Why Bachelor of Journalism?
Interested in uncovering the stories behind the politics, policies and people shaping our world?
Open the doors to a journalism career where you’ll investigate, analyse and communicate political events and trends. You could cover election campaigns and examine social issues or, as a political correspondent, you could share compelling stories that inform and influence the public. Use your skills to provide insightful perspectives on the challenges of today’s world.
You’ll have the expertise to not just report the news but shape the way people understand and engage with it.
Overview
The Bachelor of Journalism majoring in Politics equips you with the skills to navigate a fast-paced, information-driven world. With a solid foundation in journalism, political insight and reporting expertise, you’ll be able to effectively communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively.
Learn how to craft engaging stories across text-based, audio, video and immersive media formats. Explore the impact of politics on society and communities. Hands-on projects and real-world experience connect theory with practice. Gain the skills to tackle the ethical and practical challenges of modern journalism.
Graduate with the ability to confidently make an impact in roles such as political journalist, media analyst or policy adviser. Bring an informed perspective to public conversations and become a respected voice in shaping the way society understands politics and policies.
Key features
Gain hands-on experience with multimedia journalism, from broadcast to investigative reporting. - Build expertise in analysing political events, policies and global issues.
- Develop critical writing, ethical judgement and communication skills across media platforms.
- Participate in industry placements or projects to build real-world experience.
- Prepare for diverse roles in political reporting, policy analysis and public affairs.
- Graduate ready to inform, engage and influence public understanding and opinion.
What you'll learn
In the Bachelor of Journalism majoring in Politics at Adelaide University, you’ll gain a blend of journalistic skills and political knowledge. You’ll learn to report on, analyse and explain current events and social issues.
In your first year, you’ll study foundational journalism skills in news writing, multimedia and audio journalism, giving you a strong base in storytelling.
You’ll explore introductory politics courses that give you an insight into political structures and Australian political systems. This will help you understand the broader context behind the stories you’re likely to report on throughout your career.
In your second year, you’ll study media law and ethics, vital for understanding the legal responsibilities and ethical boundaries in journalism.
Courses in feature writing and television journalism will also allow you to develop more advanced storytelling skills. Learn about the policy, exclusion and historical influences on political behaviour. With this balance of skills, you’ll be able to craft stories that are both engaging and grounded in political insight.
In your final year, you’ll focus on advanced journalism, including investigative techniques and constructive journalism. Politics courses such as cyber-politics and electoral democracy will provide insight into key contemporary issues.
Gain hands-on experience through a professional experience, where you can apply what you’ve learned in a real-world environment.
Graduate with the skills to inform and engage the public on political issues, creating conversations that drive awareness and inspire informed action by the community.
Majors
The Bachelor of Journalism is also available with majors in:
This degree is also available without a major.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 90 units for Core courses, and
- Either:
- 48 units for one Major from Majors, or
- 48 units for Electives, and
- 6 units for all Work integrated learning
Complete 90 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core, and
- 72 units for all Program core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Journalism Foundations
|
Course code
JOUR1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
News Writing
|
Course code
JOUR1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Broadcast
|
Course code
JOUR1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Multimedia Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Audio Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Journalism Theory and Practice
|
Course code
JOUR2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Feature Writing
|
Course code
JOUR2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Television and Video Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Constructive Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Journalism Production
|
Course code
JOUR3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Investigative Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
|
Course code
MDIA2022
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Introduction to Broadcast
|
Course code
JOUR1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Foundations
|
Course code
JOUR1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
News Writing
|
Course code
JOUR1004
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Audio Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1007
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Multimedia Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Feature Writing
|
Course code
JOUR2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
|
Course code
MDIA2022
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Journalism Theory and Practice
|
Course code
JOUR2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television and Video Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Constructive Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Investigative Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3002
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Production
|
Course code
JOUR3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Professional Experience
|
Course code
JOUR3900
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Broadcast
|
Course code
JOUR1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Foundations
|
Course code
JOUR1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
News Writing
|
Course code
JOUR1004
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Audio Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1007
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Multimedia Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Feature Writing
|
Course code
JOUR2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
|
Course code
MDIA2022
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Journalism Theory and Practice
|
Course code
JOUR2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television and Video Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Constructive Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Investigative Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3002
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Production
|
Course code
JOUR3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Professional Experience
|
Course code
JOUR3900
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 6 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Journalism Professional Experience
|
Course code
JOUR3900
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Broadcast
|
Course code
JOUR1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Foundations
|
Course code
JOUR1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
News Writing
|
Course code
JOUR1004
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Audio Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1007
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Multimedia Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Feature Writing
|
Course code
JOUR2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
|
Course code
MDIA2022
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Journalism Theory and Practice
|
Course code
JOUR2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television and Video Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Constructive Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Investigative Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3002
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Production
|
Course code
JOUR3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Professional Experience
|
Course code
JOUR3900
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units comprising:
- 48 units from University-wide electives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Broadcast
|
Course code
JOUR1005
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Foundations
|
Course code
JOUR1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
News Writing
|
Course code
JOUR1004
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Audio Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1007
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Multimedia Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR1006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Feature Writing
|
Course code
JOUR2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Media Law, Policy and Ethics
|
Course code
MDIA2022
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Journalism Theory and Practice
|
Course code
JOUR2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Television and Video Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The Politics of Exclusion
|
Course code
POLI2001
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Constructive Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Investigative Journalism
|
Course code
JOUR3002
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Production
|
Course code
JOUR3001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Journalism Professional Experience
|
Course code
JOUR3900
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
With a Bachelor of Journalism majoring in Politics, you could be reporting on critical global events for major news outlets like ABC or Reuters, providing in-depth political insights to audiences worldwide. Perhaps you’ll be employed as a political consultant, working with advocacy groups and guiding public opinion on key issues. Or you might work in social media and digital content management, where you are responsible for creating engaging content for a political leader.
Other possible roles include:
- Political campaign manager
- News editor
- Broadcast journalist
- Public relations specialist.
Our degree equips you with the skills and insights needed to make an impact across a wide range of dynamic careers in political journalism.
Industry trends
The demand for political journalists in Australia is growing. This is driven by the need for trustworthy reporting amidst a landscape of misinformation, particularly in social media. The Digital News Report Australia found that 76% of Australian news consumers rely on social media for their news and have low or very low news literacy (ACMA, 2020). Our degree ensures graduates are equipped to positively impact society by delivering accurate, insightful reporting that combats misinformation and enhances news literacy.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
