Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography)

2020 Deakin University Handbook

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Year

2020 course information

Award granted Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography)
Course Map

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2020.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2020.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2020.

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

CampusOffered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Cloud CampusNo
Duration3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code077371C Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Deakin course codeA352
Approval statusThis 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 7.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Want to document and tell stories of the world around you through images? Develop the specialist knowledge, critical awareness and confidence required to establish yourself as an adaptive professional photographer, through Deakin's Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography). With the guidance of leading photography experts and access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, you’ll experiment, research and develop your own aesthetic sensibilities in this key medium of expression. 

Do you want to use cutting-edge equipment to explore your creativity, while learning from the best in the industry? 

Through this course, you’ll study photography as a 21st century tool for connectivity. Accessing professional-grade facilities and equipment, you’ll develop skills in:

  • chemical and digital imaging
  • portfolio creation
  • project management
  • visual communication
  • experimental practices
  • exhibition and online collaboration.

Our experienced industry practitioners and technical support staff will guide and encourage you through a combination of:

  • lectures, practical workshops and demonstrations
  • class tutorials and critique sessions
  • gallery visits
  • solo and group projects.

Guest speakers and professional practitioner presentations are a regular feature within this course and students also undertake fieldwork, industry visits and exhibitions of their own works.

Learn about the history, theory and culture of photography, and sharpen your skills through studying still and digital images, lighting design and photographic practice.

Get hands-on experience by exhibiting and showcasing your work in Deakin’s own gallery spaces, as well as through participating in external festivals, exhibitions and award programs.

Through a range of international study tours and work placement opportunities, you can gain study credits plus real-world experience. Our work-integrated learning opportunities give you a chance to build your portfolio and create valuable industry networks.

Career opportunities

Photography graduates are equipped to pursue careers as professional practitioners throughout the arts and commercial sectors. Our graduates have moved into career opportunities in roles and fields like:

  • independent fine arts practitioner
  • event and sports photographer
  • commercial portraiture
  • fashion or product photographer
  • community-based arts
  • gallery director or assistant.

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities

Interpret and apply conceptual, theoretical and technical skills in the analysis and presentation of a range of creative outcomes.

Communication

Critically employ a variety of mediums, methods and techniques to present ideas and practical work.
Digital literacy Critically evaluate, manipulate and apply a range of information technologies, digital tools, devices and environments to support and develop creative processes.

Critical thinking

Analyse and synthesize research materials across a diversity of sources and mediums to generate original and diverse creative work.

Problem solving

Apply theoretical and practical knowledge to generate and express solutions to creative arts problems

Self-management

Develop, manage and critically reflect upon the production and presentation of creative works in accordance with industry standards and personal learning goals.

Teamwork

Contribute in a constructive and respectful way to the collaborative production of creative outcomes.

Global citizenship

Engage critically, respectfully and with self-awareness when working within diverse social and cultural contexts in creative arts practice.

Approved by Faculty Board March 2019

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography) a student must complete 24 credit points including:

  • 8 x common core units (totalling 12 credit points)
  • 4 Photography discipline units
  • 2 course electives from List A
  • 6 electives
  • no more than 10 credit points at level 1
  • A minimum of 6 credit points at level 3
  • AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

Course structure

Course Electives

Complete two 1 credit point units from the following course electives List A:

ACD103Dance and Screens

ACD104Exploring Dance Styles From Hip Hop to Bollywood

ACD207Improvisation in Movement and Dance

ACD208Dance Beyond the Studio

ACV101Painting in the Visual Arts

ACV212Digital Practices and the Visual Arts

ACV115Drawing and the Body in Visual Arts

ACV213Modelling and the Visual Arts

ACP103Acting Studio

ACP109Improvisation in Drama and Performance

ACP207Dramatic Plot, Story, Character and Theme for Performance

ACP208Theatre and Creative Technologies

Course structure

Photography discipline units

ACI101Analogue Photography

ACI102Digital Photography

ACI204Photographic Storytelling

ACI205Photographic Lighting

Course structure

Core units

ACA100Introductory Creative Studio 1A

ACA101Introductory Creative Studio 1B

ACA210Creative Studio 2A (2 credit points)

ACA211Creative Studio 2B (2 credit points)

ACA310Creative Studio 3A (2 credit points)

ACA311Creative Studio 3B (2 credit points)

ACA309Creative Careers and Contexts

ACA397Exhibition and Performance

Electives

Complete six electives, of which at least two must be 2nd or 3rd level

We suggest students complete at least 4 units in a subject area different to their degree, preferably a linked sequence of study in the same area. This choice can include units from any degree in the University but is best chosen from the subject areas in the Bachelor of Creative Arts: (Dance, Drama, Visual Arts), Bachelor of Design: (Visual Communication, Digital Technologies, 3D Animation) or Bachelor of Arts programs.

Work experience

Work-integrated learning opportunities are embedded through the Bachelor of Creative Arts programs with real client briefs, opportunities for client and industry engagement and professional practice. These may be discipline specific or may introduce students to other opportunities in the diverse field of creative arts. This level of engagement occurs at first, second and third year and is core to the course. In particular we have a Creative Careers and Contexts and Exhibition and Performance units where students meet industry practitioners, visit creative industry workplaces, organise and promote a festival of exhibitions and performances and learn the appropriate practical, administrative, marketing and self-management skills required to launch and maintain their careers as creative artists in their chosen discipline. Student will develop a career development strategy that can be used to demonstrate the essential skills and knowledge for a future job application, successful pitch for funding or, development of a self-run project.


Assessment

Assessment takes place at the unit level and has been designed to ensure successful attainment of all the Course Learning Outcomes and corresponding Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes over the duration of the course.


Other course information

Course duration - additional information

Typically 150-hours of learning and assessment activities per Deakin credit point.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Other learning experiences

There are opportunities throughout the course for students to work with real briefs and real sites of professional exhibition, and to engage with industry professionals. These experiences will be integrated into units where students create and craft projects for external clients in order to more closely connect the learning experience with industry practices.