Bachelor of Animation/ Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
An art form that’s been around for over a century, animation is fuelled by creativity and constant innovation. And you can make the most of this powerful combination with the unique Bachelor of Animation/Bachelor of Applied Innovation double degree.
Our animation course provides a solid understanding of the practice of animation techniques, film, television and animation history and theory, and the development of narrative structures. Taught in purpose-built studios and workstations, it emphasises creative, analytical and research skills, with hands-on experience in 2D, 3D and stop-motion animation for film, television, games and interactive entertainment, media and design industries, and health, science and engineering visualisation.
Alongside your animation degree, your Bachelor of Applied Innovation develops your collaboration, creativity and complex problem-solving skills in real-world contexts. You’ll apply innovation toolkits, prototype solutions and participate in challenges such as innovation sprints inspired by your passions and interests. You’ll gain the practical and technical skills to think strategically about how to employ innovative ideas in your animation studies and broader society.
Both qualifications promise experiential learning through real-world placements, internships or industry-related project work.
Emerge as a top employment choice with a unique combination of animation industry and professional innovation skills and knowledge. Pursue a career in the film, television and animation industries, or allied creative industries such as games, web broadcasting, education and digital media. Or take an innovation-based path with job options such as innovation consultant, strategic designer, human-centred researcher, transformation lead, or innovation strategist.
Start dates
Hawthorn campus
- Semester 1 - 26 February 2024
- Semester 2 - 29 July 2024
VTAC codes
- 3400212781 (CSP)
- 3400212783 (IFP)
Course details
- Description, course structure and career opportunities.
Course structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Animation/ Bachelor of Applied Innovation requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
View course rules and special requirements
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Animation | ANI10001 | 12.5 |
| 2D Production Techniques for Animation | ANI10002 | 12.5 |
| History of Animation | ANI10003 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Character and Environment Design | ANI10004 | 12.5 |
| 3D Production Techniques for Animation | ANI10005 | 12.5 |
| Action Analysis and Locomotion | ANI10006 | 12.5 |
| Advanced Character Design for Animation | ANI20001 | 12.5 |
| Acting for Animation * | ANI20003 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Exploring Creativity and Innovation | INV10001 | 12.5 |
| Fundamentals of Innovation Practice | INV10002 | 12.5 |
| Innovation Sandpit | INV10003 | 12.5 |
| Responsible Innovation Futures | INV10004 | 12.5 |
+
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Design and Acquisition | FTV10005 | 12.5 |
| Genre and the Moving Image | FTV10006 | 12.5 |
| Writing and Directing for Animation | ANI20002 | 12.5 |
| Producing and Production Management for Animation * | ANI20004 | 12.5 |
| Major Project: Development and Pre-Production * | ANI30001 | 12.5 |
| Major Project: Production and Post Production * | ANI30002 | 25 |
| Major Project: Screen Writing * | FTV30014 | 12 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Innovation for Challenges of Today | INV20001 | 12.5 |
| Innovation for the Future * | INV20002 | 12.5 |
| Applied Innovation Internship | INV20003 | 12.5 |
| Applied Innovation Studio A * | INV30001 | 25 |
| Applied Innovation Studio B * | INV30002 | 25 |
| Leadership and Facilitation of Innovation | INV30003 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
Other studies
4 units (50 credit points)
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
Work Integrated Learning
Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning program provides additional opportunities for you to gain valuable skills and real industry experience in the form of placements, internships or study tours - all while earning credit towards your degree.
Choose a Work Integrated Learning option:
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement co-major has four 25 credit point units.
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You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 6 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement minor has two 25 credit point units.
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A Professional Internship is all about gaining valuable real-world skills in your area of study all while earning credit points towards your degree. Plus, it looks great on your CV as it shows you’ve had real industry experience before you’ve even graduated!
You might choose to complete your internship part-time over a semester or in a more intensive block during Summer or Winter terms.
Travel overseas, discover other cultures, enrich your professional experience and enhance your CV all while gaining credit towards your course.
- Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
- Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
- One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
- See the course planner for an example degree structure
Course description
The Bachelor of Animation/Bachelor of Applied Innovation provides a program of learning that covers a broad understanding of animation through the practice of animation techniques, film, television and animation history and theory, and the development of animation-narrative structures, applying innovation toolkits, prototype solutions and participate in challenges, such as innovation sprints and interdisciplinary projects, including activities inspired by their passions and interests. The double degree emphasises creative, analytical and research skills in all aspects and types of animation production in an interdisciplinary approach that complements animation studies by developing students’ future workforce capabilities such as cross-disciplinary collaboration, creativity and complex problem-solving, persistence, curiosity and initiative in real-world contexts. The course will help students create a portfolio for future employability, with industry experience and additional practical skills. As innovators, students will be prepared to conceive, develop and deliver transformative projects as well as adapt to uncertain and changing contexts to secure or create fulfilling employment opportunities.
Course learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Exercise critical thinking and judgement to articulate concepts and solve problems across a range of animation media and contexts
- Analyse, critically review, consolidate and synthesise knowledge of animation to inform creative and technical decision-making
- Apply cognitive and technical skills to pre-visualise and produce animation within linear or interactive narrative structures
- Demonstrate a breadth of creative and production techniques to craft high quality characters, objects, environments and their animation
- present a clear, coherent and independent articulation of animation topics, genres and trends within the field of animation
- show initiative and judgement during the development, production and management of animated concepts
- compare, select and apply best-practice production techniques and workflows to different animation mediums and contexts
- extend communication and organisational skills to manage animation projects and tasks with personal responsibility and accountability
- perceive organisational, social, legal and ethical issues, and address these within the development, production and distribution of animated productions.
- Perceive organisational, social, legal and ethical issues, and address these within the development, production and distribution of animated productionss
- Apply a series of thinking systems, creativity toolkits and innovation frameworks to design contextually-relevant solutions addressing local and global challenges in and outside their discipline
- Identify and articulate opportunities to innovate and create impact informed by user-centred research and/or data
- Adapt their discipline skillsets in new situations in response to complex and changing contexts, including interdisciplinary environments
- Facilitate and contribute to innovation teams that seek solutions to complex challenges, using inclusive collaboration practices to leverage different skills and perspectives
- Navigate commercial, human and technical requirements aided by prototyping and testing to deliver solutions that create value
- Communicate the value of experimentation, ideas and innovation with confidence in developing solutions to investors, potential partners, employers or other stakeholders
- Develop futures-focused innovations that integrate responsible social, technological and environmental factors
Course structure
To qualify for the double award of Bachelor of Animation/Bachelor of Applied Innovation students must complete 400 credit points comprising:
- Twelve [12] core units of study (150 credit points)
- Seven [7] units of study from the Animation major (100 credit points)
- Six [6] units of study from the Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
- Four [4] units of other studies comprising a minor, advanced minor or electives (50 credit points)
Students may not complete more than 200 credit points (normally 16 units) at Introductory Level.
A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.
Professional Placements
Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement through a competitive selection process. Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake Professional Placements in this course.
Students who undertake a 12 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:
- Twelve [12] core units of study (150 credit points)
- Seven [7] units of study from the Animation major (100 credit points)
- Six [6] units of study from the Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
- Two [2] units of other studies comprising a minor, advanced minor or electives (25 credit points)
- Four [4] units of study of the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points)
Students who elect to undertake a 6 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:
- Twelve [12] core units of study (150 credit points)
- Seven [7] units of study from the Animation major (100 credit points)
- Six [6] units of study from the Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
- Three [3] units of other studies comprising a minor, advanced minor or electives (37.5 credit points)
- Two [2] units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points)
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Animation/Bachelor of Applied Innovation is 200 credit points (normally 16 units), 100 credit points maximum from each discipline
Career opportunities
Applied Innovation career outcomes will vary depending on discipline focus and individual majors, and complement discipline employability skills through innovation capabilities. Graduates will have the skills and attributes for a range of professional innovation roles including Innovation Consultant, Innovation Lead, Innovation Analyst, Strategic Designer, Creative Producer, Start-up Founder, Human-Centred Researcher, Self-employed Entrepreneur, Product Manager, Transformation Lead, Innovation Strategist and Innovation Manager.
Fees
Find out more about fees.
Scholarships
At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students.
How to enter this course
- Entry requirements, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
How to apply
Find out more about how to apply.
View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.