Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Information Technology

2021 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Indicative student workload
• Professional recognition
• Career opportunities
• Participation requirements
• Mandatory student checks
• Alternative exits
• Fees and charges
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure
• Work experience
• Research and research-related study

Course overview

Want a career that is both rich in diverse experience and future-proofed? Deakin’s Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Information Technology allows you to have just that. The course equips you with the transferable skills needed to seamlessly move between the roles of the future, and at the same time equips you with the technical knowledge and skills to not only negotiate, but also shape that future.

Combining arts with IT will see you graduate with a diverse, in-demand skillset that sets you apart in industry. You will develop specialist knowledge in your chosen arts disciplines and learn how to apply critical, creative and strategic thinking to real-world issues. In your IT studies, you’ll gain the skills and experience required to embark on a technology rich career, while also developing foundational knowledge and skills in areas such as cloud computing, game development or cyber security.

If you're aspiring to become a leader in the forefront of technology, why not graduate with a set of complementary skills that boost your employability?  

The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Information Technology is perfect for students interested in a broad range of areas related to the humanities, social sciences, communication, creative arts, languages, and information technology (IT).

In your arts degree, you’ll choose from a range of study areas in social sciences, humanities and the arts and complete a range of industry-based learning opportunities. What is it about IT that interests you most? If you are interested in the communication of data you might explore media studies, digital media or even a minor in design. If you’re into human behaviour, you might choose sociology or criminology. If the state of the world is more your thing, you might look at international relations.

In your IT degree, you will build a strong foundation with core IT skills integral to a wide range of industries. You will also undertake a specialised capstone project, allowing you to develop solutions to real-world problems from industry and learn agile project management methods widely used across industry.

Our past students have worked on capstone projects such as:

• medical: a mobile app that tracks pupil responses to light
• real estate: a mobile app to track your notes about properties you view
• transport: planning a bus trip with real-time data
• gaming: children’s computer game to build their resilience
• architecture: a virtual reality space to assess architecture student projects
• security: voice activated passwords
• political: developed a secure online voting system
• wellbeing: virtual reality experience focusing on altering moods
• education: online student social network Study Buddy.
• security: threat and assessment toolkit for cyber security

Indicative student workload

Typically 150 hours of learning and assessment activities per Deakin credit point (as per AQF Explanation).  You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Deakin’s Bachelor of Information Technology is professionally accredited with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Career opportunities

This degree will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed for the jobs of the future.

Are you ready to design your future? 

Study a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin and open the door to a world of opportunity. You can tailor your degree to complement your interests and set yourself up to be flexible across the jobs of the future.

Choose two or more areas of study from over 35 disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, communication, creative arts and languages to build your future-focused degree.

You will develop specialist knowledge in your chosen disciplines and learn how to apply critical, creative and strategic thinking to real-world issues. This course equips you with transferable skills in communication, research, analysis and problem-solving, making you highly employable within a range of industries.

Learn from teaching staff who are active in their fields, and recognised as leading practitioners. You’ll learn in customised facilities and digital spaces, gaining hands-on experience relevant to your chosen disciplines.

Benefit from the many work placements we offer and you’ll graduate ready to take your studies beyond the classroom and into the real world. Advance your job-readiness and gain a competitive edge by studying abroad for a trimester, undertaking an international study tour, or completing an internship as part of your course.

Want a diverse career at the forefront of new technology?

The information technology industry is central to the way we work, learn, play, communicate and socialise. Build a strong foundation with core IT skills you can apply to multiple industries and technologies anywhere in the world. Through Deakin’s Bachelor of Information Technology you'll gain the essential skills and experience required to embark on a career in IT.

This course will give you the opportunity to explore and experiment in areas like programming, networking, entrepreneurship and user-centred design. You’ll undertake a specialised capstone project and access co-working spaces, that enable you to collaborate with like-minded peers and kickstart your own professional network.

The course offers you a range of industry-based learning opportunities, including an IT placement unit that gives you a minimum of 100 hours of hands-on experience in industry. This practical experience enhances your future employment prospects, adding experience to your resume and developing your professional networks before graduation.

As an IT student, you will undertake two capstone units that allow you to develop solutions to real-world problems from industry and learn agile project management methods widely used across industry.

Why combine an Arts and IT degree?

The Bachelor of Arts builds valuable and transferable career skills, making you highly employable within many industries. The range of disciplines on offer also lets you follow your passion and develop the specialist skills to pursue the career you want.

You’ll be able to take your degree into a range of careers in government and non-government organisations. IT is at the heart of innovation and productivity. It shapes the way we live, work, learn, communicate, socialise and entertain ourselves. It’s no surprise then that IT graduates are in high demand globally. Information Technology gives you the contemporary knowledge, skills and experience required for a successful and satisfying career as an IT professional.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

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. Refer to the relevant unit guide.

Alternative exits

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

See course entry for A300 Bachelor of Arts and S326 Bachelor of Information Technology

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Information Technology, students must attain a total of 32 credit points consisting of 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Arts and 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Information Technology.  Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.

Course requirements for both A300 Bachelor of Arts and S326 Bachelor of Information Technology must be satisfied.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.

Course structure

The course comprises a total of 32 credit points which must include:

• AAI010 Academic Integrity (0-credit point compulsory unit)
• STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)
• SIT010 Safety Induction Program (0-credit point compulsory unit)
• Bachelor of Arts units (16cp) comprising two major sequences (8 credit points each) or one major sequence (8 credit points) and one minor sequence (4 credit points) as described under course A300 Bachelor of Arts, the remaining 4 credit points may be used to undertake an additional minor sequence, or to take electives chosen from the Bachelor of Arts). A minimum of 4 credit points at level 3 is required.
• Bachelor of Information Technology units (16cp) comprising 15 credit points of core units (SIT105, SIT124, SIT102, SIT103, SIT182, SIT112, SIT120, MIS201, SIT216, SIT223, SIT317, SIT328, SIT374, SIT378), plus 1 credit point from (SIT306, STP301) and a 1 credit point SIT coded elective unit. 

Course requirements for both A300 Bachelor of Arts and S326 Bachelor of Information Technology must be satisfied.

Work experience

This course includes a compulsory work placement where you will be required to undertake a minimum of 100 hours in industry or a placement for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks, providing professional work experience with an approved host organisation. Alternatively, high achieving students may have the opportunity to undertake an extended full-time paid industry-based learning placement between 6 – 12 weeks (conditions apply, please refer to deakin.edu.au/sebe/wil.)

Elective units may also provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

Course duration - additional information

Delays in completing the placement [SIT306, STP301] could mean that the course will take longer to complete than the stated duration.

Further information

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

• Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units in this course.