Arts and creative industries student
GC-DESART

Design and Art

Graduate certificate

Gain a broad understanding of design and art practice, while also gaining new knowledge in your chosen discipline.

Course outline
  • Qualification
    Graduate Certificate in Design and Art
  • Duration

    Duration

    6 months full-time
  • Credit

    Credit

    100
  • CRICOS

    CRICOS

    037343E
Course outline

Outline

Outline

The Graduate Certificate in Design and Art provides a sound introduction to graduate studies and allows you to pursue independent projects under the guidance of experienced staff. This course is flexible and can be tailored to suit individual interests and career objectives. It allows you to develop creative and professional skills through studies in contemporary design and art practice, and covers a wide variety of specialisations.

You can choose to focus your studies on one of the following specialisations:

  • Animation and game design
  • Creative advertising or graphic design
  • Design and art theory
  • Digital design
  • Fashion
  • Fine art
  • Photography or illustration design.

This course is suited to applicants with knowledge and expertise from other disciplines as well as those with formal qualifications in art or design. Through a combination of coursework, project-based units, and professional placements you'll learn the skills and knowledge required to produce contemporary design and art solutions.

Upon successful completion of the graduate certificate, you may then subsequently enrol in the master degree.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.

What jobs can the Design and Art course lead to?

Graduates of design and art generally find employment within all avenues of design, including design studios, advertising agencies, public relations and marketing organisations. Your research project can aid further in niche specialisation and self employment.

Career opportunities

  • Art director
  • Art writer
  • Creative strategist
  • Curator
  • Fashion professional
  • Graphic designer
  • Illustrator
  • Multimedia designer
  • Photographer.

Potential employers

  • Advertising agencies
  • Design studios
  • Fashion studios
  • Government
  • Marketing organisations
  • Media organisations
  • Not-for-profit organisations.

What you'll learn

  • apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and responsibility in complex and unpredictable contexts that require self directed work and learning.
  • apply cognitive skills using intellectual independence to think critically, creatively and to reflect on professional theory and practice
  • locate, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant and reliable information sources related to Design and Art
  • communicate textually, visually and verbally in a way that is appropriate to creative practice and target audiences
  • use appropriate technologies that demonstrate the application of comprehensive technical methodologies
  • demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills by taking full responsibility for professional and scholarly outputs in all aspects of the work
  • think globally and consider issues from a range of perspectives, know and apply when appropriate, international standards and practices within Design and Art disciplines
  • respect individual human rights; recognise the importance and benefits of cultural diversity to Design and Art practice, particularly the perspective of Indigenous Australians; value diversity of language
  • apply professional standards; work independently and collaboratively; demonstrate authoritative judgement, responsibility and ethical action as a leading practitioner in the disciplines

Professional recognition

Graduates are recognised by professional associations such as the National Association for the Arts (NAVA) and the Design Institute of Australia. Graduates are also eligible for membership in the following organisations:

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

A bachelor degree in any discipline from a recognised tertiary institution or a minimum of five years vocational or professional experience in a design or art related discipline.

Applicants may be required to attend an interview and submit a portfolio. If this is required, you will be notified by the University.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Other requirements and notes for this course

Some lectures in this course may be attended by both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and charges

Fee information is not available for this course at this time. Find estimated course fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

Please note that each campus has different application deadlines. View our application deadlines page for further information.

Apply now

Frequently asked questions

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  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

    View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: GC-DESART
  • CRICOS code: 037343E
  • Last updated on: 27 November 2024

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