maker and successfully built a network. Her professional placement has, as she describes it, formed the highlight of her studies.
Jet-setting your way through uni
From an internship in Barcelona to a study tour in America, Melissa Charalambous has nailed making the most out of her university experience.
Now, she's interned at Zoos Victoria and has also scored a position in a Melbourne marketing agency. By travelling abroad, Melissa has been given amazing opportunities at home.
Course details
- Course structure, work integrated learning, career opportunities and professional recognition.
Course structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Media and Communication/ Bachelor of Business requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
View course rules and special requirements
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Information for Decision Making | ACC10007 | 12.5 |
| Innovative Business Practice 1 | BUS10012 | 12.5 |
| Professional Communication Practice | COM10007 | 12.5 |
| Economics for Business Decision Making | ECO10005 | 12.5 |
| Business Digitalisation | INF10024 | 12.5 |
| Media Content Creation | JOU10007 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Media Studies | MDA10001 | 12.5 |
| Global Media Industries | MDA10008 | 12.5 |
| Contemporary Management Principles | MGT10009 | 12.5 |
| Marketing and the Consumer Experience | MKT10009 | 12.5 |
| Sustainable Business Practice * | BUS30031 | 12.5 |
| Industry Consulting Project * | BUS30032 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
Selected major: Advertising
Gain vital knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the complex and creative world of advertising. Explore effective design and strategy, as well as advertising development, implementation and evaluation. Learn how to design advertisements that not only please clients but achieve the ultimate purpose of reaching the audience in the desired way.
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Principles of Advertising | ADV10001 | 12.5 |
| Advertising Issues: Regulation, Ethics & Cultural Considerations * | ADV20001 | 12.5 |
| Concept Development and Copywriting | ADV20002 | 12.5 |
| Business of Media | MDA20001 | 12.5 |
| Sports/Advertising/Media | MDA20011 | 12.5 |
| Advertising, Media Planning and Purchasing * | ADV30001 | 12.5 |
| Advertising Management and Campaigns Project * | ADV30002 | 12.5 |
| Professional Practice: Client and Agency Management * | COM30002 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
Selected major: Finance
Take this major if you're interested in a career in investment banking, financial consultancy, asset management, financial securities, trading stocks and brokerage.
In this CFA-affiliated finance program, you'll develop a deep knowledge of finance, ethics, financial technologies, and financial markets.
Learn to analyse and assess financial forecasts and the value of companies, identify and manage risk, investigate investment opportunities, and drill down to work out the real value of assets like shares and bonds.
The strong industry links in this major will help prepare you for your career, including getting to know a variety of relevant financial technologies used in the industry to analyse financial data.
The Bachelor of Business with a major in Finance incorporates at least 70 per cent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, emphasising the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Completing this will position you well towards obtaining the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, one of the world's most respected and recognised investment credentials.
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Statistics | FIN10002 | 12.5 |
| Financial Management | FIN20014 | 12.5 |
| Ethics and International Finance | FIN20016 | 12.5 |
| Finance Law | LAW20045 | 12.5 |
| Financial Risk Management * | FIN30014 | 12.5 |
| Management of Investment Portfolios * | FIN30016 | 12.5 |
| Alternative Investments * | FIN30020 | 12.5 |
| Fixed Income and Debt Markets * | FIN30021 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
Other studies
4 units (50 credit points)
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
Work Integrated Learning
Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning program provides additional opportunities for you to gain valuable skills and real industry experience in the form of placements, internships or study tours - all while earning credit towards your degree.
Choose a Work Integrated Learning option:
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement co-major has four 25 credit point units.
Professional Placement in Business
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A | BUS20010 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B | BUS20011 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Media and Communication
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication | MDA20016 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B - Media and Communication | MDA20017 | 25 |
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 6 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement minor has two 25 credit point units.
Professional Placement in Business
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Business | BUS20010 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Media and Communication
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication | MDA20016 | 25 |
A Professional Internship is all about gaining valuable real-world skills in your area of study all while earning credit points towards your degree. Plus, it looks great on your CV as it shows you’ve had real industry experience before you’ve even graduated!
You might choose to complete your internship part-time over a semester or in a more intensive block during Summer or Winter terms.
Travel overseas, discover other cultures, enrich your professional experience and enhance your CV all while gaining credit towards your course.
- Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
- Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
- One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
- See the course planner for an example degree structure
Course learning outcomes
Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Media and Communication / Bachelor of Business, graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge, conceptual understanding, technical skills and expertise in the broad field of media and communication
- formulate arguments that draw on and critique the differences between relevant theories and evidence as they pertain to the field of media and communication
- exercise initiative and judgement in planning, problem-solving and decision-making in professional practice and/or scholarship, individually and in collaboration with others
- demonstrate critical analysis, creativity and problem-solving in relation to a range of media and communication activities and processes
- recognise and reflect on social, cultural, legal and ethical issues relating to media and communication industries in local and international contexts
- apply a broad understanding of an audience through interpreting and communicating ideas, problems and arguments in a range of media and communication contexts and formats, using the English language
- reflect critically on their performance and/or scholarship and use this to improve their own creative and productive outcomes
- apply research methodology relevant to the field of media and communication
- define and integrate theoretical principles applicable to business and apply those principles in a range of practices
- systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources in order to make informed judgements on options for innovatively solving a range of problems that arise in business contexts
- formulate creative solutions that are fit for purpose and demonstrate cognisance of the impact of business decisions on the triple bottom line
- coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas
- communicate a range of business arguments by evaluating and implementing alternative communication strategies as appropriate to the audience
- build on and continuously develop the intellectual independence to be critical and reflective learners, cognisant of new technologies
- work collaboratively in diverse groups.
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Media and Communication / Bachelor of Business provides students with unique skills and knowledge to pursue careers in a wide variety of industries.
Professional recognition
The Finance major, in the Bachelor of Business and related double degrees, is recognised under the CFA Institute Affiliated University. The course covers at least 70% of Level 1 of the CFA program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice. This recognition signals to students, employers and the marketplace that that Swinburne’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing you for employment in the finance and investment industry, and for sitting the CFA examination. Students of the Finance major may be eligible for CFA Program Student Scholarships.
Fees
Find out more about fees.
AACSB Accreditation
Swinburne business degrees are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. The alumni of AACSB accredited business schools are among the world’s most influential leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs impacting business, government, and non-profit sectors. Only five per cent of business schools worldwide are AACSB accredited.
Scholarships
At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students.
How to enter this course
- Entry requirements, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
How to apply
Find out more about how to apply.
View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.