Bachelor of Communications and Media / Bachelor of Behavioural Science

This double degree at the University of Notre Dame Australia brings together two fields that talk to each other more than most people realise. You study how media is made, how stories travel, and how audiences respond, then pair that with the science of why people behave the way they do. Four years full-time, and you graduate with two bachelor degrees rather than one.

What you actually study

The communications and media side covers writing for different platforms, journalism and news production, public relations, screen and digital media, media law and ethics, and the way media organisations actually operate. The behavioural science side is psychology-based: human development, social psychology, research methods, statistics, cognition and behaviour, and how to read and conduct research properly. Because it's a double degree, you take core units from both, then choose electives and a major or specialisation within each. The two halves reinforce each other, you'll find yourself using behavioural science to understand why a campaign worked, or media theory to make sense of a social trend.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are built on units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need a certain total to graduate. Notre Dame runs its academic year across semesters, with the usual mix of lectures, tutorials, workshops and studio or production sessions. A double degree takes longer than a single one because you're completing the requirements of both awards, in this case four years. Expect a capstone or major project in your final year, where you pull your skills together into a substantial piece of work. Work-integrated learning is standard in communications: internships with media outlets, PR firms, not-for-profits or government communications teams, plus practical production work. On the behavioural science side, you'll do research methods and statistics units, and may have the chance to work on research projects with academic staff.

Skills you build

You learn to write clearly and quickly for different audiences, produce content across print, digital and screen, plan and evaluate campaigns, and handle ethical and legal questions in media. From behavioural science you gain research literacy, designing studies, analysing data, interpreting findings, plus an understanding of how people think, decide and interact in groups. That combination is genuinely useful: organisations want people who can communicate well and back it up with evidence about what actually works.

Who it suits

This degree suits someone who wants to work with people and ideas, not just one or the other. If you're interested in media but want more than a purely practical qualification, or you're drawn to psychology but want a career that involves public communication, this is a sensible fit. It also works if you're thinking about postgraduate study later, honours is an extra year on top of a bachelor degree, a master's is one to two years, and a doctorate three or more. Notre Dame has strong industry and research connections, particularly through its media and psychology staff, and you'll be studying in an Australian context where communications graduates move into a wide spread of sectors. International students should note that the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available after graduation, and student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying. English requirements for this course sit at the standard undergraduate level, check the official page for the exact scores and accepted tests, and confirm all details including fees and intake dates directly with the university.

• Journalist or news producer, newspapers, online news sites, radio and television networks across Australia.
• Public relations or communications officer, government departments, councils, corporations, PR agencies and not-for-profits.
• Content producer or social media manager, media companies, brands, startups and creative agencies.
• Marketing and campaign coordinator, using behavioural insights to plan and evaluate campaigns.
• Policy or research officer, government, think tanks and community organisations needing both communication and research skills.
• Human resources or organisational development officer, applying behavioural science to workplace culture and change.
• Community engagement or health promotion officer, NGOs, health services and social services communicating with diverse groups.
• Further study pathway, honours year, master's in psychology, communications or public health, or research roles.