Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design

Why study this course?

CSU’s Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design offers students the opportunity to create their own interdisciplinary degree where they can study areas they are truly passionate about. Students can tailor their degree by selecting from a variety of creative arts and design specialisations including animation and visual effects, graphic design and photography. There is also the opportunity to include elective subjects from other School of Communication and Creative Industries programs with Course Coordinator approval.

Students studying photography subjects will cover photo-techniques from analogue to the latest digital imaging and will learn a wide range of photographic skills and practices from fine art to commercial. Diversity underpins the graphic design specialisation with a cross-section of subjects covering all aspects of design, advertising and new media, including web and video applications. The animation and visual effects specialisation covers a range of areas including traditional and 3D animation and visual effects, with particular emphasis towards the digital realm.

Subjects provide a blend of theory and practice and provide students with skills in communication, problem solving and ethical understanding, as well as studio-based skills in their chosen areas of study. Graduates of the Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design will have a well-developed aesthetic sense, strong visual problem solving skills and be technically well equipped to produce innovative and exciting work for a range of applications.

Career opportunities

This course is a flexible, generalist undergraduate degree leading to a wide range of employment opportunities in the creative industries.

Find out where this course can take you

Supplementary consultations

One of the unique things about CSU's Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design is that we have small class sizes, which allow intensive learning and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students, as well as the opportunity to work with the latest software and learning tools, not just watch the work being done. This makes our course very competitive. To give you the best opportunity to gain entry into the Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design, CSU offers you the opportunity to undertake a supplementary course consultation as part of your application process. This gives you the chance to meet with the course lecturers and demonstrate your interest, enthusiasm and talent for this career area, as well as finding out more about the course, our excellent facilities and exceptional work placements.

Hands-on experience

On campus students receive hands-on experience by working collaboratively or individually on a range of projects. The graphic design specialisation requires students to work collaboratively with small clients and/or non-profit organisations researching, designing and developing a variety of promotional strategies and awareness campaigns for their client.

Course structure

Students complete a suite of core subjects which provide foundational and contextual knowledge and skills. One third of the degree is made up of subjects chosen from the three creative arts and design specialisation areas. A minor or elective sequence adds breadth, enabling students to select subjects from another discipline area. Minor studies can be chosen from areas such as acting, advertising, art history, design for theatre and television, imagemaking and illustration, sound or television production.

More information about the course structure

Graduation requirements

To graduate with CSU’s Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design students must satisfactorily complete 192 subject points.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.