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Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) 

DCOM10     


Study Mode Study Level Duration Campus and Intake Show intake calendar
Full-time
Part-time (day) 		Undergraduate 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time Prahran (Semester 1, Semester 2)

This course aims to turn you into an imaginative thinker and an effective, well-informed designer. The strong technology base of this course is complemented by research and solid industry links. You will graduate with a portfolio that reflects diverse ideas, production skills and experiences, preparing you for the challenges of an exciting and evolving industry. Opportunities such as study tours and international exchange programs are also available to broaden your understanding of what design means internationally.

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Note: This course information is for students commencing from 2010.  For students at the Sarawak campus please refer to the Bachelor of Design (Graphic Design) (SGD10) on the Sarawak website.
 
Communication design impacts on all aspects of contemporary culture. It includes graphic design, advertising, corporate branding, product packaging, publishing, web design and more. 
 
Students who undertake the final three semesters of this program commencing in September 2010 at City University, Hong Kong will be enrolled in the final 100 credit point units of the Professional Major and/or one Minor sequence.

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The structure of, and the units of study within, the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) degree conforms to the AQF Guidelines for a bachelor degree by allowing students to:
  • Acquire a systematic and coherent body of knowledge, the underlying principles and concepts and the associated communication and problem-solving skills
  • Develop academic skills and attributes necessary to undertake design research, comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence from a range of sources
  • Develop the ability to review, consolidate, extend and apply the knowlege and techniques learnt, including in a professional context.
  • Gain a foundation for self-directed and life-long learning
  • Gain interpersonal and teamwork skills appropriate to employment and/or further study.

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This program (commencing in 2010) has a Flexible Degree Structure providing you with a wider and more flexible choice in combining studies from different disciplines to add either depth or breadth to your degree. An Industry Placement year may also be applied for.
 
Prior to enrolment students will be required to attend degree planning information sessions. 
 
For completion of the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) students are required to undertake:
  • The Communication Design professional major of 16 units of study (200 credit points); and
  • A co-major of 8 units (100 credit points) or 2 minors of 4 units (50 credit points) each
Students may select co-majors or minors subject to timetable availability. Students may also undertake Electives Plus Minors, Student Exchange or other approved options.

Note: Students cannot enrol in a Co-Major or Minor in the same discipline as their Professional Major.
 
Students will normally be enrolled in a Recommended Study Sequence and must successfully complete a minimum of 300 credit points; 50 credit points per semester for full-time students. To qualify for the award, a student must complete, or have been granted an exemption for the units of study listed below. Students initially enter into the three-year bachelor program. At the end of that program students may exit with an undergraduate bachelor degree or continue with further study. Work expected outside normal timetabled contact hours, in keeping with related design courses, will usually be no less than a minimum of two for one.
  
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) (Prahran students only)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit of study HDD0009 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne Design students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of your course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students who commence their course from 2007 onwards. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt for the unit as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills.
 
Electives Plus Sequences (Prahran students only)
Electives Plus sequences provide Swinburne degree students with options to broaden their career skills and strengthen their employability by selecting from units of study outside their degree discipline.

Students undertaking this course can choose to study Electives Plus sequences of up to four units from one of the following themes:
Further information is available at the Electives Plus website. Electives Plus sequences are available in all Swinburne degree programs subject to timetabling constraints, with the exception of double degree programs, specialist double major degrees, and where entry has been approved with advanced standing.
 
Summer and Winter term
The Faculty of Design, Prahran, is offering an optional six-week Winter and Summer term allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters. These terms are not mandatory. However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option.
 
International Study Programs - Study Abroad
Students can apply to participate in an exchange program or a study tour program as part of their degree. More information about our current exchange and study tour programs can be viewed here 

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To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) students must complete the required units in their Professional Major of Communication Design listed below. With the diversity of studies available to students there may be overlap in the units of study between some Professional Majors, Co-Majors and Minors. Where such overlap occurs a unit can only be counted for credit once.
 
Communication Design Professional Major units
 
A Co-major can be undertaken in one of: 
These co-majors are available to all Swinburne students, timetable permitting.
 
Note: Co-majors can be taken from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the co-majors 2010 page for more information.
 
Minors (timetable permitting) can be undertaken in the following recommended streams:
Note:  Some Minor sequences do require knowledge of specific software.
 
Minors available to Communication Design students:
Minors can be taken from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting.  See the minors 2010 page for more information.
 
Minors available to all Swinburne students including Communication Design students, timetable permitting:
3D Animation and Modeling Advanced Minor - 2010 on - some technology prerequisites apply
 
Minor available to students from all faculties except Bachelor of Design students:
Design Studies Minor - 2010 on
 
Remaining units may consist of Electives Plus, Study Tours, Student Exchange or other approved options.

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All units of study have a value of 12.5 credit points unless otherwise indicated (50 credit points per semester).
Note: For students commencing mid-year, units may be offered in a different sequence.
 
Swinburne Prahran Communication Design Professional Major units
 
Plus, throughout the length of your degree you will select eight units from your chosen co-major or minor sequence or free elective unit.
 
HDD0009 Careers in the Curriculum  (Prahran students only). This is a zero credit point unit of study which is compulsory for students in the second or third year of their course.

Study Abroad options - see information above under Course Structure.

In Year 3 students may undertake Industry Placement (Prahran students only)
HDP050 Industry Placement 1 (37.5 credit points)
HDP055 Industry Placement 2 (37.5 credit points)
Plus any two 12.5 credit point subject from Stage 3 Design units of study. Students undertaking Industry Placement interstate or overseas are required to advise Student Administration at the Faculty of Design.

Prerequisites for undertaking Industry Placement in Year 3 are as follows:
Successful completion of Stage 2 (i.e. 200 credit points of which 150 must be from Professional Major). A minimum of 100 credit points must be completed within the Faculty of Design. Minimum credit average in the two most recent semesters of study. Applicants with a minimum credit average are required to complete application forms and will be invited to attend both formal Faculty and industry interviews. Selection is made on the basis of this process. 

City University, Hong Kong
Students who undertake the final three semesters of this program at City University, Hong Kong will be enrolled in the final 100 credit point units of the Professional Major and/or one Minor sequence.
 
Semester 1, August 2011 
AND
HDC005HK Contemporary Design Issues for students taking 100 credits
OR
HDC006HK Managing Design for students taking 150 credits
 
Semester 2, January 2012
AND
HDCOM322HK Information and Interface Design for students taking 100 credits
OR
HDC008HK Design Systems and Services for students taking 150 credits
 
Summer Semester, April 2012
HDC005HK Contemporary Design Issues

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Industry Placement is an optional program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment, for 24 or 28 weeks, relevant to their studies as part of their degree. It aims to provide experiential, discipline-specific learning in an authentic, real-world environment. Through observation, enquiry and practice under the supervision and guidance of professional practitioners and an academic mentor, students will engage in professional experiences and test and critically assess their learning to date. The experience contextualises existing design skills within an understanding of the impact of client, customer, team dynamics and direction in the design process. 

Industry Placement gives students practical experience to add to their academic studies, and is a proven advantage in the graduate job market. All Industry Placements are subject to availability of places.

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All students undertake first and second year of their design course. Prior to the commencement of third year students choose to continue with coursework (third year) and complete their degree, or apply for Industry Placement (third year) followed by the Honours program as fourth year. An Honours year requires a further 100 credit points of study.

Students may continue into the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) program through the following avenues, these include a selection process:
 
1) Students who have successfully undertaken an Industry Placement in Year 3 are required to complete their Honours (fourth) year by Coursework.
 
2) Students who did not participate in an Industry Placement in third year, and who have maintained a grade average of Credit or above may apply towards the end of their third year, to study in the Honours program. These students may be required to attend an interview and submit a folio.

 

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Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

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As a graduate you should be well placed to seek employment where information is primarily conveyed by visual means. This includes careers in design consultancies, advertising, publishing, merchandising, packaging design, communication strategy, education and research.

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On completion of this qualification students may be eligible to become a member of the Australia Graphic Design Association (AGDA) and an Associate Member of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and should confirm eligibility with the Asssociation.

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Swinburne expects that its graduates:
  • Are entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace, or community;
  • Are capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas;
  • Operate effectively in work and community situations;
  • Are adaptable and manage change;
  • Are aware of environments in which they will be contributing.
This course addresses and maps these attributes, interpreted within a multi-disciplinary and communication design context.

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Successful completion of an appropriate Victorian Year 12 or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
 
2011 VCE Prerequisites: Units 3 & 4 - a study score of at least 20 in English (any) and in one of  Visual Communication and Design, Studio Arts or Design & Technology.
 
Successful completion of a relevant diploma or equivalent may provide entry into these courses with advanced standing.

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75.10

2011 Round 1 Clearly-In ATAR (CSP)

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Applicants with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be granted ‘credit’ and/or entry into the course with ‘advanced standing’. University policies apply and applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For further information refer to Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide.

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An advanced credit transfer system, known as the Pathways program, is in place at Swinburne. Through Pathways, students with one or more of a wide range of post-secondary qualifications (both local and international) can gain entry into a course with advanced standing. Certain subject requirements must be met and an acceptable standard of results achieved in order to gain admission and for maximum credit to be granted. For further information refer to 'Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide at: www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways//

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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Further details for students considering higher education courses: www.swin.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/files/stuinf.htm

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For information about Swinburne's fees visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/fees
 

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For information about scholarships at Swinburne visit: www.swin.edu.au/scholarships

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Applications must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
 
VTAC code: 36101 (CSP), 36103 (IFP)
 
For further information, visit the VTAC website at: www.vtac.edu.au
 
Applicants who wish work experience to be considered should complete and submit a VTAC PI (Personal Information) form.
 
Applicants who have not already applied through VTAC can apply direct to the university by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.
 
This course is available for mid-year intake. Applications are made directly to Swinburne and will be taken on a case by case basis. Application forms can be downloaded from our How to Apply website.

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Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794)
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au

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