Graduate Diploma in Communication (Corporate Sector)

Study the Graduate Diploma in Communication (Corporate Sector) ) to enhance your public relations skills and knowledge, preparing you to manage significant events or take on specialised roles within an organisation or government body. This course is designed for communications professionals who hold a relevant undergraduate qualification.

Important Notice:

This programme is now closed to new students. Students already enrolled will be allowed to continue in this course going forward, to finish off their qualification. 

If you have any questions, please send an email to info@sit.ac.nz. Please specify the programme of study you are enquiring about in the subject section of your email, so that your query can be quickly directed to the right person.

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SIT Online
Campus
SIT Online
Qualification
Graduate Diploma
Level
7
Credits
120
Duration

One year full-time

Up to five years part-time

Intakes are 17 weeks long

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$8.00 per credit (incl. GST)

International Fees

$100 per credit (incl. GST). See International.

Course Outline

Important Notice:

This programme is now closed to new students. Students already enrolled will be allowed to continue in this course going forward, to finish off their qualification. 

If you have any questions, please send an email to info@sit.ac.nz. Please specify the programme of study you are enquiring about in the subject section of your email, so that your query can be quickly directed to the right person.

This course will enable Corporate Communication practitioners (with an undergraduate qualification) to build on their applied skills and learning. The programme aims to ensure its graduates can manage significant events or specialised roles in an organisation or government body. A person already engaged in Corporate Communication at middle management level or someone with a good body of prior on-the-job learning is given the opportunity to become a Corporate Communication specialist.

Graduate Diploma in Communication (Corporate Sector) graduates will understand the news media and how the two communication processes interact and overlap.

They will be able to write higher level communication strategies for use internally and externally, which will reach people, communities and organisations, and where necessary, exert influence for change.

You will learn to:

  • Put in place internal and external communications strategies and plans
  • Use communication to influence public thinking and effect positive change
  • Use a variety of new and traditional media to take a message/s out
  • Take a leading role in a campaign or an event

The Graduate Diploma/Certificate in Public Relations has now been changed to Corporate Sector. These changes have been made to reflect changes to both cultural and communication environments and the market place for communication professionals. If you are part way through this qualification, please see the attached transition table (please let us know if this isn't here yet) to see what papers you need to complete. If you are not sure, please contact the course administrator for assistance.

Course Content

Core Programme Papers

BPC275 Communication Strategy - Corporate Sector (15 credits)

This paper provides students with an understanding of the principles, use and application of communication strategies for achieving effective commercial and business communication in the corporate sector.

BPC271 Corporate Social Responsibility (15 credits)

This paper provides students with a critical understanding of the origins of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and how it impacts contemporary business operations and how to use effective communication to embed and educate CSR conventions across a business entity.

BPC231 Cross Cultural Communication (15 credits)

This paper provides students with an understanding of the role of communication within intercultural corporate environments and how to use cross cultural communication approaches to develop an effective intercultural management policy for an organisation.

Elective Papers: Choose two from the list below:

BPC300 Change Communication (15 credits)

Students will be able to analyse and explain the components and risks of organisational change as they relate to communication strategies. They will understand the importance of understanding the culture of an organisation and how to identify and collaborate with partners and establish relationships with stakeholders to effect successful internal change communications.

BPC350 Online and Advanced Technologies (15 credits)

This paper provides students with an understanding of the use and application of current and emerging web technologies for publishing effective messages in the corporate, political or public sector working environment.

BPC312 Advanced Public Relations and Marketing Communication (15 credits)

This paper provides students with a critical appreciation of the role of public relations within an integrated marketing communications plan and how to develop and implement a marketing communications plan from a public relations viewpoint.

MGT706 Reputation and Brand Protection (15 credits)

This paper provides students with an understanding of what the components of reputation and brand are and how these are protected in a political setting. Students will also be able to develop strategic tactics for brand protection.

Compulsory Papers:

BPC302 Research Methodology (15 credits)

Note: This paper should be taken directly prior to taking BPC710 Research Project.

This paper will introduce students to the skills required to complete a degree level dissertation. It will cover advanced research skills; various methodologies available to gather and present primary and secondary information and data; and it will take students through the literature review process in preparation for BPC710 Research Project.

BPC710 Research Project (30 credits)

This paper provides students with an opportunity to conduct advanced research into an aspect of communication theory or practice by integrating the body of knowledge learnt in communication papers.

Career Opportunities

The qualification prepares graduates for employment or employment advancement in communications roles in the public or private sectors.

     
Application Criteria

Entry is open to degree graduates who have graduated successfully from a relevant Bachelor’s degree programme, or can demonstrate equivalent, relevant, practical professional or educational experience in a related discipline.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

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