Communication/Law (2 Viewers)

[Lainee]

I'm in year 12 at the moment, and I'm considering doing law with communications in public communication or social inquiry. I really like the look of both, but which one would be 'best' to combine with law? Or would neither?
And what are the chances that the uai cutoffs for the combined degrees would rise? [Social inquiry and law - 97.55; public communication and law - 98.00]

Thanks.

 

[| n i s s y |]

I wanna get into public communication/law...............isn't the course 98.8?

 

[Lexicographer]

A friend of mine in Social Enquiry said it's a nothing degree. Wonderfully Arts.

 

[braindrainedAsh]

I think you will find that many people say Social Inquiry is a "nothing" degree.... but if you are combining it with law I think it would be useful. A lot of people do social inquiry if they miss out on journalism and then combine it with journalism electives.

Both are well suited to being combined with law. But it depends on what you want to do with them and why you want to combine them with law. Pub Comm is mostly about advertising and public relations, and social inquiry is basically a social science degree. So it depends which one of those takes your fancy because they are quite different.

 

[Tenax Propositi]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
A friend of mine in Social Enquiry said it's a nothing degree. Wonderfully Arts.

Having had a look at some of the subjects social inquiry studies... it does look a bit 'out there'... but yeah, combined with law I think it'd be interesting because there are career opportunities with the two combined. but on it's own, i don't really know.

 

[Jinglebell]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
A friend of mine in Social Enquiry said it's a nothing degree. Wonderfully Arts.

Yeah, so far SI has been quite 'nothing', but i think when we get into the proper subjects instead of the really vague introduction, i think it should develop more substance. Social Inquiry seems to be a really good 'base' degree if you want to go on to maybe do another course afterwards (like me), or if you want to combine.

 

[Lexicographer]

Well, that's what I told her. It's a good thing she's doing law at the same time, but she says it's really there to justify doing arts to her parents. In any case, she's enjoying herself, and that's what counts.

 

[Lainee]

Originally posted by braindrainedAsh
I think you will find that many people say Social Inquiry is a "nothing" degree....

Really? I don't know anyone first-hand who does communications at UTS, so everyone's help here is REALLY appreciated.

Originally posted by Jinglebell
Yeah, so far SI has been quite 'nothing', but i think when we get into the proper subjects instead of the really vague introduction, i think it should develop more substance. Social Inquiry seems to be a really good 'base' degree if you want to go on to maybe do another course afterwards (like me), or if you want to combine.

Mmm... subjects in it like Colonialism and Modernity for instance, I really like the sound of. I'm not really sure what everyone means when they say it's a 'nothing' degree - do you mean that it's too theory based and not applicable, not useful, too wishy-washy, little employment opportunity (or doesn't add to your employment value)...?

I'm attracted to the ideas behind Social Inquiry, but I don't want to spend years doing something that I enjoy, but won't add to my employment value in the future. And particularly because I want to combine it with law, I want employers to see -both- my degrees as utilisable and dynamic.

And in anticipation of something saying - "it depends on which part of the combined degree you want to concerntrate on" - I want my law and other degree to compliment and build on each other and open up more options for me. It's really a stupid question - of course everyone who does any combined degree is partly hoping that doing two would give them some added boost over other graduates. I just don't want my 'other degree' to turn into a latch-on degree.

Originally posted by Tenax Propositi
Having had a look at some of the subjects social inquiry studies... it does look a bit 'out there'... but yeah, combined with law I think it'd be interesting because there are career opportunities with the two combined. but on it's own, i don't really know.

What kind of broad career opportunities can you think of? Honestly, when I put away my initial enthusiasm about the degree, it doesn't sound like a useful degree. It sounds like doing religion in school, you makes you think a little, raises some profound theoretical questions but really doesn't open any solid gold doors to high salary heaven. I dunno... prove me wrong... cause I like this degree.

 

[Lainee]

Originally posted by | n i s s y |
I wanna get into public communication/law...............isn't the course 98.8?

I'm pretty sure it was 98.00 in 2004 - this is from the Law Undergraduate Courses Guide for 2005. I'm sure it can't be 98.8 though, cause that'll be higher than entry to Business/Law, and I distinctly remember it not being. Think of the day when it is though - asian parents would start pressuring their kids into communications/law instead of bus/law. Mmmmm... I can dream can't I?

 

[neo o]

Just be happy that generally asian parents consider UTS to be a "bad uni" because of "low" cut off marks.

 

[Lexicographer]

That's rubbish. They care more about the employment rates at the end than the cutoffs at the beginning. The smart asian parents do at least.

As for "nothing degree", I say that because the impression I got (from my friends in the course) is that the content is too generalistic to be meaningful. I do expect the first semester subjects are designed more to get you thinking and working properly, but that doesn't change the fact that so far nothing that's been studied has imparted any knowledge that could ever possibly be useful. Skills definitely, but not knowledge.

I do think it would be good with Law because the course challenges you to find new ways of thinking about things, and that's EXACTLY what people demand of contemporary legal professionals. Bear in mind, however, that combining with this degree instead of business, engineering, science etc will limit your opportunities to specialise. Well, not necessarily "limit" more than delay. You know what I mean though.

 

[Tenax Propositi]

Originally posted by Lainee
I'm pretty sure it was 98.00 in 2004 - this is from the Law Undergraduate Courses Guide for 2005. I'm sure it can't be 98.8 though, cause that'll be higher than entry to Business/Law, and I distinctly remember it not being. Think of the day when it is though - asian parents would start pressuring their kids into communications/law instead of bus/law. Mmmmm... I can dream can't I?

As a matter of fact, in 2003, Pub Comm./Law was 98.80 and Bus/Law was 98.35.

In 2004, Journalism/Law was 98.80 and Bus/Law was 98.50.

So for those who seem to think Business has it over Communications when it comes to combining with Law - think again.

Remember, these are subject to yearly fluctuations in demand so anything could happen.

Irrespective of cutoffs and perceptions of courses, it is what you love to do and the general field you see yourself in the future that you should be pursuing.

For me personally at this stage, Law is my career degree which I have a passion for, and Pub Comm. is my additional interest to broaden my view of the world.

 

[spin spin sugar]

CHOOSE PUB COMM

take it from someone who had the uai for pub comm/law and went with s.i instead... now rgeretting it alot knowing how hard it will be to transfer!

 

[Lexicographer]

Here's an idea, do BEngLLB instead! You'll be doing more important and interesting stuff, and you're guaranteed a job at the end!

 

[Tenax Propositi]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
Here's an idea, do BEngLLB instead! You'll be doing more important and interesting stuff, and you're guaranteed a job at the end!

Important = subjective comment

Interesting = relative to each individual

 

[Beaky]

Originally posted by Tenax Propositi
Important = subjective comment

Interesting = relative to each individual

Its just Lex and his intellectual complex

 

[braindrainedAsh]

Just because something contains maths equations doesn't make it more important or interesting.

How would you know what was happening in the world without journalists? Journalism is one of the most underrated jobs. People don't see it's significance in maintaining a more democratic society. Speak to someone from China or another country where the media is tightly controlled- there is a huge link between freedom of the press and actual freedom and democracy.

 

[Lexicographer]

Originally posted by Beaky

Originally posted by Tenax Propositi
Important = subjective comment

Interesting = relative to each individual

Its just Lex and his intellectual complex

Bah, can't any of you tell when I'm poking fun at you? You communications (not arts) people really have to lighten up with the defensiveness. Not every comment is a serious attack on your chosen discipline!

I agree with Ash though - Journalism is quite important, except to your stereotypical "band six isn't good enough"asian parents of course. Hey Colin, why do you have a cycling Hilary Duff saying "oh yes" in your signature?

 

[Beaky]

Originally posted by Lexicographer
Hey Colin, why do you have a cycling Hilary Duff saying "oh yes" in your signature?

Wrong! Shes saying "So Yesterday" and you would know this if you paid more attention to pop culture, not your science/maths discipline

 

[Tenax Propositi]

Let's not forget the importance of PR to all those high profile companies and people.