Bachelor of Design and Communication | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Design and Communication

Combine visual design skills with communication.

Turn your passion into a fulfilling career with a Bachelor of Design and Communication. Gain hands-on experience to specialise in graphic design, e-Media and 3D design. Balance this with communication studies in editing, news, television and radio journalism, creative advertising and creative writing.

Study location
  • Sippy Downs
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
074095J
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Program length (full-time)
3 years
Semester tuition fee 2017
A$11,200
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$67,200
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 011031
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 18 Rank - 61
UniSC program code
AR336
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Duration
3 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
on campus
Recommended prior study
English
Fee type 2017
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
24
Total units
288

Turn your passion into a fulfilling career with a Bachelor of Design and Communication. Gain hands-on experience to specialise in graphic design, e-Media and 3D design. Balance this with communication studies in editing, news, television and radio journalism, creative advertising and creative writing.

Our program offers guest lectures, workshops and connections with industry bodies including AGDA and Analogue Digital. You will develop the practical skills you need to design for web, print and emerging media, and learn how to communicate effectively using the language of design. Throughout your course you will produce work for real clients, develop a professional portfolio and exhibit in the USC Art Gallery giving you exposure to industry and potential employers to help you land your dream job.

You'll gain experience in areas such as advertising, journalism, television, creative writing, web design, animation, illustration, packaging, photography, typography, drawing, branding, digital design, communications and graphic design. Combined together, these elements give you the knowledge to become a highly creative visual communicator.

This degree prepares you to work in a range of creative industries, such as advertising, television, branding, merchandising, E-Media, graphic design and communication.

Majors

Communication majors: 3D design; e-media design; graphic design.

Career opportunities

Depending on courses selected, graphic design, editing, advertising, marketing, interpretive design, animation, photography, packaging, public relations, publishing, web design.

Admission requirements

Please refer to the English language entry requirements.

Program structure

Introductory courses (7)

CMN102 3D Design D
COR109 3D Design E - Internship/Professional Project
DES101 3D Design F - Professional Portfolio
DES105 Communication and Thought

PLUS select 1 course from:

CMN116 The Illuminated Screen: Introduction to Film and Television Studies
CMN120 Creative Problem Solving with Programming
CMN130 Playcentric Game Design
CMN140 Game Art: Introduction to 2D & 3D

PLUS select 2 courses from:

DES102 Serious Video Game Design Workshop
DES103 Interactive Narrative: Fundamentals
DES104 ICT Project Management
DES106

Advanced courses (12)

CMN213 Video Game Analysis

PLUS select 5 courses from:

CMN216 Serious Game Project A
CMN222 Professional Games Project
CMN224 New Venture Establishment
CMN226 ICT Internship
CMN228 ICT Industry Project
CMN231 Communication and Thought
CMN235 Think Health
CMN237 Introduction to Behavioural Health
CMN240 Public Health Foundations
CMN248 Research Foundations
CMN249 Science Research Methods
CMN302 Introductory Bioscience
CMN305 Public Relations: Contemporary Perspectives

PLUS select 6 courses from your chosen major study area:

Graphic Design major

DES211 Environment and Health
DES212 Human Anatomy
DES213 Management and Organisational Behaviour
DES214 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
DES215 An Introduction to Australian and Comparative Politics
DES216 Human Physiology

e-Media Design major

DES221 Mathematics Foundations
DES222 Functional Anatomy
DES223 Motor Control and Learning
DES224 Communication and Thought
DES225 Earth's Surface Processes, Materials and Soils
DES226 Introduction to Environmental Management

3D Design major

DES231 Biodiversity and Ecology
DES232 Science Research Methods
DES233 Plant Diversity and Ecology
DES234 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
DES235 Environmental Management Systems and Processes
DES236 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology

Please note: Students must commence the advanced design courses in Semester 1 following the successful completion of DES105 .

Elective courses (5)

Select 5 elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering). 2 electives must be advanced level (200 / 300 coded) courses.

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 288

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
  • You must select and register your compulsory major(s)/minor(s) as soon as possible
Program notes
  • The 6 advanced courses from one of the design streams, plus DES101 and DES105 , will constitute a major in that stream
  • Students must commence the advanced design courses in Semester 1, following the successful completion of DES105
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
  • As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
  • Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression
  • You may wish to use electives to complete an additional major or minor
  • Register your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)