Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography)

2022 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2022 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2022 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography)
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong) * The final intake to this course was in 2021.
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	077371C Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Deakin course code	A352
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 7.
The final intake to this course was in 2021. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the Handbook archive.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin’s Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography) combines practical skills development through access to world class equipment and facilities, with knowledge of photographic history, theory and contemporary practices.

Be immersed through a variety of learning experiences including lectures, tutorials, online materials, studio workshops, fieldwork, guest speakers, gallery visits, collaborative projects, student exhibitions and industry internships, and gain direct access to leaders in the field.

You’ll experiment with creative approaches to develop fine art and commercial photography skills with an emphasis on achieving high levels of production. Core studies are complemented by work with digital technologies and other creative arts disciplines, ensuring you develop your individual voice and graduate confident for a professional career in photography.

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 21^st 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, ensuring you graduate job ready with the skills and hands-on experience highly valued by employers.

Career opportunities

Photography graduates are equipped to pursue careers as professional practitioners throughout the arts and commercial sectors. Our graduates have moved into careers in a range of fields such as:

arts education
curatorial and gallery roles
event and sports photography
fashion and portraiture
independent fine arts practice
product photography.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

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, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose 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.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as photocopying or travel.

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 common core units (totalling 12 credit points)
4 Photography discipline units
2 course electives
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

Core units

ACA100

Introductory Creative Studio 1A

ACA101

Introductory Creative Studio 1B

ACA210

Creative Studio 2A (2 credit points)

ACA211

Creative Studio 2B (2 credit points)

ACA310

Creative Studio 3A (2 credit points)

ACA311

Creative Studio 3B (2 credit points)

ACA309

Creative Careers and Contexts

ACA397

Exhibition and Performance

Photography discipline units

ACI101

Analogue Photography

ACI102

Digital Photography

ACI204

Photographic Storytelling

ACI205

Photographic Lighting

Course Electives

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

ACD103

Unit description is currently unavailable

ACD104

Exploring Dance Styles From Hip Hop to Bollywood

ACD207

Improvisation in Movement and Dance

ACD208

Dance Beyond the Studio

ACV101

Painting in the Visual Arts

ACV212

Digital Practices and the Visual Arts

ACV115

Drawing and the Body in Visual Arts

ACV213

Modelling and the Visual Arts

ACP103

Acting Studio

ACP109

Improvisation in Drama and Performance

ACP207

Dramatic Plot, Story, Character and Theme for Performance

ACP208

Theatre Technologies

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.

Contact Student Central

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.