Corporate and Public Communication Foundations (11103.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Corporate and Public Communication Foundations
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 UC College, Bruce, ACT
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)
This unit examines the characteristics of the aligned industries of public relations, corporate and strategic communication and public affairs and how they support the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. You explore the fundamental theories underpinning these industries and their relationships with society and political and economic institutions; you are introduced to the core skills needed by professionals across a range of contexts and will master the core principles of clear communication through visual and written language.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Analyse the basic theoretical paradigms that govern modern corporate and public communication practice and explore how they might fit within diverse political, cultural and social contexts;
2. Understand and apply core principles of writing and developing content for different formats; and
3. Explore the relevance of various ethical and moral codes to the ethos and practice of professional communication, including equality of voice and access, social and civic responsibility.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
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 - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
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 - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
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 - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
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

None.

Equivalent units

9363 Principles of Public Relations.

Assumed 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
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Miss Swarali Sidhaye
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Ms Prue Robson
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 3 15 September 2025 On-campus Miss Swarali Sidhaye
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Ms Prue Robson
2026 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 1 02 March 2026 On-campus Miss Swarali Sidhaye
2026 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 3 26 October 2026 On-campus Miss Swarali Sidhaye
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.

Required texts

Sutherland, K., Ali, S., & Khattab, U. (Eds.). (2020). Public relations and strategic communication. Oxford University Press is a required text for this unit and will be needed to complete Assignment 1 successfully. It can be purchased via Oxford University Press, or anywhere you choose to purchase textbooks in e-book or hard copy format. It's also available as an e-book rental via Oxford University Press. We have used this in previous years, so there may also be second-hand copies available from your peers. A limited number of copies are available in short loans in the library.

Additional required readings will be listed on the UC Learn (Canvas) site and are available from the library via the Reading List link on Canvas.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial Intelligence
Students are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions on UCLearn (Canvas) for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

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.

Participation requirements

While attendance at tutorials is not compulsory, it may be difficult to pass the unit without regular attendance. All assessments have components that will be worked upon during class time.

Required IT skills

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Next step

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