Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography)
2023 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2023 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Creative Arts (Photography) |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong) The final intake into 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
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
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 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, 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.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
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.
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 mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our 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 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 [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit ACA102]
ACA101 Introductory Creative Studio 1B [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit AIX117]
| ACA102 | Creativity: Thinking Through Doing [replaces ACA100 from 2023] |
| AIX117 | Professional Writing for Work [replaces ACA101 from 2023] |
| 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 | Creative Arts Project Production |
Photography discipline units
| ACI101 | Analogue Photography |
| ACI102 | Digital Photography |
| ACI204 | Photographic Storytelling |
| ACI205 | Photographic Lighting and Lens |
Course Electives
Complete two 1 credit point units from the following course electives List A:
ACD103 Dance and Screens - no longer available for enrolment
| ACD104 | Exploring Dance Styles |
| ACD207 | Improvisation for Dance and Movement |
| 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 for Theatre |
| ACP207 | Director's Workshop |
| 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.