The Communication and Social Change major focuses on key concepts and strategies for understanding and practising social change communication. It includes topics like social change and development, social change activism and the efficacy of social change platforms, including art, film and social media.

As well as engaging with various concepts, you will learn to apply them to real-world examples. We cover everything from climate change to campaigns for gender equality, indigenous rights and poverty alleviation. Courses in the Communication and Social Change major are designed to provide a balance between understanding the key theories used to analyse social change communication and building effective and progressive social change messages.

A Bachelor of Communication, with a major in Communication and Social Change, will equip you for a wide range of careers. These include mainstream and alternative media writing and production; communication work for charity, nonprofit or community organisations; and advocacy and strategic communication design in government and policymaking roles.

The essential skills you will pick up include:

• Critical analysis
• Clear and impactful writing and expression
• Agile use of various communication tools and techniques

These skills are honed through different kinds of assessments, including: multimodal manifesto design; deconstructing successful social change campaigns; and building creative portfolios focusing on the contemporary issues you’re passionate about.

Communication and Social Change is a major in the Bachelor of Communication. You will need to pass at least 135 points (nine courses) towards the major.

You must pass the following courses as part of your major (based on 2026 regulations; please note that requirements may vary depending on your regulations year):

• Two courses: COMMS 212, 313
• One course from: ENV 102, GENDER 101, POLITICS 106, SOCIOL 100
• Two courses from: COMMS 213, KOREAN 203, MEDIA 231, PHIL 225, POLITICS 222, 229, SOCIOL 210, 217, 229
• Three courses from: COMMS 304, 312, 314, 315, 316, 318, GENDER 301, KOREAN 303, MEDIA 332, PHIL 345, POLITICS 313, SOCIOL 333

If you are a new first-year student who starts the programme in Semester One 2026, please find below the enrolment guide for your information.

Explore the available courses you can take in 2026. Students normally take Stage I courses in their first year, Stage II in their second, and Stage III in their third.

Core Courses:

*Please note this is an internship course that will require you to go through the application process. Please find more details here. You are only able to enrol in the course in SSO once you have received the outcome of your application.

Courses for the Communication and Social Change Major Requirements:

Please note:

1. SCIGEN 101 and ENV 102 are taught by the Faculty of Science and may be subject to changes at their discretion.

2. Any offered core or major course listed above can meet the relevant programme requirements. The faculty will apply a programme concession if needed to ensure recognition.

Our friendly Student Hub staff will provide you with advice on planning your degree and enrolling in your courses.

If you would like to find out more about studying Communication and Social Change, you can contact our Undergraduate Adviser.

Learn more about BC career paths and opportunities online. See Graduate Careers.

Explore our industry placements and Stage III internship course.

Professor Luke Goode and Dr Bingjuan Xiong talk about the BC and what students can look forward to studying.