Course details

Summary

Our Bachelor of Communication Studies graduates are in demand with employers - their creative ideas can help companies to stand out in a crowded marketplace, or persuade people to change their views and behaviour on social issues.

The BCS is a specialist three-year degree that will give you expertise in communication theory and practice, combined with a general understanding of business.

You'll gain the skills required to become a strategy-based marketing or public relations specialist - working in either business, government or the not-for-profit sectors. This degree is an ideal choice if you enjoy talking to people, expressing ideas, being creative, and solving problems.

Learn how to harness the power of communication – in all its written, spoken and visual forms – to develop creative marketing campaigns that can attract loyal new customers to buy a company's products.

Or you could design PR campaigns that encourage people to adjust their beliefs and behaviour on specific social issues, such as health screening, public transport, or the environment.

1st Major subjects

For this degree, choose one of the following subjects as your 1st Major:

• Marketing
• Public Relations

More about this degree

With the BCS you'll gain the skills to pitch news stories to journalists, write powerful speeches that resonate with audiences, and create content that tells a compelling story.

You'll also learn how to create positive relationships with key stakeholders, lead and motivate teams of people to deliver changes, translate communication strategies into action, and take steps to build or repair an organisation’s reputation.

In third year, you'll take advanced papers that build expertise in your major and minor subject/s, covering industry topics such as digital marketing, events management, media relations, health communication, and much more.

2nd Major subjects

This degree offers the flexibility to take either a 2nd Major, or 1-2 Minors, or up to seven elective papers, in almost any undergraduate subject offered at the University of Waikato, such as Digital Business or Writing Studies.

A 2nd Major is equivalent to 7-8 papers in the same subject (105-120 points), while a Minor consists of four papers in the same subject (60 points).

• Accounting
• Digital Business
• Economics
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing
• Public Relations
• Strategic Management
• Tourism and Hospitality Management
• Or any other undergraduate major subject

Career opportunities

• Advertising account executive
• Brand and campaign manager
• Communications adviser
• Community leader
• Content/web editor
• Digital marketing specialist
• Events manager
• Marketing/sales manager
• Press secretary
• Product category manager
• Public relations adviser
• Social media manager
• Sponsorship/fundraising manager
• Writer/editor

Entry criteria

You're eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Business if you have University Entrance, or its equivalent. All other applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

University Entrance means: From 2015 - (i) NCEA Level 3, (ii) a minimum of 14 credits at Level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, in each of three approved subjects, and (iii) the numeracy requirements of a minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, made up of achievement standards and/or unit standards specified by NZQA, and (iv) the literacy requirement of a minimum of 10 credits at Level 2 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, made up of: (a) 5 credits in reading , and (b) 5 credits in writing from a list specified by NZQA.

English language requirements:

IELTS (Academic) - 6.0 overall (no band less than 6.0); iBT (internet based) TOEFL - 79-80 with a score of 20 in writing; Pearson PTE Academic - 57 with no less than 57 for each communicative skill; Waikato Pathways - Successful completion of Level 7 with a B grade average in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English (CAAE) program.