Undergraduate courses and subjects 2000 - Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) - BDes(VisComm); Bachelor of Visual Communication (Honours)

Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) - BDes(VisComm); Bachelor of Visual Communication (Honours) - BVisComm(Hons)

General information
Structure of the course
- The pass degree
- The honours degree
Length of course/workload required
- Pass
- Honours
Admission requirements
- Pass
- Honours
Credit provision
- Pass
- Honours
Fee structure
Course program

General information

Course code: 2123 · Caulfield campus · Internal mode · Full-time: three years, plus one year of honours · Course coordinator: Russell Kennedy
The Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) is a three-year, full-time degree program of education in the discipline of graphic design. It is intended for students who may seek employment as a graphic designer in the areas of corporate identity, publishing, advertising, packaging, digital/ electronic and time-based media, illustration, information design, television, animation and interactive media.
The course consists of core subjects covering graphic design, digital and photomedia, typography, popular culture and professional practice. It is supported by studies in contemporary discourse and cultural studies relevant to art and design. Electives provide further background in advertising, marketing, interactive media, photomedia, digital font design, computer print, online publishing, digital audio/video, 3D design and animation.

Structure of the course

The pass degree

This three-year degree contains mandatory subjects together with a broad range of electives. The degree structure is formed out of a sequence of subjects which are closely linked - the core program of Graphic design studio is supported by studio specialisations and theory subjects as well as ancillary subjects directed towards contemporary professional methods and skills. The course is structured to give students the following areas of study.

Design studio (57 credit points)

This is the main study of the course. There are studios at each year stage.

Studio specialisation (6 credit points)

Specialist areas of study are specifically related to visual communication and cover the study of photomedia and methods of production.

Theory of art and design (21 credit points)

Students study a minimum of one subject on the theory, context and cultural aspects of art and design at each level of the course.

Professional practice (9 credit points)

All students take three professional practice subjects, one in each year of the course, for a total of nine credit points.

Drawing and visual structures (6 credit points)

Students take one compulsory six-credit-point drawing subject in the first year. These studies are concerned with perceptual and communication skills in the context of visual concepts and structures. It is anticipated that some students will take further studies in the drawing studio.

Digital imaging (15 credit points)

Two sequences of subjects are compulsory for first and second-year levels of the course - Digital imaging, and Computers for print. In addition, a large range of electives are available including Imaging for multimedia, Design/scripting for multimedia, On-line publishing, 3D design and animation.

Electives (30 credit points)

A range of electives from across the disciplines is available to suit individual study programs. Thirty credit points are available for elective studies, which are selected in consultation with the course coordinator. Subjects will generally be taken from those available within the Faculty of Art and Design, but subjects offered elsewhere in the university are also available. As well as the drawing and digital imaging electives, it is likely that many students may also wish to take photomedia and/or other studio studies. A typical elective program might include:

· Drawing or printmaking (6 credit points)
· Digital imaging (12 credit points)
· Other studio specialisations (6 credit points)
· Theory of art and design or related subjects from elsewhere in the university (6 credit points).

The honours degree

This additional one-year course provides intensive study in the student's selected area of specialisation. This is supported by theory and elective studies.

Studio practice (30 credit points)

Studio practice at honours level is research-oriented and is an intensive program of design activity oriented to the student's chosen area of specialisation. Students are expected to produce a proposed study program at the beginning of the academic year. Both the intentions of students and the results of their work are debated in group discussions and critical sessions.

Design management (3 credit points)

Aspects of design management and project management will be related to the student's chosen area of specialisation.

Theory of art and design (6 credit points)

The honours program incorporates a research methods component in which students will be instructed in advanced research skills. Students will be required to submit a research paper on a topic of their choice after consultation with the lecturer in charge. A research seminar will be a forum for debating issues of contemporary artistic theory.

Professional practice (3 credit points)

Students analyse the methodogies associated with their studio practice projects.

Electives (6 credit points)

A range of electives from across the disciplines is available to suit individual study programs.

Length of course/workload required

Pass

Three years of full-time study. The expected number of hours per week for a full-time student is 48 (contact and non-contact). An 80 per cent attendance record for studios, lectures, seminars etc is required before a student may present for assessment in any subject. Exceptions will be subject to the approval of the course coordinator.

Honours

One additional year of full-time study or two years part-time. Workload as for the pass degree.

Admission requirements

Pass

Entry by portfolio, interview and ENTER. This course is offered through the VTAC system.

Honours

Completion of the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) pass degree at an average level of credit or higher. Depending upon the number of places available, students may also be required to submit a portfolio of studio work for selection into the honours program.

Credit provision

Pass

Credit will be granted for equivalent studies completed elsewhere at approved institutions. Advanced standing in the course for students who have completed part of similar courses at Australian or international universities will be considered up to a maximum of two years and in accordance with other regulations of Monash University. Each application for credit or advanced standing will be considered on its own merits.

Honours

No credit or advanced standing will be provided in this course.

Fee structure

Students who are Australian residents will enter the course under HECS band one. Foreign students may be permitted entry on payment of fees as determined by the vice-chancellor (currently $12,500 pa).

Subject		Year 1		Year 2		Year 3		Total years 13	Year 4		Total years 14
		Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 1	Semester 2		Semester 1	Semester 2
Drawing and visual concepts	C o r e	Drawing1D (visual comm.) 6 cps						6 cps			6 cps

Theory of art and design	C o r e	History of pre-industrial art and design 6 cps	Visual culture and media of the industrial age 6 cps	Modernism and visual challenge2 B 3 cps	Perspective on post-war practices2B 3 cps	Popular culture and contemp. commu.3B 3 cps		21 cps	Research methods in design 3 cps	Research seminar in design 3 cps	27 cps

Professional practice	C o r e		Effective comm. 3 cps	Professional practice D 3 cps			Project planning and research for visual comm. 3 cps	9 cps	Business managem't for design 3 cps	Project seminar 3 cps	15 cps

Digital imaging	C o r e	Digital imaging1 3 cps	Digital imaging2 3 cps	Digital imaging3 3 cps Computers for print1 3 cps	Computers for print2 3 cps			15 cps			15 cps

Design studio	C o r e	Graphic design studio1 3 cps Design studio1 3 cps	Graphic design studio2 3 cps Typographic studies1 3 cps	Graphic design studio3 6 cps	Graphic design studio4 6 cps Design discourse1 3 cps	Graphic design studio5 12 cps Design discourse2 3 cps	Graphic design studio6 12 cps Design discourse3 3 cps	57 cps	Project studies 12 cps	Major project 18 cps	87 cps

Studio specialisation	C o r e	Photo-media1 3 cps			Methods of production 3 cps			6 cps			9 cps

Electives			6 cps	6 cps	6 cps	3 cps	3 cps	30 cps	6 cps		36 cps
Total		24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	24 cps	144 cps	24 cps	24 cps	192 cps

cps: credit points - the total student workload per week including in and out of class work is normally obtained by doubling the credit points.

Course program

	Subject	Credit points	Average taught hours per week	Average out of class hours per week	Total hours
Year 1
Semester 1	Drawing 1D (visual communication)	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
	History of pre-industrial art and design	6 cps	3 hours	9 hours	12 hours
	Digital imaging 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Design studio 1	3 cps	3 hours	3 hours	6 hours
	Photomedia 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Graphic design studio 1	3 cps	4 hours	2 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	18 hours	30 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Visual culture and media of the industrial age	6 cps	3 hours	9 hours	12 hours
	Digital imaging 2	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Graphic design studio 2	3 cps	4 hours	2 hours	6 hours
	Typographic studies 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Effective communication	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Plus two electives:
	Elective 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Elective 2	3cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	17 hours	31 hours	48 hours
Year 2
Semester 1	Modernism and viual challenge2B	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Computers for print 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Digital imaging 3	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Graphic design studio 3	6 cps	6 hours	6 hours	12 hours
	Professional practice D	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Plus two electives:
	Elective 3	3cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Elective 4	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	18 hours	30 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Perspectives on post-war practices2B	3 cps	2 hours	4.5 hours	6 hours
	Computers for print 2	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Design discourse 1	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Methods of production	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Graphic design studio 4	6 cps	6 hours	6 hours	12 hours
	Plus two electives:
	Elective 5	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Elective 6	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	18 hours	30 hours	48 hours
Year 3
Semester 1	Popular culture and contemporary communication3B	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Design discourse 2	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Graphic design studio 5	12 cps	10 hours	14 hours	24 hours
	Plus two electives:
	Elective 7	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Elective 8	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	or one elective 9	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
		24 cps	18 hours	30 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Design discourse 3	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Graphic design studio 6	12 cps	10 hours	14 hours	24 hours
	Project planning and research for visual communication	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Plus one elective:
	Elective 10	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
		24 cps	18 hours	30 hours	48 hours
Total (over three years)		144 cps	(17.8 hours average per week)	(30 hours average per week)
Year 4
Semester 1	Research methods in design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Project studies (visual communication)	12 cps	8 hours	16 hours	24 hours
	Business management for design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Plus two electives:
	Elective 11	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Elective 12	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	or one elective 13	6 cps	4 hours	8 hours	12 hours
		24 cps	16 hours	32 hours	48 hours
Semester 2	Research seminar in design	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
	Major project (visual communication)	18 cps	12 hours	24 hours	36 hours
	Project seminar (visual communication)	3 cps	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
		24 cps	16 hours	32 hours	48 hours
Total (over four years)		192 cps	(17 hours average per week)	(30 plus hours average per week)

Teaching hours quoted are based on student groups of 20. Where group size is less than 20, some consolidation of teaching will occur.

Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) - BDes(VisComm); Bachelor of Visual Communication (Honours) - BVisComm(Hons)

(30 plus hours average per week)