Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation | Course handbook

General Information

Overview

Help shape society and the world we live in with a Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation. Learn to make impactful strategic decisions that solve complex challenges. Immerse yourself in subjects that teach you analytical thinking, cultural competency and digital literacy. These sought-after skills will lead to a career as a journalist, political correspondent, campaign coordinator and more.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Core units

100 credit points

Bachelor of Arts

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Technology and Society Core unit, 12.5 credit points	ART10002
Skills and Strategies for Social Change Core unit, 12.5 credit points	ART20003
Changemakers in Action Core unit, 12.5 credit points	ART30004
BA Professional Practice Core unit, 12.5 credit points	ART30005

Bachelor of Applied Innovation

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Exploring Creativity and Innovation Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV10001
Fundamentals of Innovation Practice Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV10002
Innovation Sandpit Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV10003
Responsible Innovation Futures Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV10004
Innovation for Challenges of Today Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV20001
Innovation for the Future Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV20002
Applied Innovation Internship Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV20003
Applied Innovation Studio A Core unit, 25.0 credit points	INV30001
Applied Innovation Studio B Core unit, 25.0 credit points	INV30002
Leadership and Facilitation of Innovation Core unit, 12.5 credit points	INV30003

Arts majors and units

100 credit points

Climate and Social Justice

Units of study	Unit code
Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC10005
Movements for Social Change Major unit, 12.5 credit points	HIS10005
History, Politics and Human Rights Major unit, 12.5 credit points	HIS20009
Resistance, Activism and Empowerment Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS20004
Philosophical Perspectives on Nature and Science Major unit, 12.5 credit points	PHI20010
Conflict, Justice and Peace Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL30019
Environmental Philosophy Major unit, 12.5 credit points	PHI30009
Changing our Climate: Past and Future Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC30020

Criminology

Units of study	Unit code
Fundamentals of Criminology Major unit, 12.5 credit points	CRI10002
Introduction to Forensic Psychology Major unit, 12.5 credit points	FOR10001
Introduction to Forensic Psychology Major unit, 12.5 credit points	FOR10001
Global Crime Major unit, 12.5 credit points	CRI20002
Policing: Systems and Practice Major unit, 12.5 credit points	CRI20001
Youth Justice and Crime Major unit, 12.5 credit points	CRI30010
Corrections: Systems and Practice Major unit, 12.5 credit points	CRI30002
Cyber Crime and Security Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL30018

Ethics and Technology

Units of study	Unit code
Popular Culture, Social Change and Technology Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC10014
Introduction to Ethics Major unit, 12.5 credit points	PHI10008
Digital Justice Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL20019
Technology, Intimacy and Family Life Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC20003
Winners and Losers: The Politics and Ethics of Work Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL20018
Thinking and Intelligence: Critical, Creative, Artificial Major unit, 12.5 credit points	PHI30011
Planet B: Space and Extra-Terrestrial Ethics Major unit, 12.5 credit points	PHI30012
Bioethics and Biotechnology Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC30021

Indigenous Studies

Units of study	Unit code
Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS10001
Unlearning the Past: Indigenous Australian History Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS10002
Global History Major unit	HIS10003
Resistance, Activism and Empowerment Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS20004
International Indigenous Perspectives Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS20002
Indigenous Enterprise And Entrepreneurship Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS30001
Indigenous Representations Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS30004
Indigenous Knowledges Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS30002

Literature and Creative Writing

Units of study	Unit code
Writing Fiction Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT10002
Reading and Writing Genre Texts Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT10003
Diversity in Australian Writing Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT20002
Exploring Iconic Texts Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT20004
Prose Poetics Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT20003
Reading, Writing and Criticism Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT30005
Scripting for Screen and Beyond Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT30006
Literary Industry Practice Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT30004

Perspectives on Globalisation

Units of study	Unit code
Global Perspectives on Modernity Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC10012
Global History Major unit	HIS10003
Race, Ethnicity and Migration Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC20013
Work in a Globalised World Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL20020
International Indigenous Perspectives Major unit, 12.5 credit points	INS20002
Global Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC30013
Politics of the Pacific Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL30014
Borders, Security, and Belonging Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL30022

Politics Power and Technology

Units of study	Unit code
What is Power? Major unit, 12.5 credit points	PHI10007
Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL20009
Global History Major unit, 12.5 credit points	HIS10003
Philosophy, Media, Culture Major unit, 12.5 credit points	PHI20006
Contemporary Approaches to Security Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL20016
The Politics of Public Policy Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL30010
Critical Security Studies Major unit, 12.5 credit points	POL30020

Screen Studies and Popular Culture

Units of study	Unit code
Introduction to Game Studies Major unit, 12.5 credit points	ART10004
Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves Major unit, 12.5 credit points	MDA10003
Popular Culture, Social Change and Technology Major unit, 12.5 credit points	SOC10014
Screen Franchising and Innovation Major unit, 12.5 credit points	MDA20007
Popular Culture of the Asia Pacific Major unit, 12.5 credit points	MDA20018
Screen Technology and Culture Major unit, 12.5 credit points	MDA30016
Screen Sounds and Music Major unit, 12.5 credit points	MDA30019
Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga Major unit, 12.5 credit points	LIT30002

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

Second majors

100 credit points

A second major can be chosen in addition to your first major and will be named on your testamur certificate. Please note you cannot choose the same major as your first major. To see specific units for the second major go to Major units accordion.

Climate and Social Justice
Criminology
Indigenous Studies
Perspectives on Globalisation
Politics, Power and Technology
Professional and Creative Writing
Screen Studies and Popular Culture

Co-majors

100 credit points

A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however, they will be shown on your transcript of results.

Accounting
Advertising
Animation
Biotechnology
Business Analysis
Business Analytics and Analysis
Computer Science
Data Analytics
Digital Advertising Technology
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Environmental Science
Environmental Sustainability
Ethics and Technology
Finance
Financial Planning
Games and Interactivity
Global Studies
History
Human Resource Management
Information Systems
Journalism
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Management
Marketing
Media Industries
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Politics and International Relations
Professional Writing and Editing
Psychology
Public Relations
Screen Production
Screen Studies and Popular Culture
Social Media
Space Technology
Sports Management

View co-major units

Advanced minors

50 credit points

Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon.

Mental Health Advanced

Minors

50 credit points

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

Accounting
Advertising
Applied Mathematics
Applied Psychology
Aviation
Biomedical Science
Biotechnology
Branded Environments
Chemistry
Cinema and Screen Studies
Climate and Social Justice
Communication Design
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Criminology
Data Analytics
Data Science
Design Principles and Processes
Digital Advertising Technology
Digital Marketing
Diversity and Multiculturalism
Editing
Engineering
Entrepreneurship
Ethics and Technology
Film and Television Theory
Finance
Games and Interactivity
Health Statistics
Health Societies
Higher Mathematics
History
Human Resource Management
Indigenous Studies
Industrial Design
Information and Communication Technology
Innovation
Interior Architecture
Interior Documentation and Construction
International Relations and Security
Journalism
Literature
Management
Management for Health
Managing Information Systems
Marketing
Media Industries
Motion Design
Neuroscience
Nutrition
Perspectives on Globalisation
Philosophy
Photomedia
Physics
Politics and International Relations
Professional and Creative Writing
Public Relations
Screen Studies and Popular Culture
Social Impact
Social Media
Sociology
Space Technology
Web Development

View minor units

Recommended elective units

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

Climate and Social Justice major

CRI30010 Youth Justice and Crime
HIS10003 Global History
INS20002 International Indigenous Perspectives
PHI10007 What is Power?
PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
PHI30010 Philosophy, Politics and Society
POL20019 Digital Justice
POL20020 Work in a Globalised World
POL30010 The Politics of Public Policy
SOC20013 Race, Ethnicity and Migration
SOC30013 Global Gender and Sex

Criminology major

ART10001 Academic Literacies: Situating University Knowledge
CHE10007 Introduction to Forensic Science
ECO30002 Economic Policy in Society
HIS10003 Global History
HIS10005 Movements for Social Change
HIS20003 Propaganda
HIS20009 History, Politics and Human Rights
INS10002 Unlearning the Past: Indigenous Australian History
JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
NEU10002 Neuroscience
PHI10007 What is Power?
PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
PHI20006 Philosophy, Media, Culture
PHI30008 Ethics
PHI30010 Philosophy, Politics and Society
POL30009 Critical Perspectives On Terrorism
SOC10004 Sociological Foundations

Ethics and Technology major

HIS10003 Global History
HIS10005 Movements for Social Change
HIS20003 Propaganda
HIS20009 History, Politics and Human Rights
INS20004 Resistance, Activism and Empowerment
PHI10007 What is Power?
PHI20006 Philosophy, Media, Culture
PHI20010 Philosophical Perspectives on Nature and Science
PHI20010 Philosophical Perspectives on Nature and Science
PHI30009 Environmental Philosophy
POL20020 Work in a Globalised World
POL30019 Conflict, Justice and Peace
SOC10005 Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions
SOC10012 Global Perspectives on Modernity
SOC30020 Changing our Climate: Past and Future

Indigenous Studies major

CRI10002 Fundamentals of Criminology
CRI20001 Policing: Systems and Practice
CRI30002 Corrections: Systems and Practice
HIS10003 Global History
HIS20003 Propaganda
HIS30002 Gender and History
HIS30007 War and Peace in the 20th Century
HIS30012 History, Politics and Human Rights
PHI10007 What is Power?
PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
PHI20001 Environmental Philosophy
PHI20006 Philosophy, Media, Culture
PHI30008 Ethics
POL20008 Australian Foreign Policy
POL20009 Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics
POL20010 International Relations and Security Studies
POL30009 Critical Perspectives On Terrorism
SOC10012 Global Perspectives on Modernity
SOC20020 Deviance, Difference & Conformity

Professional and Creative Writing major

DIG20001 Digital Narratives
FTV20005 The Australian Screen
FTV30001 Breaking the Screen
FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
MDA20001 Business of Media
MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
MDA20009 Digital Communities
MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
POL10001 Australian Politics
SOC10004 Sociological Foundations
SOC20020 Deviance, Difference & Conformity

Perspectives on Globalisation major

HIS10005 Movements for Social Change
HIS20009 History, Politics and Human Rights
POL20009 Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics
POL20016 Contemporary Approaches to Security
POL20018 Winners and Losers: The Politics and Ethics of Work
POL20019 Digital Justice
POL30019 Conflict, Justice and Peace
POL30020 Critical Security Studies
SOC10014 Popular Culture, Social Change and Technology

Politics, Power and Technology major

HIS10005 Movements for Social Change
HIS20009 History, Politics and Human Rights
INS20004 Resistance, Activism and Empowerment
POL20018 Winners and Losers: The Politics and Ethics of Work
POL20019 Digital Justice
POL20020 Work in a Globalised World
POL30014 Politics of the Pacific
POL30018 Cyber Crime and Security
POL30019 Conflict, Justice and Peace
POL30022 Borders, Security, and Belonging
SOC10014 Popular Culture, Social Change and Technology

Screen Studies and Popular Culture major

ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
FTV20005 The Australian Screen
FTV30001 Breaking the Screen
FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
JOU10004 News Writing
JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
LIT20002 Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity
LIT30002 Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga
MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
MDA10006 Innovation Cultures: Perspectives On Science and Technology
MDA10008 Global Media Industries
MDA20001 Business of Media
MDA20003 Networked Selves
MDA20009 Digital Communities
MDA20011 Sports/Advertising/Media
MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting

Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to inform their knowledge and conceptual understandings in the humanities and/or social sciences
formulate arguments that are fit for purpose and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theories and evidence in their areas of expertise
critically analyse information to generate creative solutions to solve complex problems in the area of humanities and/or social sciences, and understand the importance of inter-disciplinarity for generating solutions
define and integrate theoretical principles and apply these in their areas of expertise
apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, individually and in collaboration with others
interpret and communicate ideas, problems and arguments in modes suitable to a range of audiences using a range of media
coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas in local and international contexts
apply a series of thinking systems, creativity toolkits and innovation frameworks to design contextually-relevant solutions addressing local and global challenges in and outside their discipline
identify and articulate opportunities to innovate and create impact informed by user-centred research and/or data
adapt their discipline skillsets in new situations in response to complex and changing contexts, including interdisciplinary environments
facilitate and contribute to innovation teams that seek solutions to complex challenges, using inclusive collaboration practices to leverage different skills and perspectives
navigate commercial, human and technical requirements aided by prototyping and testing to deliver solutions that create value
communicate the value of experimentation, ideas and innovation with confidence in developing solutions to investors, potential partners, employers or other stakeholders
develop futures-focused innovations that integrate responsible social, technological and environmental factors

Career opportunities

Applied Innovation career outcomes will vary depending on discipline focus and individual majors, and complement discipline employability skills through innovation capabilities.

Graduates will have the skills and attributes for a range of professional innovation roles including innovation consultant, innovation lead, innovation analyst, strategic designer, creative producer, start-up founder, human-centred researcher, self-employed entrepreneur, product manager, transformation lead, innovation strategist and innovation manager.

Course rules

To qualify for the Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation, students must complete 400 credit points:

8 core units (100 credit points)
8 units from one Arts major (100 credit points)
6 units from Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
8 units of other studies comprising of a major, co-major, advanced minor/s, minor/s or electives (100 credit points)

Students must not complete more than 200 credit points (normally 16 units) at introductory level.

A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Professional placements

Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement through a competitive process. Please note that due to government regulation, international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake Professional Placements in this course.

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:

8 core units (100 credit points)
8 units from one Arts major (100 credit points)
6 units from Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
6 units comprising of an advanced minor, minor and/or electives (75 credit points)
4 units from the Professional Placement co-major (100 credit points)

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:

8 core units (100 credit points)
8 units from one Arts major (100 credit points)
6 units from Applied Innovation major (100 credit points)
7 units comprising of an advanced minor, minor and/or electives (82.5 credit points)
2 units from the Professional Placement minor (50 credit points)

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Interested in the Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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