Professional Orientation (Communication and Media) (10335.4)
Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | On-campus Online real-time |
Bruce, Canberra |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Arts And Design |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| School Of Arts And Communications | Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit | Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905) |
As you begin your Bachelor of Communication and Media, this unit will introduce you to the foundations of academic and professional practice in the field. You will develop core literacies essential for university success, including research, critical reading, and writing for both academic and professional contexts. At the same time, you will begin constructing your professional identity, exploring what it means to be a communication and media professional and developing key professional assets you will continue to refine throughout your degree. You will also examine the diversity of roles within the communication and media industries, considering how evolving social, cultural, and technological trends shape the future of professional practice. By the end of this unit, you will have the skills and confidence to successfully navigate university and start building the foundations of your professional career.
1. Develop an emerging professional identity by assembling draft components for key professional assets;
2. Identify key skills, knowledge and attitudes essential for success in communication and media careers;
3. Develop and apply foundational academic literacies, including research, critical reading, and writing, in both academic and professional contexts; and
4. Produce academic and professional texts that demonstrate an understanding of audience expectations, structure, tone and appropriate conventions.
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Develop an emerging professional identity by assembling draft components for key professional assets;
2. Identify key skills, knowledge and attitudes essential for success in communication and media careers;
3. Develop and apply foundational academic literacies, including research, critical reading, and writing, in both academic and professional contexts; and
4. Produce academic and professional texts that demonstrate an understanding of audience expectations, structure, tone and appropriate conventions.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
Prerequisites
None.Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
10333 Professional Orientation (Arts), 10334 Professional Orientation (Built Environment), 10336 Professional Orientation (Design)Equivalent units
9799 Foundations in Professional PlanningAssumed knowledge
None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 1 | 16 February 2026 | On-campus | Dr Scott Bridges |
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 10 August 2026 | Online real-time | Dr Scott Bridges |
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit
timetable.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
