Program summary

Program title: Graduate Certificate in Arts
Award abbreviation: GCA
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 6 months minimum full-time, 2 years maximum part-time
Commence: Semester 1
Fee type 2011: postgraduate coursework places
Total courses: 4
USC program code: AR505
CRICOS code: Not available to international students on a student visa

Highlights

• Acquire new skills sets or knowledge
• Add value to your existing qualifications
• Choose your study area from a diverse range of fields 

Upgrade your skills and increase your employment opportunities.

In a time when employees experience several changes of career during their work life, it is beneficial to acquire different skills sets and knowledge. The graduate Arts programs afford you the opportunity to follow your interests, to enhance your quality of life aspirations, or to satisfy curiosity-driven study.

Complete the Graduate Certificate in Arts and add value to your existing qualifications by completing a suite of four thematically based courses. The Graduate Certificate is a one-semester-equivalent full-time program that you can study across one to four semesters depending on your choice of discipline and courses. You may require a Blue Card depending on the courses you choose.

The Graduate Diploma in Arts extends the offer by allowing you to study a suite of eight thematically based courses in your chosen discipline. You may elect to study all eight courses in one area, effectively completing a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences major; or you can complete two complementary minors or one minor and one specialisation. This is a two-semester-equivalent full-time program. You can complete it across two to six semesters, depending on your discipline and course choices.

You can select a minor in any of the following disciplines: 3D Design; Australian Studies; Child Protective Practices; Communication Studies; Community Development; Comparative Studies; Creative Advertising; Creative Writing; e-Media Design; English; Geography; Graphic Design; History; Indonesian; Italian; Japanese; Justice Studies; Legal Studies; Planning Studies; Politics and International Relations; Public Policy; Public Relations; Sociology or a specialisation in Indigenous Studies.

For Graduate Diploma students, majors are available in: 3D Design; Australian Studies; Communication Studies; Counselling Studies; Creative Writing; e-Media Design; English; Geography; Graphic Design; History; Human Services, Indonesian; Italian; Japanese; Journalism; Justice Studies; Politics and International Relations; Public Relations; or Sociology.

Study Plan

This Study Plan is valid from Study Period 1, 2011.

For students who commenced study in this program prior to Study Period 1, 2011:

• Find the Student Handbook for the semester in which you commenced.
• Select the program in which you are enrolled.
• Scroll down to your relevant Program Structure.

Program requirements and notes

• The program is a one semester equivalent full-time program that can be taken across one to four semesters depending on discipline and course choices.
• Students are required to successfully complete 4 courses or equivalent that constitutes a Faculty of Arts and Social Science minor or specialisation.
• When selecting your courses within a minor or a specialisation, select no more than one introductory (100 level) course, with the exception of the following minors: Creative Advertising, Indonesian, Italian and Japanese.
• Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).

Program structure

Required courses: (4)
Select 1 minor or 1 specialisation from:

• 3D Design
• Australian Studies
• Child Protective Practices
• Communication Studies
• Community Development
• Comparative Studies
• Creative Advertising
• Creative Writing
• e-Media Design
• English
• Planning Studies
• Graphic Design
• History
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Justice Studies
• Legal Studies
• Politics and International Relations
• Public Policy
• Public Relations
• Sociology

Specialisation

• Indigenous studies

TOTAL UNITS 48

Enquiries 

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259

Program Leader
Dr Elizabeth Eddy
Tel: +61 7 5430 1269
Email: EEddy@usc.edu.au

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