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

Approved Abbreviation: BDes(DeansSchol)

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Western Sydney University Course Code: 1737.2

AQF Level: 7

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 2017 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.

Commencement Year 2015-2016 - 1737.1 Bachelor of Design - Visual Communication (Dean's Scholars)

• Director of Academic Program - Dr Alison Gill

The Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) Dean’s Scholars degree will provide you with fundamental skills and knowledge to communicate ideas and information across a wide range of visual media. With an emphasis on studio-based practice, you will study areas such as image design, typography, layout design, branding, design history, research methods, and web-based design. From year two, there are opportunities to engage with live community or industry projects, and you will choose two practical specialisations from the following pairs: motion design and data visualisation; game and app design; illustration; and photography. Throughout the program you will engage with individual and team-based projects, develop your conceptual thinking skills, use a variety of traditional and emerging technologies, and expand your creative practice. In year four you will take a position in our award-winning teaching design studio where you will gain experience in a professional learning environment, preparing you for work in an exciting and evolving industry. 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 or part-time equivalent.

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

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

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). 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 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.

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

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

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.

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 two pairs of specialisation unit pairings.

Illustration

101017

Illustrating Narrative

102271

Illustrating Popular Culture

Interactive

102267

Interactive Design: Apps

102272

Interactive Design: Games

Photomedia

100941

Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

102268

Photomedia: Photographic Practice

Digital Design

102269

Data Visualisation

102273

Motion Design

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

Autumn session

102265

Graphic Design: Interactive Digital Media

102266

Researching the Visual

One unit from the following Specialisation unit pairing

101017

Illustrating Narrative

102272

Interactive Design: Games

102273

Motion Design

102268

Photomedia: Photographic Practice

Spring session

102270

Graphic Design: The Professional Context

101923

Australian Design

One unit from the following Specialisation unit pairing

102269

Data Visualisation

102271

Illustrating Popular Culture

102267

Interactive Design: Apps

100941

Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

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

102272

Interactive Design: Games

102273

Motion Design

102268

Photomedia: Photographic Practice

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

102269

Data Visualisation

102271

Illustrating Popular Culture

102267

Interactive Design: Apps

100941

Photomedia: Fashion and Identity

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

2H session

102279

Major Design Project

Academy Sub-major Units

SM3082

Applied Leadership

102211

Creativity, Innovation and Design Thinking

102250

Ethical Leadership

102212

Internship and Community Engagement

200855

Leadership in a Complex World

Please note: SM3082 Applied Leadership has been replaced by SM8000 from 2022. Continuing students enrolled in SM3082 are able to remain in and successfully complete the unit requirements of this specialisation.

SM8000

Creative Leadership