Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of communication for social change and engages students in critically analysing the ways in which communication can foster social change.
The course provides an overview of the key theories and principles underpinning communication for social change (CSC) and introduces a range of applications of CSC. Through presentations, readings, exercises and class debates, students will be building skills in recognising and analysing CSC-based initiatives and developing a critical understanding of how CSC is researched and practised. This course provides the foundation for students who have selected the CSC field as specialisation of their Master program, and provides complementary insights into another branch of communication for students who do the Strategic Communication field of study, or any other study program.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course is designed for postgraduate students who are enrolled in the two-yearﾠMaster of Communication. Students fom other programs who would like to learn about the foundations and applicationsﾠof Communication for Social Change are welcome to enroll in this course, as well. No specific background is required other than the necessary language and computer skills to complete a postgraduate degree.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course consists of weekly modules that are offered through a 1-hour lecture, online materials, and a 2-hour workshop. You are expected to participate actively in the workshops and to do so, you should review the online materials and attend the lecture prior to coming to the workshop each week. Please check Allocate+ for time and venue of the lecture and workshops, and select a time slot that allows you to participate every session throughout the semester.
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 – eg. 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
The course aims at providing studentsﾠwith an understanding of theﾠkey principles and practices underpinning communication for social change (CSC) and engagingﾠthem in critically analysing the ways in which communication can foster social change.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand and critically engage with the key theories and approaches that inform the field of communication for social change.
LO2.
Recognise the application of communication methods, media and techniques to foster social change in different contexts.
LO3.
Critically analyse the ways in which communication can be used to leverage social change.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
Exam Participation
|
30% |
9/09/2025 - 11/09/2025
The exam is written during the workshop in Week 7. |
| Essay/ Critique | CSC blog post | 40% |
21/10/2025 4:00 pm |
| Examination |
Exam Social Movements and Activism
|
30% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Exam Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
9/09/2025 - 11/09/2025
The exam is written during the workshop in Week 7.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
The main objective of this assessment is for you to critically engage with the course material of the Participation Block by answering a series of questions about a specific social change case that has been discussed in class. A detailed description and marking criteria are provided on the course Learn.UQ site.
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.
Exam details
| Planning time | no planning time minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | Only pens are permitted. |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Deferred Exam will be held on Friday, 26 September 2025, 12:00-14:00.
CSC blog post
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
21/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
The objective of this assessment is to display the depth of your understanding of the nature of Communication for Social Change (CSC) initiatives, the specific use of media and communications methods to foster social change, the role that context plays, and the types of social impact that can potentially be achieved. The task involves writing a blog post suitable for publication on the website of the Commons Social Change Library. A detailed description and marking criteria are provided on Learn.UQ.
For this assessment task, students can use AI tools to research the initiative they want to write the blog post about, but will need to provide an acknowledgement how and which AI tools were used. The writing of the final blog post, however, will need to be done without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) to suit the style of the Commons Social Change Library. Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to write their blog post is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Download the cover page template, fill out the details, and insert the the blog post document underneath the cover page. Submit the document electronically through Turnitin on the course Learn.UQ site (Assessment 2 section).
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Learn.UQ 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.
Exam Social Movements and Activism
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
The main objective of this assessment is for you to critically engage with the course material of the Social Movements and Activism Block by answering a series of questions about a specific social movement case that has been discussed in class. A detailed description and marking criteria are provided on the course Learn.UQ site.
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.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | Only pens are permitted. |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 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.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- 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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
The Required Learning Resources are chapters and papers you will need to read as part of the weekly modules before coming to the workshops.
The Recommended Learning Resources are additional books or book chapters of major importance to the field. You can use these to get a further understanding of the field and to inform your assignments.
Students requiring additional assistance with their learning can request assistance from Student Services:ﾠhttp://www.uq.edu.au/student-services/learning.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Module 1 - Introduction to Communication for Social Change (A/Prof. Elske van de Fliert)
Learning outcomes: L01 |
Workshop |
Week 1 Workshop - Getting started
Learning outcomes: L01 |
|
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
Module 2 - Facilitating participation for sustainable and equitable change (A/Prof. Elske van de Fliert)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 2 Workshop - Facilitating participation
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Lecture |
Module 3 - Participation and media production (A/Prof. Elske van de Fliert)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 3: NO WORKSHOP DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY Review of Modules 1-3. |
|
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Module 4 - Indigenous perspectives and social change (Mr Francis Nona)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Workshop |
Week 4 Workshop - Discourse and identity
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
Module 5 - Participation, power and culture (A/Prof. Elske van de Fliert)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 5 Workshop - Power and empowerment
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
Module 6 - Participation and the Sustainable Development Goals (A/Prof. Elske van de Fliert)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 6 Workshop - Participation in action
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
Module 7 - Social movements and social change (A/Prof. Pradip Thomas)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 7 Workshop - EXAM PARTICIPATION Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
Module 8 - Communication rights (A/Prof. Pradip Thomas)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 8 Workshop - Social movements and social change
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
Module 9 - Digital access and disability (A/Prof. Pradip Thomas)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 9 Workshop - Communication rights and disability
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Lecture |
Module 10 - Community radio (A/Prof. Pradip Thomas)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 10 Workshop - Community media and social change
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
Module 11 - Free and open-source software movement (A/Prof. Pradip Thomas)
Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Workshop |
Week 11 Workshop - FOSS in action
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Seminar |
Module 12 - CSC in theory and practice A dialogue panel with all lecturers and tutors. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Workshop |
Week 12 Workshop - Connecting the dots
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Workshop |
Week 13 Workshop - Final Examination Preparation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
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 for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however, please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.