Course coordinator
Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao
Consultation by appointment. Please email to make a time.
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
It is important that communication professionals gain industry-based experience to better integrate their university study with their professional practice. Equipped with skills and discipline knowledge as well as industry experience better positions students flourish when they enter the workplace. For this course, you will participate in the workday routine of a communication organisation for the specified period, undertaking those tasks assigned to them and seeking to display initiative, enthusiasm, professionalism and a willingness to learn. You will, where opportunity allows, contribute to the output of the organisation, working under the supervision of a communication practitioner. You will generate a LinkedIn profile, submit a job application and participate in a mock job interview. During your internship you will plan, observe and analyse. Upon completion, you will submit a reflection.
The Internship application form is available here.
This course provides you with the opportunity to integrate on-campus learning with professional practice. Passing this course is contingent on successfully completing the placement, getting a passing internship supervisor evaluation and submitting all of the assessment tasks with the aggregate of assessment marks equating to a Grade of 4 or above.
While the School placements team provides advice and support, you are responsible for identifying an organisation prepared to offer you an internship that fits the course requirements. You may not use the performance and assessment requirements of this course to vary the requirements of other courses.
To apply for COMU3801:
STEP 1. Read the Internship Placement Brochure. The brochure can be located here:ﾠhttps://communication-arts.uq.edu.au/files/25240/Student%20Guide%20for%20Communication%20Internships_v2c.pdf
STEP 2: Complete the Placement Application electronic form, and return it to the Placements Administrator scaplacements@uq.edu.au ahead of the enrolment due date .
The form can be found here:ﾠhttps://communication-arts.uq.edu.au/files/15461/PLACEMENT%20APPLICATION%20FORM.docx
STEP 3. Upon receiving written advice that you are eligible and have been added to the permission list for COMU3801, add the course to your enrolment through SI-net.
Course requirements
Assumed background
If you do not have theﾠ course ﾠprerequisite requirements, you are encouraged to pursue work experience opportunities. Some of these opportunities are advertised on ﾠJacpot. Please contact the Placements Officer at student.commarts@uq.edu.au for more information.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
COMU1052 + COMU1140 + WRIT1200 + COMU2160 PLUS For BCommun students: Digital Media Major: COMU2120, COMU2140 or Public Relations Major: COMU1152, COMU2180
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Students in the Public Relations major are strongly encouraged to have completed COMU2120 prior to enrolling in COMU3801.
Restrictions
Enrolment is by permission and restricted to students in the Bachelor of Communication and associated dual degrees with a minimum cumulative GPA of 5 having completed the prerequisite courses.
Course contact
Placements officer
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
To provide you with the opportunity to integrate on-campus learning with the experience of working in the field of professional communication where knowledge and skills accrued in the classroom can be tested, developed and expanded.ﾠ Internships also provide an invaluable opportunity to develop contacts and explore career opportunities.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Synthesize your experience of industry practices, including ethics and relevant codes of conduct through oral, written and other relevant media.
LO2.
Understand and effectively perform various assigned professional communication activities, including research, writing, coordinating; reflect on the application of theory to practice.
LO3.
Analyse and critically reflect on how your knowledge of communications relates to the professional context of the workplace and then communicate these to a professional standard through oral, written, and other media.
LO4.
Compile the written and digital tools necessary to gain employment
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement |
Work Placement
|
PASS/FAIL | |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration, Portfolio |
Employment Portfolio - LinkedIn Profile and Work Plan
|
35% |
28/03/2025 - 23/05/2025
LinkedIn Profile:
Work Plan:
|
| Practical/ Demonstration |
Job Application - CV and Selection Criteria
|
35% |
2/05/2025 - 23/05/2025
|
| Reflection |
Mentor Interview and Reflection
|
30% |
23/05/2025 4:00 pm
|
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Work Placement
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Placement
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Other conditions
- Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
You are required to complete around 100 work hours in a School-approved placement, undertaking those tasks assigned to you and seeking to display initiative, enthusiasm, professionalism and a willingness to learn. You will, where opportunity allows, contribute to the output of the organisation, working under the supervision of a communication practitioner.
You can undertake your placement at any time during the Semester in which you are enrolled in COMU3801 and can attend on consecutive days (e.g. Monday - Friday), or several days a week spread over several weeks. Although not required, you can also undertake School approved placements at more than one organisation and/or for maximum of 30 work days for the Semester in which you are enrolled in COMU3801. Please let the Placements Officer know if you wish to alter the duration of your placement once it has commenced and they will update your insurance accordingly.
During your placement you are representing the University and are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/1.50.01-code-conduct
Your placement organisation has also entered into a Student Placement Agreement with UQ. This Agreement details the rights and obligations of you the Student, the University and the placement organisation (Provider) during your placement. Although instances are rare, if you have concerns regarding your treatment during your placement, you may wish to bring these up with your placement supervisor with reference to this Agreement; or discuss them with the Placements Officer (scaplacements@uq.edu.au or 07 3346 8286) for further advice. If you have any immediate concerns for your safety or well being during a placement, you can leave the work place immediately. Please let the Placements Officer know as soon as practical if this occurs.
Your passing mark for your Work Placement is determined by your placement supervisor signing off on your Work Plan (see Employment Portfolio assessment task) for a second time at the end of your placement.
Hurdle requirements
This placement must be completed successfully in order to pass the course.Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Employment Portfolio - LinkedIn Profile and Work Plan
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration, Portfolio
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
28/03/2025 - 23/05/2025
LinkedIn Profile:
- Recommended due date: 4pm 28 March 2025
- Latest date to submit this assessment: 4pm 23 May 2025
Work Plan:
- Recommended due date: Before your placement begins
- Latest date to submit this assessment: 4pm 23 May 2025
- Other conditions
- Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04
Task description
LinkedIn Profile:
Students will receive training at the first workshop so that they can create a professional LinkedIn profile so that future employers can identify relevant professional experience, education, knowledge, and skills. This profile will become a crucial component of a student’s employability; it is what employers look at first when they are looking at an applicant. Following the first workshop, students will then create their own profile following the guidelines provided in the workshop and training.
Work Plan & Code of Conduct:
The second part of assessment 1 involves signing a student code of conduct and developing a work plan for your placement. The two-page plan describes what you will do during your time at the placement. You are to set real and achievable goals in this plan. Please work with your placement supervisor to identify your goals and the steps needed to achieve them.
Requirements
Sign the student code of conduct and write a two-page work plan. This should include a description of what you will do, what you hope to achieve (goals, at least three). This work plan needs to be signed off by you and your placement supervisor.
Use of AI:
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for this assessment item. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Job Application - CV and Selection Criteria
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
2/05/2025 - 23/05/2025
- Recommended due date: 4pm 2 May 2025
- Latest date to submit this assessment: 4pm 23 May 2025
- Other conditions
- Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03
Task description
During the second workshop, students will sharpen their CV writing skills as well as learn the best strategies for responding to the selection criteria on job applications. Students will then work on their CVs and write a cover letter. The course coordinator will provide two job options for selection criteria to which you must respond. You are only required to answer one.
Use of AI:
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for this assessment item. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Mentor Interview and Reflection
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
23/05/2025 4:00 pm
- Recommended due date: 4pm 23 May 2025
- Latest date to submit this assessment: 4pm 23 May 2025
- Other conditions
- Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03
Task description
In the first few weeks of the semester, students will be matched with a Communications Public Relations Insitute of Australia (CPRA) Queensland mentor. During the semester students are to contact their mentor and interview them using the questions provided reflecting upon their internship experience. In the workshop in Week 12 students will meet with their CPRA industry mentors and gain insights into the communication industry. Students who fail to attend the final workshop will receive a failing grade for this part of the assessment rubric.
Use of AI:
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.
Additional assessment information
- Supervisor's Evaluation Form: To successfully complete your internship, the School will issue your supervisor with an evaluation form. This will be done on your behalf.
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
General texts on communications practice and writing for communications may be useful at times. Writing is a critical skill on the job. If you need recommendations or support, please contact the course coordinator.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Practical |
Internship - Industry Placement You are required to work for a minimum of 100 hours in an organisational placement. You must find your own placement and advice regarding this process is available from the Placements Officer. All of the placement must be undertaken during the semester in which you are enrolled on COMU3801; retrospective credit is not permitted. The performance and assessment requirements of COMU3801 cannot be used to vary the requirements of other courses. Please note that all placements MUST BE APPROVED by the course coordinator before commencement. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 1: Workshop One: Professional Identity/Self Branding Introduction to the course, assessments, and LinkedIn overview. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 4: Workshop Two: Resumes, CVs and Cover Letters In this workshop, students get advice on creating a CV, cover letter, and responses to selection criteria. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Workshop |
Week 9: Workshop Three: Professional Reflection In this workshop, students learn about the importance of workplace reflection and carry forward their learning into a professional identity reflection. Learning outcomes: L03 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Workshop |
Week 10: Workshop Four: Networking In this workshop, students will take part in a networking event that is run in conjunction with the Communications Public Relations Insitute of Australia (CPRA) Queensland. Learning outcomes: L02 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course: