In fact, this is unique communication course offered by ECU (or Edith Cowan University) which gives a good coverage of the overall focus in communications related.
Some of the key words and values that i could described from studying this course are 'PR(Public Relations)', 'Marcom(Marketing Communications)', 'Branding', 'Rhetoric', 'Marketing', 'Power of Persuasions', 'Communication skills', 'Advertising','Employee relations', 'Corporate Social Responsibilities' and 'Crisis Management'.
You see, in the business world, having good communication skills are really important to serve effective disseminations of messages, and to build good employee relations, producing high morale and relationships among employees to employees, and employees to their bosses. As said, better morale workers are better workers. And getting along well with one another at work will nevertheless help in the commitment towards a job.
With a good Corporate Social Responsibility message or activity from the Company, it will not just uphold it's current good image towards the public, but also enhances it (if there are CSR activities to be organized). Good PR will contribute to a company's profitability in long run. The study of PR can also make those in the organizations more ethical in their businesses.
All these values can be learnt through the study of PR modules offered by the programme.
In identifying our own images, or selling ourselves towards the job market, having good branding of ourselves is essential. Strategic branding module helps us identify our missions and objectives towards a job, or just from within ourselves. It also helps us find our values. In identifying all these, we could then brand ourselves in a clearer aspect. We would also more likely be able to brand our own desired image towards the public, and anyone around us. I would say that this is a hip module to study. It will increase your image power and identifying yourself better. It will let you transform yourself to who or what you want to be.
In communication management modules, it covers every elements of things from linguistic to the power of persuasions and negotiations. Rhetoric, the use of effective communications is also one of the very powerful tools or techniques we can get from these modules. Study them well and you could be the next Obama.
Although marketing is lesser in this original course, Marcom has been taught in these course. The marketing tools to communicate a campaign or sales effectively are definitely useful in communicating with the stakeholders, to bring out the best of the messages. Whereas marketing itself is a more comprehensive coverage of Consumer behaviour, marketing research, marketing management and etc.
Advertising has also been taught in this course, but lesser than what mass communications degree course will offer. However, this communication degree has an Advertising module in International aspect, which the element of modules in international aspects are usually cultural studies and global issues.
Apart from some of the modules mentioned, there are also other marketing modules(as electives or bridging) and also modules like Media in Asia, foundations for PR and advertisings related.
In all these, some would say that this degree i am taking is a business + communication related degree (which one may also call this a business communications degree). I would deem it as a good mix of business, communications, marketing, advertising, and of course, Public Relations related degree which PR could be the most prominent focus in this case. Ultimately, i would still simplify it's calling to a 'Communication degree'.
In the Corporate world, i guess in the execution of PR crisis communications-management plan, this role requires someone to be specialised at it (as not many can do it). With someone who is a PR person, this job roles is a high level job for him/her. In academic wise, this person should be a degree level person. Because when there is a crisis in a company, the company is at stake, especially when having it's image towards the public. What's worst is that the media will be involved. And any wrong words or expression communicated will be broadcasted to the world or nation on screen, which consequences could be dire. And to be a spoke person or someone handling the media, requires a head of the company, which is usually the CEO, in most cases. Therefore for a CEO to be well prepared in PR issue is imperative, or his next PR staff to advise him must be someone high in level, such as a PR manager, or even a PR director.
I rate this course as 7.5 out of 10, and i still give a thumbs up, because of it's strong PR focus and the elements of powerful communications from Communication management modules.
If you take whatever course that is fine to you, set your mindset to say 'I love it', and you will nevertheless love it.
All the best!
