Graduate Diploma in Design - Communication Design

at University of South Australia - City West Campus Australia

This practical degree will equip you with the skills needed to design and create products that people use every day, such as electronic devices, domestic appliances, homewares, medical devices, sports equipment, user experiences and interfaces, furniture, mobility solutions and more.

Product designers need to consider human factors, usability, aesthetics, manufacturing technologies, materials and environmental sustainability in their designs, and this comprehensive, practical degree will have you doing just that. During your studies, you will develop fundamental practical skills through design studio classes, model-making and prototyping.

You will learn in our dedicated studios and state-of-the-art workshops fitted with digital fabrication equipment such as laser cutters, CNC routers and 3D printers, and virtual reality systems. You can practice skills learned in real-world workplaces when you complete professional placements as part of your study. There is also the opportunity for you to complete some of your studies overseas.

• There is a lot of ground to cover in this degree, starting with a fundamental understanding of the elements and principles of design. Much of this study takes place in the purpose-built design studios located on-campus. You will study basic skills and concepts relating to areas such as sketching and visualisation techniques; design history and theory; human centred design; computer-aided design; and creativity. During your second year you will broaden your knowledge, covering topics such as:
• Ergonomics and human factors
• Human centred design principles
• Advanced 3D computer modelling and manufacturing
• Sustainable design concepts and methods
• Materials and processes
• Manufacturing and engineering principles

This program is approved by the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) and will equip you with the education requirements to practise as a qualified financial adviser.

What you'll learn
This program consists of 16 advanced financial planning courses, which you can complete in 1.5-2 years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent). Your qualification will complement your industry experience and advance your knowledge in specialist areas such as investment management, estate planning, superannuation, and tax. You’ll study compulsory bridging courses that have been outlined in FASEA’s education requirements including ethics and professionalism, and financial advice regulatory and legal obligations. As a graduate, you can be confident you’ll leave with the essential education requirements to practise as a qualified financial adviser.

A master’s degree is an opportunity to sharpen your technical ability, legal knowledge and professional expertise. Aside from learning new and relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, you’ll also enhance your skills in building and managing client relationships – a critical focus area for future financial advisers.

What you'll learn
This degree is made up of 40 courses. You will do 24 courses in law and 16 courses in sport and recreation management.

Laws (Honours)
As a UniSA Law student, you’ll gain valuable skills from day one, including in reasoning, reporting, analysis, negotiation, communication and advocacy. You will also experience what it's like to argue a case and provide legal advice.

Throughout your degree you will study core courses that teach you the fundamental legal concepts that underpin the Australian legal system. Courses such as torts, contracts, criminal law and constitutional law will give you a good understanding of basic legal principles.

Our Law program also features courses that build your leadership skills, intercultural communication, project management and capacity for community engagement.

You will have the opportunity to complete your GDLP in your final year of study, in addition to practical learning experiences including mooting, negotiation, and witness examination. You will also engage in a Community Justice project, high-level research or an industry placement, ensuring you’ll be prepared for legal practise upon graduation.

Sport and Recreation Management
You will study core courses such as Business and Society, Management and Organisation and Marketing Principles: Trading and Exchange. You will also learn the latest in specialist areas such as:

• sport and recreation facilities management
• leadership in recreation and sport
• recreation planning in the urban environment

What you'll learn

This two year program comprises 16 courses including 4 electives and an industry placement/project. You will start with seven core courses common to all specialisations in the IMBA. Through these you will develop advanced skills and expertise in areas of international management including:

• Global business environment
• People leadership and performance
• Economic principles for business
• Fundamentals of data analytics

The Bachelor of Creative Industries is one of Australia’s most industry-connected degrees. This innovative, hands-on degree allows you to tailor your studies to your interests and career objectives. You'll be engaged with industry from day one, which will culminate in a final year industry placement/project or mentoring to help you launch your own creative venture.

This degree will prepare you to work in the Creative Industries, you will use your business skills and specialised knowledge to support, influence and grow the creative industry of your choice.

Industry Majors include:

• Animation and Visual Effects (with Rising Sun Pictures)
• Comicbook Creation (with Writers SA)
• Communication and Media
• Contemporary Art Studies (with Guildhouse)
• Creative Writing and Literature (with Writers SA)
• Digital Media (with Solstice Media)
• Festivals (with Festivals Adelaide)
• Film and Television (with Channel 44)
• Games Design and Production (with Epic Games and Mighty Kingdom)
• Performing Arts
• Screen Studies (with Adelaide Film Festival)
• Social Media (with KOJO)

You can tailor your degree by pairing your Industry Major with a second Major, allowing you to study areas directly focused towards your career pathway, as you develop crucial professional, business and enterprise skills.

By studying the Bachelor of Creative Industries, you’ll become professional, adaptable and creatively focused with multidisciplinary skills, allowing you to work in commercial contexts and settings, freelance as an independent artist or launch creative start-ups in your chosen field. 

This Fast-track to Masters program allows you to fast-track your career by completing an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in just four years. You will be able to diversify your skill set, increase your earning potential with a more advanced qualification, and expand your career opportunities across a range of fields.

The Bachelor of Business (Property) is the longest-running degree of its type in Australia, and the only one of its kind in South Australia. You will learn about property investment, development, valuation, management, agency and property research. 

As a property professional you will gather and analyse information to help you make informed decisions and offer practical advice about the use and management of property. 

The Master of Finance (Financial Planning) program is recognised as an approved program by Financial Adviser Standards, The Treasury and will equip you with the education requirements to practise as a qualified financial adviser.

What you'll learn

The Bachelor of Business (Property) degree starts with core courses in areas such as analytics, accounting and economic theory. These will give you a solid grasp of business fundamentals that you can apply to a range of careers. 

In your specialisation you will focus on property valuation, development and investment. Specific areas include building evaluation, planning and land use, property law and economics, property practice, investment and development, and entrepreneurship.

A master’s degree is an opportunity to sharpen your technical ability, legal knowledge and professional expertise. Aside from learning new and relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, you’ll also enhance your skills in building and managing client relationships – a critical focus area for future financial advisers.

What you'll learn

The two year program comprises 16 courses including 4 electives and an industry placement/project.  You will start with seven core courses common to all specialisations in the IMBA.  Through these you will develop advanced skills and expertise in areas of international management including:

• Global business environment
• People leadership and performance
• Economic principles for business
• Fundamentals of data analytics

Bachelor of Architectural Studies is a globally competitive degree focusing on the relationship between architecture, communication, technology, culture, and natural and built environments. Our alumni network spans the globe, from award-winning local architectural practices to international practices with offices worldwide.

This bachelor-level degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge to understand design principles and methods; building structures and construction systems; digital design and communication methods; sustainable design strategies; and the social and cultural history that shapes our world.

This degree has a strong practical focus – in architectural design studio classes, you will design real and speculative projects informed by contemporary architectural practice and construction, as well as undertake research and hands-on learning through industry-led and practically-focused coursework.

As well as the opportunity to gain relevant practical experience, you will gain the skills needed to design architectural environments that range in scale and complexity and develop:

• Research and methodological skills to integrate theoretical, behavioural, environmental, and ethical issues within architectural practice
  Understanding of the social and political context of architecture
  Verbal, written, and graphic communication skills, including traditional drawing methods and 2D and 3D computer-based representation skills that will enable you to visualise your designs using Virtual Reality and the Unreal game engine
  Conceptual and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge in contemporary design culture, including Aboriginal and First Nations cultural practices.

This innovative qualification will provide you with skills and expertise related to information systems in a business context.

Taught by world-class lecturers, researchers and practitioners, you will learn about IT stakeholder engagement, business intelligence and the day-to-day operations of information systems. 

What you'll learn

You will study seven courses in universal IT practices:

• Business practices
• Project management
• Business system analysis
• Business intelligence and analytics
• Security principles
• Professional communication
• IT concepts

This Fast-track to Masters program allows you to fast-track your career by completing an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in just four years. You will be able to diversify your skill set, increase your earning potential with a more advanced qualification, and expand your career opportunities across a range of fields.

What you'll learn

Your undergraduate degree will start with core courses in business. These will give you a solid grounding in important areas including accounting and quantitative methods for business, business law, finance, business intelligence, data analysis, economics and management.

You will then branch out into your accounting specialisation, learning cutting edge knowledge and skills in:

• Financial and management accounting
• Taxation and company law
• Auditing
• Sustainability accounting
• Global and contemporary accounting issues
• Strategic financial analysis

In your postgraduate studies, you will develop skills in contemporary management practice. Build your expertise in core areas such as business ethics, business analytics, leadership and performance, and strategic thinking. Learn how to effectively manage organisations and achieve key business objectives.

Through these you will develop skills and expertise in areas that include:

• Business analytics and the data-driven organisation
• People, leadership and performance
• Buyer behaviour insights
• Marketing strategy and planning
• Advanced marketing analytics