Course codes: 2123; 2960 + Course abbreviations:
BDes(VisComm); BVisComm(Hons) + Caulfield campus + Internal mode + Three years
full-time, plus one year of honours + Course coordinator: Russell
Kennedy
All enrolled students prior to 2003 must follow the Bachelor of Design
(Visual Communication) and Bachelor of Visual Communication (Honours) course
structure which appears in the 2002 undergraduate handbook.
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 units 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, interactive media, photomedia, digital font design, computer
print, online publishing, digital audio/video, 3D design and animation.
This three-year degree contains mandatory units together with a broad range of electives. The degree structure is formed out of a sequence of units which are closely linked - the core program of Graphic design studio is supported by studio specialisations and theory units as well as ancillary units directed towards contemporary professional methods and skills. The course is structured to give students the following areas of study.
This is the main study of the course. There are studios at each year stage.
Specialist areas of study are specifically related to visual communication and cover the study of typography and methods of production.
Students study a minimum of one unit on the theory, context and cultural aspects of art and design at each level of the course.
All students take one professional practice unit at third-year level.
Students take one compulsory six-credit-point drawing unit 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.
Four units are compulsory for first and second-year levels of the course.
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. Units will generally be taken from those available within the Faculty of Art and Design, but units 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.
This additional one-year course provides intensive study in the student's selected area of specialisation. This is supported by theory and elective studies.
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 unit. Exceptions will be unit to the approval of the course coordinator.
One additional year of full-time study or two years part-time. Workload as for the pass degree.
This course is offered through the VTAC system. Entry is by portfolio, interview and ENTER. Students must have a study score of at least 25 in units 3 and 4 English (any) and a minimum ENTER of 60.
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 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.
No credit or advanced standing will be provided in this course.
For students with Australian residency this course falls within the lowest band of HECS liability. The fee for international students will be set by the vice-chancellor from time to time (currently $15,300 per annum).
Unit |
Year
1 |
Year 2 Students progressively improve their practical and intellectual skills, as they continue their educational development through core and elective units. |
Year 3 Integration of previous years study with a major focus in their chosen area. |
Total years 13 |
Year 4* A year of intensive study specifically oriented to the students chosen area of professional specialisation. |
Total years 14 | |||||
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
||||
Design studio |
C o r e |
Design studio1 6 cps |
Graphic design studio2 6 cps |
Graphic design studio3 6 cps |
Graphic design studio4 6 cps |
Graphic design studio5 12 cps |
Graphic design studio6 12 cps |
48 cps |
Graphic design studio 7 12 cps |
Graphic design studio 18 cps |
78 cps |
Drawing andvisual structures |
C o r e |
Drawing 6 cps |
6 cps |
6 cps | |||||||
Theory of art and design |
C o r e |
Introduction to design history and theory 6 cps |
Critical issues in design 6 cps |
Contemporary discourse in design 6 cps |
18 cps |
Either: a) Research methods in art and design 6 cps, or b) Design research methods and seminar 6 cps |
Either: |
30 cps | |||
Professional practice |
Professional practice 6 cps |
6 cps |
6 cps | ||||||||
Digital imaging/ photomedia |
C o r e |
Digital imaging 1 6 cps |
Photomedia 1 6 cps |
Computers for print 6 cps |
Digital imaging 2 6 cps |
24 cps |
24 cps | ||||
Studio specialisation |
Typography 1 6 cps |
Methods of production 6 cps |
12 cps |
12 cps | |||||||
Electives |
6 cps |
6 cps |
6 cps |
6 cps |
6 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 |
Note that all courses and units are subject to ongoing review and minor
amendments to improve them.
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
Unit |
Credit points |
Average taught hours per week |
Average out of class hours per week |
Total hours | |
Year 1 |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Design studio 1 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours |
Drawing 1 |
6 cps |
5 hours |
7 hours |
12 hours | |
Introduction to design history and theory |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Digital imaging 1 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
16 hours |
32 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Graphic design studio 2 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours |
Photomedia 1 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
Typography |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
Elective |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
16 hours |
32 hours |
48 hours | ||
Year 2 |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Graphic design studio 3 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours |
Methods of production |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
Computers for print 1 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
Elective |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
16 hours |
32 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Graphic design studio 4 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours |
Digital imaging 2 |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
Critical issues in design |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Elective |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Year 3 |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Graphic design studio 5 |
12 cps |
8 hours |
16 hours |
24 hours |
Professional practice |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Elective |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Graphic design studio 6 |
12 cps |
8 hours |
16 hours |
24 hours |
Contemporary discourse in design |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Elective |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Total (over three years) |
144 cps |
(15 hours average per week) |
(32 hours average perweek) |
||
Year 4* |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Graphic design studio 7 |
12 cps |
8 hours |
16 hours |
24 hours |
Either: (a) Research methods in art and design, or (b) Design research methods and seminar |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Elective |
6 cps |
4 hours |
8 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Graphic design studio 8 |
18 cps |
12 hours |
24 hours |
36 hours |
Either: (a) Research seminar in art and design, or (b) Professional practice and business planning for design |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Total (over four years) |
192 cps |
(15 hours average per week) |
(32 plus hours average per week) |
Note that all courses and units are subject to ongoing review
and minor amendments to improve them.
cps: credit points - the total student workload per week including in and
out-of-class work is normally obtained by doubling the credit points.
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