Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Communication Design)

2015 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Course rules
• Course structure

Course overview

Deakin University, Visual Communication Design program believes that design is what links creativity and innovation. Deakin aims to instil in students a belief that design can be an agent for change by encouraging them to shape their ideas into practical and attractive propositions for users, customers and society as a whole. Students are taught how to make ideas tangible and their abstract thoughts and inspirations realised in a professional and/or sociological context. Deakin's broad based definition of design respects the disciplinary overlaps of a changing profession, which now requires and more a holistic approach to problem solving via design thinking methodologies.

Deakin’s Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Communication Design) enables you to develop practical and theoretical skills in visual communication design. This course offers a dynamic combination of contemporary design theory with specialised studio practices and practical outcomes in a variety of design disciplines. It draws upon the expertise of its staff who are active practitioners in their fields, as well as visiting, special guest and casual academic staff. The Visual Communication Design program offers the opportunity to attend an international study tour and complete an internship as part of your course.

Transition to University study
The faculty offers two units AIX160 Introduction to University Study and ALW117 Professional Writing for Work which are specifically designed to ease the transition into university study. New students are encouraged to enrol in one or both of these units in their first year.

Prerequisites
Because a number of disciplinary studies are cumulative in knowledge, technical competencies and/or study and research skills there are prerequisites which direct students to take some units before others. Students must seek advice from a course adviser before enrolling in units for which they do not have prerequisite or recommended units.

Course rules

For students commencing from 2015:

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Communication Design) a student must complete 24 credit points including:

• 14 credit points of core units
• no more than 8 credit points taken outside the Faculty of Arts and Education
• no more than 10 credit points at level 1

For students commencing prior to 2015 click here for the 2014 course rules.

Course structure

Course structure

For students commencing from 2015;

Core units

Level 1

4 Electives

Level 2

2 Electives

Level 3

or

4 Electives

Elective units

For course map click here

Course structure

Other Course Information

Assessment

Assessment within the award of Bachelor of Creative Arts varies from written assignments and/or examination to practical and technical exercises and performance. In some units assessment may also include class participation, online exercises, seminar exercises and tests.

Cross-institutional arrangements
Continuing Deakin students may apply to study units offered by another Australian tertiary institution and have them credited to their Deakin University degree. Further information is available from Arts Student Services.