Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing
2023 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2023 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing |
| Course Map | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 095260E Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Deakin course code | A661 |
| 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 8. |
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
Develop the skills and business acumen to pursue a career as an agile and versatile writer through Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing. In your course, you’ll explore the foundations of good writing, discover how to write to a range of different briefs, and learn how to professionally manage your writing work.
Build an impressive portfolio of work and comprehensive skills in editorial management that will help you secure positions across a range of industries.
Are you ready to become a highly sought-after writer, with the ability to move between genres, platforms, and audiences with ease?
In core units, you’ll explore what makes for good writing and master the tools every working writer needs such as the ability to:
- research
- blueprint a draft
- take a concept through various stages of revision.
You’ll then tailor and refine your literary abilities by choosing from a range of different writing specialisations such as feature writing, social content creation, and general publishing. You will also complement your writing knowledge with electives chosen from the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), Master of Creative Arts and Master of Communication, such as in the foundations of narrative in theory.
The cross-disciplinary knowledge, mentorship from working writers and combination of units offered in this course will ensure you graduate industry-ready, with an impressive set of skills to help you stand out from the crowd.
We also encourage students to get involved with Verandah, an annual student-run publication that showcases the best work of emerging writers and artists, and gives students the chance to develop expertise in selecting, editing and proofreading submissions for publication.
With an impressive body of work and highly developed critical thinking and creative skills, you’ll graduate ready to work as a professional writer in a range of different forums.
Career opportunities
Graduates are able to pursue work in a range of roles that call for writing and editing skills and agility, such as:
- freelance writer
- journalist
- content creator
- editor.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
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 | Articulate specialist knowledge of a range of writing theories, concepts, and approaches, and apply them to the production of written work. |
| Communication | Communicate through writing that is technically and aesthetically proficient and demonstrates awareness of, or ability to extend, established writing conventions to produce works that communicate complex ideas effectively using suitable written forms and specialised techniques. |
| Digital literacy | Employ a range of technologies and make evaluative judgments in the use of research databases, bibliographic and digital communication technologies to research, produce and present work in writing. |
| Critical thinking | Utilise theory and research to critically analyse and apply appropriate forms and conventions in writing. |
| Problem solving | Analyse and respond creatively and professionally through writing to identify, solve or reframe complex aesthetic, theoretical or real-world challenges and limitations. |
| Self-management | Act with autonomy and initiative while being accountable for working effectively, efficiently and to a high standard in order to achieve goals in writing. |
| Teamwork | Actively contribute to peer feedback activities and make constructive, respectful and informed contributions to creative and critical collaboration in writing. |
| Global citizenship | Identify, select, and critically analyse culturally relevant literary theories, concepts, and approaches to writing and interpreting works of literature. |
| Approved by Faculty Board September 2021 | |
Course rules
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising of:
- 5 credit points of core units, 4 of which can be chosen from the Course Elective List A below;
- 3 credit points of electives chosen from units within the specialisations of the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) or the Master of Communication or the core or electives of the Master of Creative Arts including ACC700 Communication and Creative Arts Internship
- AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
Course structure
Core Unit
| ALW740 | Foundations in Writing |
Electives
3 credit points of electives chosen from units within the specialisations of the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) or the Master of Communication or the core or electives of the Master of Creative Arts including ACC700 Communication and Creative Arts Internship.
Course Electives List A
Complete four of the following units:
| ACA715 | Creating Your Arts Business |
| ALC708 | Social Media Content Creation |
| ALJ716 | Writing the News |
| ALW738 | Editing |
| ALW739 | Publishing |
Students may choose to include the 5th unit listed above as one of the 3 electives
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
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 will be opportunities throughout the course for students to engage with industry professionals. These experiences will be integrated into units where students will have external clients or industry representatives provide content to more closely connect the learning experience with industry practices.