Bachelor of Design/ Bachelor of Media and Communication
with a major in Communication Design – Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Selected major: Communication Design
Explore the communication imperative in a commercial environment and learn how to respond confidently to design problems. Explore an area of specialisation and produce a portfolio that demonstrates diverse idea generation and production skills.
Majors for Bachelor of Design:
Branded EnvironmentsCommunication DesignMotion DesignPhotomediaUX Interaction DesignMajors for Bachelor of Media and Communication:
AdvertisingCreative Writing and Publishing MajorImmersive Media MajorJournalismSocial MediaThe Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Media and Communication is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to harness creativity in design, and bring designs to life in professional communication industries.
Students will gain in-depth knowledge across the discipline of design, as well as additional skills in management, writing, business, media planning and more – making graduates well-prepared for a wide variety of both creative and managerial opportunities in creative communications and media.
All our bachelor degrees include a guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunity, which could be a placement, internship or industry-linked project. In this double degree, you’ll work on industry-linked projects relevant to your major areas of study.
Start dates
Hawthorn campus
- Semester 1 - 26 February 2024
- Semester 2 - 29 July 2024
VTAC codes
- 3400211231 (CSP)
- 3400211233 (IFP)
Course details
- Course structure, work integrated learning, career opportunities and professional recognition.
Course structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Design/ Bachelor of Media and Communication 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Concepts and Narratives | DCO10001 | 12.5 |
| Digital Design | DCO10002 | 12.5 |
| Photography for Design | DCO10004 | 12.5 |
| Typography | DCO10005 | 12.5 |
| 20th Century Design | DDD10001 | 12.5 |
| Brand and Identity Design * | DCO20001 | 12.5 |
| Web Design | DCO20004 | 12.5 |
| Contemporary Design Issues | DDD20004 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Media Studies | MDA10001 | 12.5 |
| Global Media Industries | MDA10008 | 12.5 |
| Communicating with Data | MDA10012 | 12.5 |
| Content Creator Lab | MDA10018 | 12.5 |
+
Selected major: Communication Design
Explore the communication imperative in a commercial environment and learn how to respond confidently to design problems. Explore an area of specialisation and produce a portfolio that demonstrates diverse idea generation and production skills.
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Design | DCO10003 | 12.5 |
| Visual Communication Studio | DCO10007 | 12.5 |
| Typography for Print and Interactive Publication | DCO20009 | 12.5 |
| Design for Production * | DCO30002 | 12.5 |
| Publication Design * | DDD30013 | 12.5 |
| Communication Design Capstone Project * | DDD30047 | 25 |
| Communication Design Strategy * | DDD30048 | 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.
Professional Placement in Design
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience In Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A – Design | DDD20031 | 25 |
| Work Experience In Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B – Design | DDD20032 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Media and Communication
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication | MDA20016 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B - Media and Communication | MDA20017 | 25 |
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.
Professional Placement in Design
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience In Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A – Design | DDD20031 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Media and Communication
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication | MDA20016 | 25 |
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 learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Bachelor of Design - Demonstrate knowledge and cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and apply this with initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship
- Bachelor of Design - Demonstrate technical and practical skills, and a broad understanding of key concepts in their chosen field of study
- Bachelor of Design - Demonstrate knowledge and cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems independently and collaboratively, in diverse contexts
- Bachelor of Design - Apply communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas to different audiences and stakeholders
- Bachelor of Design - Apply cognitive and technical skills and to principles of sustainability and respectful design to their knowledge and development of their design solution with responsibility and accountability
- Bachelor of Design - Exercise organisational and leadership skills, and demonstrate the ability to plan and execute a project and/or piece of research with groups that may include academics, industry professionals and students
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Identify and contextualise the impacts of digital transformation on media and communication industries, audiences and professional and creative practices
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Analyse diverse socio-cultural influences on media and communication practices and their impact on audiences in Indigenous, local and global contexts
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Demonstrate critical thinking, including theoretical, practice-led and decolonised approaches, within a specialised media and communication discipline
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Initiate professional approaches to planning, problem-solving and decision-making in a range of media and communication activities and processes, both individually and in collaboration with others
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Design creative and professional media and communication artefacts that focus on examining the relationship between people and technology for social impact
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Explore innovative use of new media and communication technologies to engage, influence and build communities for next generation media futures
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Engage ethical approaches to research methodologies for socially responsible, just and fair content creation strategies
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Apply learning from Indigenous, global and cross-cultural communication contexts to support accountability, self-assessment and independence in lifelong learning
Career opportunities
Bachelor of Design graduate careers may include junior level designer positions working in communication/graphic design, user experience design, motion design, branding and environments as well as photomedia design. Bachelor of Media and Communication graduates will be well qualified for positions in professional roles in agencies, not-for-profits, government departments, small business and large organisations. These include roles as media content creators, media managers, social media channel and platform specialists, journalists, publicists, radio producers, archivists, writers, and curators.
Professional recognition
On completion of the qualification, students may be eligible to become members of the following industry and peak bodies, and should confirm their eligibility with the association:
- Melbourne Art Directors Club (MADC)
- Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA)
- Design Institute of Australia (DIA)
Students completing the Public Relations major will be able to apply for student membership of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and apply for full membership immediately on completion of their program.
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, pathways, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
How to apply
Applications for Semester 1 for courses listed on the VTAC Guide are generally made through VTAC. Under certain circumstances, some students (e.g. Non-Year 12) may apply directly to Swinburne. Find out more about how to apply.
Applications for all other intakes should be made directly to Swinburne.
View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.