A6030 Master of Strategic Communications Management

The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Foundation studies, Part B. Strategic Communication reach and focus, Part C Collaboration and Innovation and Part D Elective Clusters. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A or Part D or both. Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundation Studies (12 credit points)

These studies provide you with an introduction to strategic communications management.

Part B. Core Study: Strategic Communication reach and focus (36 points)

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of strategic communications studies practice and research to further students understanding of strategic communications management both locally and globally. Studies focus on the challenges posed and how communication management can play a key role in influencing and ensuring globalisation and increasing levels of cross-cultural exchange.

Part C. Collaboration and Innovation (24 credit points)

As tomorrow’s leaders, our students will develop a suite of transferable professional skills to respond effectively to pressing strategic communications issues. Students will learn the skills to engage necessary stakeholders to allow them to effectively formulate, influence and evaluate communication practices in a variety of professional contexts. The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. Students will have the skills to work together to analyse and, identify best practices and understand and evaluate their transferability, and develop innovative and impactful solutions with real world applications.

Part D: Advanced Expertise: Elective Streams (24 credit points) 

Elective cluster units enable students to further their knowledge of their chosen focus, or strategic communication management more broadly. 

Master's entry points

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 credit points, comprising Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part B, Part C and Part D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part B. and one capstone unit in Part C.

Note 1: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one the higher credit-point options.

Note 2:  If you are admitted to the course at entry level 2 you complete 12 credit points only in Part D. 

Course progression maps

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

If you are eligible to enroll in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Foundations studies (12 points), Part B. Strategic communication reach and focus (36 points), Part C. Collaboration and Innovation (24 points) and Part D. Elective Clusters (24 points).

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 points, comprising Part B, Part C and Part D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 points, comprising Part B. and one capstone unit in Part C.

Note 1: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one the higher credit-point options.

Note 2:  Students admitted to the course at entry level 2 complete 12 points only in Part D. Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated

Part A Foundation study (12 points)

You must complete:

a. The following unit (6 points)

• APG5365 Principles of global communications 

b. One unit (6 points) from the units listed below:

• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams 
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments 

Part B Strategic Communications reach and focus  (36 points)

You must complete the following units: 

• APG5366 Strategic communications in a digital era

• APG5367 Campaigns, advocacy and change 

• APG5373  Engaging audiences 

• APG5374 Data analytics in communications 

• APG5380 Public relations in a global context 

• APG5381 Crisis communications and issues management 

Part C: Collaboration and Innovation (24 points)

You must complete either (a. and b.) or (c.) or (d.):

a. One capstone unit from the units listed below (12 points):

• APG5044 Professional Internship 
• APG5369 Industry communications field school 
• APG5742 Industry Project
• APG5856 Research Project

b. One or two discipline elective units (12 points) from Part D. (Option 1)

OR

c. Two capstone units (24 points) from the list above.

OR

d. The following research unit/s (24 points):

• APG5849 Research thesis A and APG5084 Designing research
• APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points)

Note: Students who wish to complete the 24 point research thesis should consult with the course coordinator.

Part D: Advanced Expertise: Elective Streams (24 points)

You complete one area in which to specialise from the list below or complete the required points under the general studies stream. 

If you are admitted to the course at entry level 2 complete 12 points only.

You must complete either Option 1 or 2, or a combination of both.

Option 1

Discipline Electives

Elective units (24 points) from the following:

Public policy and political communication

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy 
• APG5180 Strategic political leadership and communication 
• APG5103 Policy analysis and evaluation 
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy 
• MPH5260 Health policy and prevention in a global world 

Communication for social change and development

• APG5428 Environmental governance and citizenship 

• APG5628 Deconstructing development (12 points)
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world (12 points)
• APG5045 Gender and development (12 points)
• APG5092 Human rights in global politics (12 points)
• APG5073 Conflict, security and development (12 points)
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development (12 points)
• APG5140 Guiding principles for professionals engaged in disasters and humanitarian crises (12 points)
• ENS5510 Processes to influence change 
• ENS5520 Understanding human behaviour to influence change 
• ENS5020 Perspectives on sustainability
• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management 

Health communication

• APG5081 Public health ethics (12 points)
• MPH5002 Foundations of health promotion and program planning 
• MPH5022 Evaluating public health programs 
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy 
• MPH5260 Health policy and prevention in a global world 
• MPH5248 Primary health care and global health 
• MPH5250 Women's and children's health: A global perspective 
• MPH5255 Health and human rights 

Sport communications management  

• APG5566 Strategic events management (12 points)
• MKF5601 Social media marketing 
• MKF5926 Integrated marketing communication 

Management, leadership and entrepreneurship

• APG5104 Public management 
• APG5433 Corporate sustainability management 

• MGF5020 Business ethics in a global environment 
• MKF5601 Social media marketing 
• MKF5926 Integrated marketing communication 
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development (12 points)
• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management 
• ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development 

General studies

This enables you  to tailor unit choices to suit your own interests or needs and may include one or more additional capstone units from Part C of the program.

Option 2

Complimentary Electives
Up to 24 points of approved units from the following Arts Graduate coursework programs. All units are available unless marked with an asterisk (*)
These units must be selected from Core Master's study and/or Advanced expertise in the following programs.

• A6001 - Master of Applied Linguistics
• A6002 - Master of Bioethics
• A6006 - Master of International Development Practice
• A6004 - Master of Cultural and Creative Industries
• A6008 - Master of Journalism
• A6009 - Master of Tourism
• A6010 - Master of International Relations
• A6012 - Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management
• A6028 - Master of Public Policy