Program summary

Program title: Graduate Diploma in Arts
Award abbreviation: GDA
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time *
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2011: postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 8
USC program code: AR605
CRICOS code: 069714G

Highlights

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

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.

Admission requirements

A student entering the Graduate Diploma program will normally be required to hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognised higher education institution. Entry by non-graduates who have extensive relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Minimum English language requirements also apply.

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

• Students are required to successfully complete eight courses or equivalent that constitutes two Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences minors, one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciencs minor and one spercialisation or one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Major.
• Complete no more than two introductory level (100 level) courses to be included in the major with the exception of the Counselling Studies major.
• Complete no more than one introductory level (100 level) course to be included in each minor or specialisation with the exception of Creative Advertising, Indonesian, Italian or Japanese minors.
• Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally four courses).
• The program is a two semester equivalent full-time program that can be taken across two to six semesters, depending on discipline and course choices.
• Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.

Program structure

* Some majors and minors cannot be completed in two semesters and are therefore not available to international students on a student visa. These majors and minors can only be completed with a part-time enrolment over a minimum of four semesters. These are identified with an asterisk below. 

Required courses: (8)
Select 1 major  from:

• 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
• Sociology

OR

Select 2 minors or 1 minor and 1 specialisation from:

• 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

Specialisation

• Indigenous studies
  

TOTAL UNITS 96

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