Associate Degree of Arts

2021 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2021 course information
Award granted	Associate Degree of Arts
Course Map	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021: General Stream Criminology Stream These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021: General Stream Criminology Stream These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2021: General Stream Criminology Stream Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Burwood (Melbourne) Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Duration	2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Deakin course code	A250
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 6.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

University can be a challenge, which is why we’ve designed a course that offers you a supported learning environment and a guaranteed pathway into Deakin's Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Criminology. The Associate Degree of Arts teaches you the learning skills you need to be successful at university, including communication, digital literacy, critical thinking and teamwork skills.

From day one you’ll be a part of the Deakin community and campus atmosphere. From your first trimester, you’ll also complete units from your target degree (depending on which stream you choose) to ensure you are ready to transition into your bachelor degree.

Choose from the general or criminology stream and learn how to navigate university in a supportive learning environment. You’ll experience smaller class sizes with world-class teachers in our state-of-the-art facilities, and get a taste of what it takes to become a successful university student.

Are you interested in studying at university but not sure you meet the entry requirements for a bachelor degree?

Deakin’s Associate Degree of Arts is the perfect stepping stone to university study. You’ll benefit from supported entry into tertiary study, while building your confidence and skills to complete your target degree.

In addition to foundation units, you can follow your passions by choosing from a range of electives including:

advertising
anthropology
children’s literature
creative writing
design
history
international relations
journalism
media studies
public relations
sociology
visual arts.

If you’re choosing the criminology stream, you’ll learn the core theories and knowledge around crime, as well as having the opportunity to select a range of electives to complement your studies.

Studying an associate degree prepares you to successfully complete further university study setting you up for a wider range of career opportunities.

Career opportunities

Upon graduation from the Associate Degree of Arts, you’ll have the opportunity to continue studying or use the degree as a standalone qualification. You’ll have guaranteed entry into our Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Criminology depending on which specialisation you take, plus receive credit that could put you straight into your second year.

You’ll also have the opportunity to apply to transition into other bachelor degrees, including communication, design, psychology, health science, nursing, commerce, management or science.

An associate degree equips you with the skills to succeed in both university and your career.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Pathways

Students who successfully complete the A250 Associate Degree of Arts are guaranteed entry into A300 Bachelor of Arts (General stream students) or A329 Bachelor of Criminology (Criminology Stream students) and may receive up to 16 credit points of Recognition of Prior Learning into these courses.

Following successful completion of the Associate Degree of Arts, students may also apply to transition, with credit, into a selected range of other Bachelor degrees, including Communications, Psychology, Health Science, Nursing, Commerce, Management or Science (including Marine Biology).

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes (Generic Stream)
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Acquire broad theoretical knowledge of and academic skills in the Arts, with some depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines or areas of practice in the Humanities, Social Sciences and/or the Creative Arts. Develop cognitive, technical and creative skills to understand discipline specific language in the Arts and apply this knowledge in employment contexts or for further studies.
Communication	Acquire skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to use these skills to coherently present knowledge and ideas in a range or contexts.
Digital literacy	Research, analyse and communicate information in using knowledge of, and technical skills in a range of digital technologies.
Critical thinking	Use cognitive skills to identify analyse and critically evaluate information through the application of principles, concepts and techniques in one or more disciplines or areas of practice in the Humanities, Social Sciences and/or the Creative Arts.
Problem solving	Apply cognitive, technical and analytical skills and knowledge of principles and concepts in the Arts to investigate and transmit responses to sometimes complex problems in the Humanities, Social Sciences and/or the Creative Arts.
Self-management	Act with autonomy, responsibility and accountability in learning and working independently and in collaboration with others in professional, and scholarly contexts.
Teamwork	Work and learn collaboratively with others and as a member of a team.
Global citizenship	Understand and appreciate international perspectives in a global environment and act with awareness of ethics, cultural diversity and social responsibility in academic and work environments.

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes (Criminology Stream)
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Review and analyse major social science theories and key criminological concepts, theories and technical knowledge relating to crime and criminal justice issues, including the causes and consequences of crime, ways of responding to crime, and core debates in policing and security as well as broader issues of policy and politics, inclusion and exclusion, governing and governance, security, social justice, citizenship and human rights.
Communication	Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of criminological concepts, theories and technical knowledge, in a selection of written, digital and oral formats, to a range of audiences.
Digital literacy	Employ a range of generic and specialist criminal justice-specific digital communication technologies to apply criminological knowledge, conduct research and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of audiences.
Critical thinking	Analyse and critically evaluate theoretical approaches to crime problems and current policies and practices of governments and criminal justice practitioners and professions.
Problem solving	Employ initiative and creativity in conjunction with accepted evidence-based criminological methods to identify solutions to sometimes complex problems in criminology.
Self-management	Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a continued commitment to learning and skills development in the criminological field.
Teamwork	Work and learn collaboratively with others in the criminology field and from different disciplines and backgrounds while still maintaining responsibility for their own learning.
Global citizenship	Analyse and address criminological issues in the domestic and global context taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards.

Course rules

To qualify for the Associate Degree of Arts students will be required to complete 16 credit points of study, comprising:

4 credit points of foundation units
12 credit points of units taken from the General stream or the Criminology stream
a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

Course structure

Foundation units

EAD110

Communication Skills for Study and Work

EAD111

Digital Literacy: Finding, Evaluating and Interpreting Information

EAD112

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Using Analysis to Develop Solutions

EAD113

Teamwork: Working Constructively with Others

General stream

Major Sequence areas to be chosen from the Bachelor of Arts (A300).
Please read the A300 course entry carefully for details of which major sequences are available at each campus location.

2 units from a first major sequence at level 1

2 units from a second major sequence at level 1

2 units from first major sequence at level 2

2 units from second major sequence at level 2

2 additional units from either the first or second major at level 2

2 electives at level 1 or 2 *

Maximum of 10 credit points at level 1

* Electives may be taken from inside or outside the Faculty of Arts and Education. Electives in year 1 are recommended to be level 1 only.