Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business

Overview

Learn effective design strategies for digital, marketing and communications collateral.

The Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Business equips students with the knowledge and skills essential for a career that encompasses the challenging and dynamic area of design and business. Graduates will gain opportunities in both the design and business professions learning Photography, UX design and consulting skills.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business, graduates will be able to: 

• demonstrate knowledge and cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and apply this with initiative and judgment in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship
• demonstrate technical and practical skills, and a broad understanding of key concepts in their chosen field of study
• demonstrate knowledge and cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems independently and collaboratively, in diverse contexts
• apply communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas to different audiences and stakeholders
• with responsibility and accountability, apply their knowledge, cognitive and technical skills, and principles of sustainability and respectful design, to the development of design solutions
• exercise organisational and leadership skills, and demonstrate the ability to plan and execute a project and/or piece of research with groups that may include academics, industry professionals and students
• define and integrate theoretical principles applicable to business and apply those principles in a range of practices
• systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources in order to make informed judgements on options for innovatively solving a range of problems that arise in business contexts
• formulate creative solutions that are fit for purpose and demonstrate cognisance of the impact of business decisions on the triple bottom line
• coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas
• communicate a range of business arguments by evaluating and implementing alternative communication strategies as appropriate to the audience.

Career opportunities

The course seeks to blend design and business disciplines in new and innovative ways to produce highly desirable business graduates who will bring a new approach to business and organisational structures.

Employment may be found in the areas of design consultancy, design management, publishing, merchandising, packaging, design research, marketing, economics and human resources.

Professional recognition

The Finance major, in the Bachelor of Business and related double degrees, is recognised under the CFA Institute Affiliated University. The course covers at least 70% of Level 1 of the CFA program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice. This recognition signals to students, employers and the marketplace that that Swinburne’s curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well suited to preparing you for employment in the finance and investment industry, and for sitting the CFA examination. Students of the Finance major may be eligible for CFA Program Student Scholarships.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Business, students must complete 400 credit points comprising of:

• Sixteen core units of study (200 credit points)
• Seven units of study from one of the following Design majors: Digital Media Design, Communication Design, Branded Environments, Photomedia, or UX Interaction Design. (100 credit points)
• Eight units of study from one of the following Business majors: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, International Business, Information Systems, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing or Sports Management (SOL or on-campus) (100 credit points).

Students must not complete more than 150 credit points (normally 12 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 alternative.

Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement. This option is not available to international students.

Professional placements

Professional placements are subject to a competitive selection process.

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 500 credit points comprising:

• Sixteen core units of study (200 credit points)
• Seven units of study from one of the following Design majors: Digital Media Design, Communication Design, Branded Environments, Photomedia, or UX Interaction Design. (100 credit points)
• Eight units of study from one of the following Business majors: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, International Business, Information Systems, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing Sports Management (SOL or on-campus) (100 credit points)
• Four units of study 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 450 credit points comprising:

• Sixteen core units of study (200 credit points)
• Seven units of study from one of the following Design majors: Digital Media Design, Communication Design, Branded Environments, Photomedia, or UX Interaction Design. (100 credit points)
• Eight units of study from one of the following Business majors: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, International Business, Information Systems, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing or Sports Management (SOL or on-campus) (100 credit points)
• Two units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points).

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business is 200 credit points (normally 16 units), 100 credit points maximum from each discipline.

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.