Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Creative Industries (1839)
- Approved Abbreviation: BDes/BCrInd
- Western Sydney University Program Code: 1839
- AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 095717K
This program applies to students who commenced in 2021 or later.
Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.
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 Jacki Montgomery
Study Mode
Four years full-time or eight years part-time.
Program Advice
Location
Campus | Attendance | Mode | Advice |
---|---|---|---|
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Full Time | Internal | See above |
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Part Time | Internal | See above |
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).
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.
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 program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.
There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program. Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.
International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Admission
Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.
http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/
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 the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.
All other International applicants must apply directly to the 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.
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.
Program Structure
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.
Students must complete
- 80 credit points of Design core subjects
- 80 credit points of Creative Industries core subjects (which includes one Creative Industries Introduction to Major Pool subject)
- 80 credit points of Design subjects (which includes two Design subject pairings)
- 80 credit point Creative Industries Major
Creative Industries Introduction to Major Subject Pool
Students to select one of the following subjects as your Introduction Major Subject
Subject | Title | Credit Points |
---|---|---|
MKTG 1001 | Advertising: An Introduction | 10 |
COMM 1010 | Creative Writing: The Imaginative Life | 10 |
HUMN 1066 | Introduction to Culture and Society | 10 |
LANG 1015 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 10 |
BUSM 1026 | Organisational Behaviour | 10 |
COMM 1018 | Introduction to Journalism | 10 |
LAWS 1003 | Fundamentals of Australian Law | 10 |
COMM 1039 | Introduction to Screen Media | 10 |
PERF 1014 | Music Production | 10 |
MKTG 1009 | Public Relations Theory and Practice | 10 |
Equivalent Subjects
The subject listed below counts towards completion of the Introduction to Major Pool Subject for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier.
HUMN 1017 - Everyday Life, replaced by HUMN 1066 Introduction to Culture and Society
Design Pairing Subjects
Students select two of the following Design subject pairings. There are four pairings to choose from.
Subject | Title | Credit Points |
---|---|---|
Illustration | ||
DESN 2007 | Illustrating Narrative | 10 |
DESN 3007 | Illustrating Popular Culture | 10 |
Interactive | ||
DESN 3008 | Interactive Design: Apps | 10 |
COMM 2019 | Interactive Design: Games | 10 |
Photomedia | ||
DESN 2013 | Photomedia: Photographic Practice | 10 |
VISU 3002 | Photomedia: Fashion and Identity | 10 |
Digital Design | ||
DESN 2011 | Motion Design | 10 |
DESN 3002 | Data Visualisation | 10 |
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 subjects and a minimum of three Level 3 subjects
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, DESN 1021 Web and Time-based Design and DESN 1011 Image Design cannot count as an Introduction to Major subject in this program; they are to be completed as components of the Bachelor of Design core.
Recommended Sequence
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.
The recommended sequence is subject to variation based on the student's nominated Creative Industries major.
Students selecting Law and the Creative Industries as their major must complete the subject LAWS 1003 Fundamentals of Australian Law as their core subject and Introduction to Major subject.
Full-time start-year intake
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Autumn session | Credit Points | |
DESN 1009 | Graphic Design: Understanding the Principles | 20 |
DESN 1011 | Image Design | 10 |
COMM 1036 | Introduction to the Creative Industries | 10 |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Spring session | ||
DESN 1021 | Web and Time-based Design | 10 |
BUSM 1010 | Financing Enterprises | 10 |
DESN 1018 | Visual Storytelling | 10 |
Select one subject from the Creative Industries Introduction to Major subject Pool | 10 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Year 2 | ||
Autumn session | ||
DESN 1003 | Design Histories and Futures | 10 |
DESN 2014 | Researching the Visual | 10 |
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Spring session | ||
BUSM 1008 | Enterprise Leadership | 10 |
BUSM 1006 | Enterprise Innovation and Markets | 10 |
DESN 2001 | Australian Design | 10 |
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Year 3 | ||
Autumn session | ||
Select two Design Pairing subjects | 20 | |
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Spring session | ||
COMM 3011 | Creative TEAMS 1 | 10 |
Select two Design Pairing subjects | 20 | |
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Year 4 | ||
Autumn session | ||
COMM 1020 | Media Cultures and Industries | 10 |
DESN 3001 | Contextual Design Studies | 10 |
DESN 3013 | Social Design: Research and Practice | 10 |
COMM 3012 | Creative TEAMS 2 | 10 |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Spring session | ||
DESN 3003 | Design Research Project | 10 |
COMM 3010 | Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship | 10 |
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Total Credit Points | 320 |
Full-time mid-year intake
The recommended sequence is subject to variation based on the student's nominated Creative Industries major.
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Spring session | Credit Points | |
DESN 1021 | Web and Time-based Design | 10 |
BUSM 1010 | Financing Enterprises | 10 |
DESN 1018 | Visual Storytelling | 10 |
Select one subject from the Creative Industries Introduction to Major subject Pool | 10 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Autumn session | ||
DESN 1009 | Graphic Design: Understanding the Principles | 20 |
COMM 1036 | Introduction to the Creative Industries | 10 |
DESN 1011 | Image Design | 10 |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Year 2 | ||
Spring session | ||
BUSM 1008 | Enterprise Leadership | 10 |
BUSM 1006 | Enterprise Innovation and Markets | 10 |
DESN 2001 | Australian Design | 10 |
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Autumn session | ||
DESN 1003 | Design Histories and Futures | 10 |
DESN 2014 | Researching the Visual | 10 |
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Year 3 | ||
Spring session | ||
COMM 3011 | Creative TEAMS 1 | 10 |
Select two Design Pairing subjects | 20 | |
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Autumn session | ||
COMM 3012 | Creative TEAMS 2 | 10 |
COMM 1020 | Media Cultures and Industries | 10 |
DESN 3013 | Social Design: Research and Practice | 10 |
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject | 10 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Year 4 | ||
Spring session | ||
DESN 3003 | Design Research Project | 10 |
COMM 3010 | Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship | 10 |
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects | 20 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Autumn session | ||
DESN 3001 | Contextual Design Studies | 10 |
Select three Creative Industries Major Subjects | 30 | |
Credit Points | 40 | |
Total Credit Points | 320 |