Bachelor of Creative Industries (1838)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BA/BCrInd
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 1838
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 093321B

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.

For Commencement Year 2017 - 2020 - please refer to: 1838.1 Bachelor of Creative Industries

The Bachelor of Creative Industries is an interdisciplinary degree, with a core drawn from communication, design, law and business. It brings together major studies in creative disciplines, including Design, Creative Writing, Journalism, Design and Music, with studies in the business and legal aspects of working in the Creative Industries. Graduates will have the skills to manage creative enterprises and turn innovative new ideas into commercial operations. This degree offers creative people a deep understanding of how creative industries operate along with business and legal acumen. The Bachelor of Creative Industries is built around collaboration and co-working with creative industries located in Greater Western Sydney (GWS).

  • Director of Academic Program - Dr Nicole Bridges

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Program Advice

Dr Milissa Deitz

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Part Time Internal See above

Accreditation

 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).

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).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

Students are admitted on the basis of their ATAR score.

In addition, applicants wishing to pursue a major 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 major 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.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Students must complete

  • Twelve compulsory core subjects
  • Two subjects from the Introduction to Major subjects pool
  • One Major or two Minors

Note: The recommended sequence is subject to variation based on the students nominated major.

For students undertaking Law and the Creative Industries as their major, please refer to the Law and the Creative Industries Major sequence below.

Introduction to Major Subjects Pool

Subject Title Credit Points
COMM 1018News and Media Today10
MKTG 1001Advertising: An Introduction10
MKTG 1009Public Relations Theory and Practice10
LANG 1015Introduction to Literary Studies10
COMM 1010Creative Writing: The Imaginative Life10
COMM 1039Introduction to Screen Media10
HUMN 1066Introduction to Culture and Society10
PERF 1014Music Production10
BUSM 1026Organisational Behaviour10
LAWS 1003Fundamentals of Australian Law10
DESN 1021Web and Time-based Design10
DESN 1011Image Design10

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

Majors

Minors

Note: Please plan enrolment in minor subjects carefully - subjects at Level 2 and Level 3 may have pre-requisites. Students should consult their Academic Program Advisors if they require further information.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
COMM 1044 Professional Communication 10
COMM 1036 Introduction to the Creative Industries 10
COMM 1020 Media Cultures and Industries 10
Select one from the Introduction to major subjects pool 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 1012 Data, Mediation, Power 10
BUSM 1008 Enterprise Leadership 10
DESN 1018 Visual Storytelling 10
Select one subject from the Introduction to major subjects pool 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
COMM 2024 Media Law and Ethics 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
BUSM 1010 Financing Enterprises 10
COMM 3011 Creative TEAMS 1 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
BUSM 1006 Enterprise Innovation and Markets 10
COMM 3012 Creative TEAMS 2 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 3010 Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Full-time mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
COMM 1012 Data, Mediation, Power 10
BUSM 1008 Enterprise Leadership 10
DESN 1018 Visual Storytelling 10
Select one subject from the Introduction to major subjects pool 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
COMM 1044 Professional Communication 10
COMM 1036 Introduction to the Creative Industries 10
COMM 1020 Media Cultures and Industries 10
Select one from the Introduction to major subjects pool 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
BUSM 1010 Financing Enterprises 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
BUSM 1006 Enterprise Innovation and Markets 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Spring session
COMM 3011 Creative TEAMS 1 10
COMM 3010 Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
COMM 2024 Media Law and Ethics 10
COMM 3012 Creative TEAMS 2 10
Select two subjects from a selected major or minor 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Law and the Creative Industries Major

Please Note: Due to the progression requirements of this major, students selecting Law and the Creative Industries as their major must follow the specific recommended sequence below in order to successfully complete this specialisation. These students must complete the subject LAWS 1003 Fundamentals of Australian Law as their core subject and first Introduction to Major subject.

This major is not available for Spring (Mid-Year) commencement

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
COMM 1044 Professional Communication 10
COMM 1020 Media Cultures and Industries 10
LAWS 1003 Fundamentals of Australian Law 10
LAWS 2004 Criminal Law 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 1012 Data, Mediation, Power 10
DESN 1018 Visual Storytelling 10
LAWS 1009 Legal Analysis and Critique 10
LAWS 2013 Torts Law 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
BUSM 1006 Enterprise Innovation and Markets 10
BUSM 1008 Enterprise Leadership 10
LAWS 2001 Alternative Dispute Resolution 10
Select one subject from the Introduction to major subjects pool 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
BUSM 1010 Financing Enterprises 10
COMM 3011 Creative TEAMS 1 10
LAWS 2003 Contracts 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
COMM 2024 Media Law and Ethics 10
COMM 3012 Creative TEAMS 2 10
LAWS 3049 Media Law 10
Select one subject from the Level 3 Law subject pool 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 3010 Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship 10
Select one subject from the Level 3 Law subject pool 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Level 3 Law Subject Pool

Subject Title Credit Points
LAWS 3032Intellectual Property10
LAWS 3006Australian Consumer Law10
LAWS 3005Australian Competition Law10
LAWS 3072Work Health and Safety Law10
LAWS 3046Law of Employment10

Equivalent Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of the program for students who may have passed subjects in the list in 2023 or earlier.

COMM 1032 Writing Ecologies, replaced by COMM 1044 Professional Communication