Combine your visual design skills with studies in 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.
- 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 2024 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.
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 Business Analytics
COR109 Introduction to Marketing
DES101 Accounting for Business
DES105 Introduction to Informatics
PLUS select 1 course from:
CMN116 Business Law and Ethics
CMN120 Tourism, Leisure and Special Interests
CMN130 Tourism, Sport and Leisure Policy and Planning
CMN140 Sustainable Tourism, Leisure and Event Management
PLUS select 2 courses from:
DES102 Technology and Innovation in Tourism, Leisure and Events
DES103 Business Events
DES104 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
DES106 Event Management
Advanced courses (12)
CMN213 Communication and Thought
PLUS select 5 courses from:
CMN214 Professional Experience: Orientation to the Profession
CMN216 Mathematics Foundations
CMN222 Calculus and Algebra
CMN224 Science Research Methods
CMN226 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
CMN227 Applied Systems Modelling
CMN228 Individual Learner Needs
CMN231 Professional Experience: Managing Learning Environments
CMN235 Teaching Junior Secondary History
CMN237 Teaching Junior Secondary Mathematics
CMN240 Teaching Senior Secondary History
CMN248 Teaching Senior Secondary Mathematics
CMN249 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics
PLUS select 6 courses from your chosen major study area:
Graphic Design major
DES211 Diversity and Inclusion
DES212 Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
DES213 Secondary Assessment and Reporting
DES214 Professional Experience: Individual Learner Needs
DES215 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching
DES216 The Psychology of Learning
e-Media Design major
DES221 Using Data for Learning
DES222 Secondary Professional Learning: The Professional Empowered and Engaged
DES223 Second Language Acquisition and Learning
DES224 Second Language Teaching Methodologies
DES225 Interlanguage Phonology
DES226 Language, Culture and Second Language Learning
3D Design major
DES231 Introduction to Screen and Media Industries
DES232 Creative Production
DES233 Writing for Screens
DES234 Screen Media Production
DES235 Screen Media and Pop Culture
DES236 Animation Principles, Process and Production
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, 2 must be advanced level (200 / 300 coded) courses.
Up to 5 electives may be from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Note: 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:
- Complete 7 required introductory level (100 coded) courses
- Complete 12 required advanced level (200/300 coded) courses
- Complete 5 elective courses, 2 must be advanced level (200/300 coded) courses
- Complete a major design area
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses, including the core course
- Complete no more than 6 courses from the School of Business or Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Register your selected major and/or minor
Program notes
- 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 including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Faculty Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues
- The 6 advanced courses from one of the design streams, plus DES101 and DES105 , will constitute a major in that stream
- Some of the required introductory courses may count towards some majors and minors
- Students must commence the advanced design courses in Semester 1, following the successful completion of DES105
- When enrolling, refer to Study Plan