Current students

Course search

Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing

Course summary for current students

Award granted Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing
CampusOffered at Melbourne Burwood Campus, Off campus
Duration1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code015197C
Deakin course codeA661

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing offers studies in various forms of professional writing and editing for graduates with major sequences in other disciplines. The emphasis is on helping you to develop the skills required to prepare work for publication. In each area of study-fiction, creative non-fiction, writing for children, poetry, editing, publishing and scriptwriting - you will be given practical experience of the process of writing and revision. The program will develop your understanding of the requirements of writing and editing for different readerships. The units in the program will be valuable to you if you are experienced in writing but feel the need for further guidance, or if you want to begin a career in writing. Study at this level can also help you if you are required to write in the course of your employment and wish to enhance your skills in written communication. The editing course introduces you to the key skills required for employment in publishing books and magazines. The School adopts the philosophy that writing and editing should be taught by published writers and practitioners. The teaching staff includes well-known writers and editors, and the program draws on the talents of other publishing professionals as guest speakers.

Back to top

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing (A561)

Back to top

Fees and charges

Unit fees can be viewed within individual unit descriptions. You can search for a unit using the Unit Search.

 

Please be aware:

  • Fees are calculated on a per unit basis
  • Fees charged will depend on the individual units chosen
  • Fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services

Back to top

Course rules

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising:
  • 4 credit points of Professional Writing units selected from the specified list below; and
  • 4 credit points of electives selected from the remaining Professional Writing units and/or from the following disciplines


See Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) (A748) and Master of Communication (A747) for units available in the disciplines above.

 

Note: Students who complete a specialisation of 4 credit points will have the specialisation indicated on their academic transcript.

Back to top

Course structure

Trimester 1

ALR715 New Ventures in Creative Enterprise (B, X)  

ALW730 Creative Nonfiction: Telling It Slant (B, X)  

ALW732 Fiction Writing: Story, Structure and Starting Out (B, X)  

ALW734 Script Writing A (B, X)  

ALW736 Poetics of Writing A (B)  

ALW738 Editing (B, X)  


Trimester 2

ACM733 My Story: Autobiographical and Experimental Video Production (B)  

ALL706 Histories, Fictions (B, X)  

ALW720 Travel Writing   *

ALW729 Writing for Communication Media (B, X)  

ALW731 Creative Non-Fiction Writing B (B, X)  

ALW733 Fiction Writing: Ideas and Innovations (B, X)  

ALW735 Script Writing B (B, X)  

ALW739 Publishing (B, X)  

 

Trimester 1 and Trimester 3

ALW749 Crossing Borders - in Country Travel and Research Project (X)  

 

Trimester 2 and Trimester 3

ALL705 Short Stories: Writers and Readers (B, X)  

 

* ALW720 not offered 2014, re-offered 2015.

Note: Students may complete any combination of units, though they should be aware that B units require A units as prerequisites.

 

Deakin University acknowledges the traditional land owners of present campus sites.

8th June 2007