COMS105-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026

Public Communication

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2026
End Date: Sunday, 8 November 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 27 September 2026

Description

The course introduces students to public communication, from social media posts to journalism to strategic communication and more. It blends applied work with theoretical and critical thinking about forms of public communication. Students will learn writing and media planning skills, alongside classes discussing major public communication practices and classes studying the way those bring together different kinds of public. Emphasis will be placed on the representation of te ao Maori in different public communication practices and on how Maori and Pacific publics are convened. The course also provides opportunities for groupwork, where students learn from each other and can support each other’s learning.

Learning Outcomes

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Biculturally competent and confident

Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

Engaged with the community

Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Restrictions

COMS102, COMS104

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 13:00 - 14:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
13 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 18 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 10:00 - 11:00 C3 Lecture Theatre
13 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 18 Oct
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 15:00 - 16:00 Psychology - Sociology 210
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct
02 Wednesday 13:00 - 14:00 Elsie Locke 104A
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct
03 Wednesday 14:00 - 15:00 Elsie Locke 104A
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct
04 Thursday 12:00 - 13:00 John Britten 117 HP Seminar Room
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct
05 Thursday 14:00 - 15:00 Ernest Rutherford 225
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct
06 Thursday 15:00 - 16:00 Ernest Rutherford 260
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct
07 Friday 12:00 - 13:00 Jack Erskine 441
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct
08 Friday 14:00 - 15:00 Jack Erskine 441
20 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 11 Oct

Course Coordinator

Donald Matheson

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Writing tasks 5% Professional writing task, week of 3 Aug 2026
Writing task 2 10% Professional writing task, week of 17 Aug 2026
Tutorial-based activities 10% Participation in a range of analyses and discussions in tutorials, weeks 2-11
UC in a Day 11 Sep 2026 25% Work in groups and then individually to tell the story of UC, 11 Sept 2026
Analysis 02 Oct 2026 25% Extended analysis of your news feeds, 2 Oct 2026
Exam 25% Two-hour exam on understanding of the course's key ideas

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $948.00

International fee $4,263.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All COMS105 Occurrences

  • COMS105-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026