Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

• Complete 20 required courses and 4 electives.
• Complete a major design area and a minor design area.
• Complete no more than 10 introductory level courses including core courses.
• Complete no more than 6 courses from the School of Business or Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
• Register your selected Majors and Minors with Student Administration.

Program notes

• Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).

• The 6 advanced courses from one of the design streams, plus DES101 and DES105, will constitute a major in that stream. The 4 advanced courses from one of the design streams will constitute a minor in that stream.

• Students can convert their chosen minor into a second major by taking 2 further advanced DES courses in that stream.
• Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
• As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the Global Opportunities (GO) Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues.
• Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
• Students must commence the advanced design courses in Semester 1 following the successful completion of DES105.
• When enrolling, refer to the [TabLink top Study Plan]Study Plan.

Program structure

Core courses 

Select 2 core courses from:
COR109
COR110
COR111

Introductory courses

7 required introductory courses:
CMN102
DES101 Elements of Design
DES102
DES103 Fundamentals of Photography
DES104 Art, Design and Digital Culture
DES105 Design Methods
DES106

Advanced courses

1 required advanced course:
CMN213

PLUS select 10 required advanced courses from: 
Select 6 advanced courses from one of the following streams for a major, and select 4 advanced courses from a second stream for a minor.

Graphic Design:

DES211 Visual Identity
DES212 Visual Communication and Culture
DES213
DES214
DES215
DES216

e-Media:

DES221 Introduction to Interactive Media
DES222 Responsive Design and Technology
DES223
DES224
DES225
DES226

3D Design:

DES231 Animation Principles, Process and Production
DES232 Visualisation and Sonification
DES233
DES234
DES235
DES236

Elective courses

Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).

TOTAL UNITS 288

Study Plan

The Bachelor of Computer Based Design Study Plan is for students commencing in the current semester.

Core courses (2)

Complete 2 core courses.

Select 2 core courses from:

Course	Semester of offer	Units	Requisites
COR109 Business Law and Ethics
COR110 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
COR111 Evidenced Based Decision Making

Required introductory courses (8)

Course	Semester of offer	Units	Requisites
CMN102 Finance and Accounting for Managers
DES101 Introduction to Applied Mathematics
DES102 Introductory Calculus
DES103 Calculus II and Linear Algebra
DES104 Discrete Mathematics
DES105 Marketing Essentials
DES106 Advertising Campaigns
CMN213 Creative and Interactive Advertising

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

Required advanced courses (10)

Select 6 advanced courses from one of the following streams for a major, and select 4 advanced courses from a second stream for a minor.

Graphic Design:

Course	Semester of offer	Units	Requisites
DES211 Marketing Communication
DES212 Communication and Thought
DES213 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
DES214 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
DES215 Communication Theory and Practice
DES216 Visual Literacy: Design Principles and Practice

e-Media:

Course	Semester of offer	Units	Requisites
DES221 Ways of Seeing: Understanding Images
DES222 Digital Photographic Practice
DES223 Visual Worlds: An Introduction to Art and Design History
DES224 Introduction to Design
DES225 Typography
DES226 Editing for the Communications Professional

3D Design:

Course	Semester of offer	Units	Requisites
DES231 Graphic Design A
DES232 Visualisation and Sonification	Sunshine Coast: Semester 2 Moreton Bay: Semester 2 Online: Semester 2	12
DES233
DES234
DES235
DES236

Elective courses (4)

Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).