Conjoint: BA/BGlobalSt major in Communication

Communication is the lifeblood of human society, whether it’s TikTok videos, news headlines, protest signs, or conversations between friends. Communication shapes politics, business, culture and personal relationships; it brings us together and tears us apart. Today’s fast-changing communication technologies bring both serious challenges and exciting new opportunities.

Studying Communication will allow you to explore and understand what these challenges and opportunities mean for our world and your future career opportunities and professional pathways. You can study important ideas, debates and controversies in 21st communication, covering diverse topics, including misinformation, digital ethics, the impacts of artificial intelligence, and advertising in the digital age.

You will also be able to develop critical communication skills, which are in high demand in today’s employment market. These include professional writing skills; audio and visual communication; public speaking and presentation skills; understanding and applying Māori and Pacific communication principles and practices.

You can study Communication in one of two ways:
- If you intend to focus mainly on Communication and want to gain advanced skills and understanding, you can enrol in a Bachelor of Communication.
- If you wish to combine Communication more evenly with other BA subjects, you can enrol in a Bachelor of Arts, with Communication as one of your two majors.

Communication is an interdisciplinary field that examines verbal, nonverbal and mediated communication, media texts, audiences and the role of new technologies. Your study in Communication will give you in-depth insights into how media and communication operate in society today.

You will be able to develop specialist skills and knowledge by studying various forms of writing, journalism, digital and visual communications and social media.

You can gain insights into audiences, technology and culture, advertising, marketing, and communications in business and the workplace. There are also opportunities to explore the relationship of the media with politics, gender and Māori.

You can also choose to focus your study in one of three areas: business and marketing, media and communications, and science communications.

Studying Communication is an excellent foundation for employment in media, digital content creation, advertising, public relations, advocacy, business communication, government communications and more.

Communications professionals work in various organisations, from specialist communications agencies to government departments, charities and businesses. Communication will help you develop highly marketable skills relevant to many career paths besides strictly dedicated communications roles—strong communication skills are highly sought after in leadership and management careers.

You can take a major in Communication as one of your two BA majors (a double major). You will need to pass at least 120 points (eight courses) towards each of your majors, including at least 45 points (three courses) at Stage III.