Bachelor of Arts (Politics & Journalism) / Bachelor of Behavioural Science

This is a four-year double degree that pairs politics and journalism with behavioural science. You graduate with two bachelor awards, which means you study the full requirements of both degrees rather than a major and a minor. The politics and journalism side covers how government works in Australia, how policy gets made, how campaigns run, and how to report on all of it. Expect units in political institutions, public policy, international relations, media law, news writing and reporting. The behavioural science side is psychology and human behaviour: research methods, statistics, developmental and social psychology, cognition, and how people make decisions. Put together, you learn to explain why voters, politicians, consumers and communities behave the way they do, and to write about it clearly.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need a fixed total to graduate. Notre Dame runs its academic year in semesters, with most units taught over a 12-week period and assessed through essays, exams, reports, presentations or practical work. Because this is a double degree, you take units from both disciplines across the four years, and the volume of credit points is higher than a single three-year degree. That extra year is what makes room for both sets of requirements. You will usually have some choice of electives, and you can often spread the load by taking a lighter semester, though that stretches the timeline.

Practical work and skills

Journalism is a field that expects you to have done the work, not just read about it. You will write news and features to deadline, interview people, and learn to file copy that stands up. Many journalism units include a newsroom-style environment or a placement with a media organisation, and the behavioural science side builds your ability to design a study, run the numbers and interpret what they mean. By the end you can read a policy paper and a research paper, spot the weak points in both, and turn them into something a general audience will understand. You will also have a research project or capstone unit in your final year, where you pull the two halves of the degree together.

Who it suits

This degree suits someone who wants to work in political reporting, public affairs, policy, advocacy or research, and who is genuinely curious about why people do what they do. It is a good fit if you like writing and arguing but also want evidence behind your arguments. If you are only interested in one half, a single degree is cheaper and faster. The double degree is for students who want both skill sets and are prepared to spend four years getting them. Notre Dame teaches in the Australian context and has strong links to the professions it trains people for. International students should confirm the current English requirement, tuition and course structure on the official page, and check the CRICOS register for the published fee and course details. While studying in Australia, a student visa generally allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight during the semester, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream.

• Political journalist or reporter – newsrooms, online publications, radio and television, covering politics, policy and public affairs.
• Policy officer or analyst – Australian Public Service, state government departments, local councils, and statutory authorities.
• Media adviser or press secretary – ministerial offices, political parties, unions and advocacy groups.
• Public affairs and communications officer – corporations, NGOs, industry bodies and universities.
• Campaign or electorate officer – working for MPs, parties or lobby groups on campaigns, research and community engagement.
• Behavioural insights or research assistant – government behavioural units, market research firms, consultancies and universities.
• Human resources or organisational development officer – using behavioural science in recruitment, culture and change work.
• Community or social policy adviser – not-for-profits, welfare organisations and community legal centres.

Graduates often move between these fields. A journalism start can lead into media advising, and a policy role can lead into political reporting. The behavioural science half gives you a research skill set that employers in government and consulting value, and it is a useful base if you later want to pursue further study in psychology or public policy. Check the official course page for details on professional recognition and any further study requirements.