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Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing

Course summary for current students

Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing
Campus	Offered at Melbourne Burwood Campus, Off campus
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	015197C
Deakin course code	A661

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Alternative exits
• Fees and charges
• Course rules
• Course structure

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.

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Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing (A561)

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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

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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.

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Course structure

Trimester 1

ALR715

New Ventures in Creative Enterprise (B, X)

ALW729

Writing for Communication Media (B, X)

ALW730

Creative Non-Fiction Writing A (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)

ALL705

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

ALL706

Histories, Fictions (B, X)

ALW720

Travel Writing (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 3

ALW749

Crossing Borders - in Country Travel and Research Project   *

 

* Not offered 2012, re-offered 2013.

** Offered trimester 3

 

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