Course

Bachelor of Design - Visual Communication (Dean's Scholars)

Approved Abbreviation: BDes(DeansSchol)

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1737.1

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2015 or 2016.

The Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) gives you fundamental skills and knowledge in graphic design. The program is delivered through a series of practice-based and theoretical units and you will study areas such as image design, typography, design history, web design and branding. In years two and three you will choose two practice-based specialisms from the areas of interactive game and app design; motion design and data visualisation; illustration; and, photomedia. You may also study elective units from across the university, including advertising and media arts production. The fourth-year program is linked to an award winning in-house design studio where you will gain experience in a professional environment.

Throughout the program you will engage with individual and team-based projects, develop your conceptual thinking skills, use an extensive range of digital technologies and have access to our well-equipped creative studios. Students may exit with 1624 Bachelor of Design Studies after successful completion of the first three years of the program. This degree is exclusively for high-achieving students, and will continually challenge you to do even better and build on your academic success. Students in the Dean’s Scholars program are automatically enrolled in The Academy at Western Sydney University, which offers interdisciplinary leadership programs, professional development and local and international internship and engagement opportunities for students.

Study Mode
Four years full-time.

Accreditation
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA).

Inherent requirements

Inherent Requirements

Admission

ATAR score of at least 90 required.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to Western Sydney University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

UAC

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

102261

Graphic Design: Understanding the Principles

102262

Design Histories and Futures

102263

Image Design

Spring session

102264

Graphic Design: Process and Practice

101921

Visual Storytelling

101922

Web and Time-based Design

Year 2

As part of the course requirements, students are required to complete two pairs of the specialisation unit pairings. If they choose to, they can complete further practice-based units as elective choices.

Autumn session

102265

Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media

102266

Researching the Visual

One unit from the following Specialisation unit pairing

101017

Illustrating Narrative

102267

Interactive Design: Apps

102268

Photomedia: Photographic Practice

102273

Motion Design

Spring session

102270

Graphic Design: The Professional Context

101923

Australian Design

One unit from the following Specialisation unit pairing

102271

Illustrating Popular Culture

102272

Interactive Design: Games

100941

Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

102269

Data Visualisation

Year 3

Autumn session

102274

Social Design: Research and Practice

102275

Contextual Design Studies

One unit from the following Specialisation unit pairing

101017

Illustrating Narrative

102267

Interactive Design: Apps

102268

Photomedia: Photographic Practice

102273

Motion Design

And one Academy sub-major unit

Spring session

102276

Graphic Design: Developing a Personal Portfolio

102277

Design Research Project

One unit from the following Specialisation unit pairing

102271

Illustrating Popular Culture

102272

Interactive Design: Games

100941

Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

102269

Data Visualisation

And one Academy sub-major unit

Students may exit with 1624 Bachelor of Design Studies after successful completion of 240 credit points in the first three years of the course sequence.

Year 4

Autumn session

102278

Professional Design Experience: The Studio

And one Academy sub-major unit

1H session

102279

Major Design Project

Spring session

102280

Professional Design Experience: The Individual Practitioner

And one Academy sub-major unit