Course

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Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Creative Industries

Approved Abbreviation: BDes/BCrInd

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1839.2

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 095717K

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 2021 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

For Commencement Year 2017 - 2020 - please refer to: 1839.1 Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Creative Industries

Design graduates who previously would have planned a career in graphic design, media or advertising companies now face a future where they will be required to continuously adapt and reapply their skills to changing work environments. This double degree brings together the existing Design program with studies that explore emerging creative industries and allows students who are interested in pursuing careers as designers to also engage with new paradigms of creative and cultural production, developing skills in entrepreneurship and working in collaborative projects with creative industries in Greater Western Sydney (GWS).

Students have the option to travel to Penrith campus for a portion of the Creative Industries component.

Director of Academic Program - Dr Alison Gill

Study Mode
Four years full-time or eight years part-time.

Accreditation
Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA). The Bachelor of Creative Industries is accredited by professional organisations including the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Foundation of Australia (MFA).

Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements for this course that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this course online.

Inherent requirements

Admission

Students are admitted on the basis of their ATAR score.

Applicants wishing to pursue a specialisation in Music will be selected by one of three methods:

1. Attain an HSC Music result in band 4 or above. No audition is required.

2. Hold the following AMEB or equivalent (e.g. Trinity College) qualification:

a. PASS standard (minimum) of 6th Grade Performance (instrument or voice) AND

b. PASS standard (minimum) of 4th Grade musicianship and/or theory.

No audition is required.

3. Attend an audition in person as a performer and/or composer. Applicants applying as a composer will need to bring recordings and/or scores of original compositions to the audition. After applying to UAC or Directly to Western applicants are required to book an audition online.

Online audition booking system

If not auditioning, applicants wishing to pursue a Music specialisation will need to upload their supporting documentation (e.g. AMEB certificates demonstrating level of achievement in performance and musicianship and/or music theory).

All applicants

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International 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 the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to the Western Sydney University via the International Office.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This course includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this course. Please contact the Course Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Course Structure

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

Students must complete

80 credit points of Design core units
80 credit points of Creative Industries core units (which includes one Creative Industries Introduction to Major Pool unit)
80 credit points of Design units (which includes two Design unit pairings)
80 credit point Creative Industries Major

Creative Industries Introduction to Major Unit Pool

Students to select one of the following units as your Introduction Major Unit

100706

Advertising: An Introduction

102436

Creative Writing: The Imaginative Life

102913

Introduction to Culture and Society

101907

Introduction to Literary Studies

200585

Organisational Behaviour

100556

Introduction to Journalism

200977

Fundamentals of Australian Law

102825

Introduction to Screen Media

102558

Music Production

100212

Public Relations Theory and Practice

Equivalent Unit

The unit listed below counts as an Introduction to Major Pool Unit for students who passed this unit in 2021 or earlier.

100897 - Everyday Life

Design Pairing Units

Students select two of the following Design unit pairings. There are four pairings to choose from.

Illustration

101017

Illustrating Narrative

102271

Illustrating Popular Culture

Interactive

102267

Interactive Design: Apps

102272

Interactive Design: Games

Photomedia

102268

Photomedia: Photographic Practice

100941

Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

Digital Design

102273

Motion Design

102269

Data Visualisation

Creative Industries Majors

The major for the Bachelor of Creative Industries component should be selected from the list below

Note: Each major must have no more than three Level 1 units and a minimum of three Level 3 units

Advertising

Creative Writing

Culture and Society

English

Enterprise Innovation

M1067

Journalism

M2515

Law and the Creative Industries

M1135

Screen Media

M1117

Music

M1122

Public Relations

Note: For the purposes of this double degree, students may not undertake the Graphic Design or Digital Cultures majors offered for 1838 Bachelor of Creative Industries. Therefore, 101922 Web and Time Based Design and 102263 Image Design cannot count as an Introduction to Major Unit in this course; they are to be completed as components of the Bachelor of Design core.

Recommended Sequence - Autumn Commencement

Recommended sequence subject to variation based on the students nominated Creative Industries specialisation.

Students selecting Law and the Creative Industries as their major must complete the unit 200977 Fundamentals of Australian Law as their core unit and Introduction to Major unit.

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

102261

Graphic Design: Understanding the Principles

102836

Introduction to the Creative Industries

102263

Image Design

Spring session

101922

Web and Time-based Design