University of Sydney Handbooks - 2020 Archive

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Design Computing

Bachelor of Design Computing

Bachelor of Design Computing/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

Enrolment guide

The Bachelor of Design Computing is a three-year degree, or four years with honours.

The Bachelor of Design Computing/Bachelor of Advanced Studies is a four-year degree.

The first year introduces the fundamentals of design thinking, creative coding, and digital media. These units form the basic knowledge needed for the unique studio-driven environment of the second and third years.

The studios are where Design Computing students apply their skills to solve real-world problems and explore the possibilities enabled by emerging technologies. The accompanying electives allow students to develop additional knowledge both within design computing and beyond.

In order to qualify for the degree, candidates must complete the requirements as specified in the resolutions of the Senate and University School.

All students should read the course resolutions and monitor their progress throughout the degree by reference to them.

The following points summarise the resolutions but do not replace them.

Summary of requirements

In order to qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Design Computing degree, candidates need to:

  • successfully complete 144 credit points in total
  • successfully complete 96 credit points from the core units of study listed in Table A.
  • complete successfully a maximum of 48 credit points from elective units of study from those listed in Table A. At least 12 credit points of these must be from 2000-level or 3000-level units.

Students may, with the permission of the unit coordinator concerned, enrol in elective units of study from the school's graduate units, provided they have completed at least 96 credit points with a weighted average (WAM) of at least 70.

The combined Bachelor of Design Computing/Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree lets students combine the depth of the Design Computing program with the breadth of education available across the University of Sydney. Advanced Studies combined-degree students will use their elective units in the Design Computing program, plus a fourth year of study, to complete a second Major from anywhere on campus. The interdisciplinary nature of this degree prepares students for the rapidly changing nature of industry and the future of work in the digital economy.

In order to qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design Computing/Bachelor of Advanced Studies please refer to the course resolutions.

Planning your degree

The program has been designed so that the core units should be taken in a certain order and the elective units fitted with them. The enrolment planner shows progression through the core units of study.

Enrolment planner: Semester 1 commencement

Year

Unit of study

Credit points

Year 1

 

 

Semester 1

 

 

DECO1012

Design Programming

6

DECO1006

Design Process and Methods

6

DECO1014

Digital Image Production

6

DECO1015

Visual Communication

6

Semester 2

 

 

DESA1555

Safety Induction and Competency Unit

0

DECO1008

3D Modelling and Fabrication

6

DECO1013

Physical Computing

6

DECO1016

Web Design and Technologies

6

DECO1017

Principles of Animation

6

 

Total for Year 1

48

Year 2

 

 

Semester 1

 

 

DECO2014

User Experience Design Studio

12

 

Elective

6

 

Elective

6

Semester 2

 

 

DECO2200

Interaction Design Studio

12

 

Elective

6

 

Elective

6

 

Total for Year 2

48

Year 3

 

 

Semester 1

 

 

DECO3100

Information Visualisation Design Studio

12

 

Elective

6

 

Elective

6

Semester 2

 

 

DECO3200

Interactive Product Design Studio

12

 

Elective

6

 

Elective

6

 

Total for Year 3

48


Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Advanced Studies will continue into their fourth year, where they will complete their second Major, take advanced-level Design Computing units, and engage in interdisciplinary project-based units.

Students opting to pursue a Bachelor of Design Computing with Honours will continue into their fourth year to undertake a year-long research project.

Enrolment planner: Semester 2 commencement

Students commencing their studies in Semester 2 have access to all the same options as those commencing in Semester 1.

Year

Unit of study

Credit points

Year 1

 

 

Semester 2

 

 

DESA1555

Safety Induction and Competency Unit

0

DECO1008

3D Modelling and Fabrication

6

DECO1017

Principles of Animation

6

 

 Elective

6

 

 Elective

6

Semester 1

 

 

DECO1006

Design Processes and Methods

6

DECO1012

Design Programming

6

DECO1014

Digital Media Production

6

DECO1015

Visual Communication

6

 

Total for Year 1

48

Year 2

 

 

Semester 2

 

 

DECO1013

Physical Computing

6

DECO1016

Web Design and Technologies

6

DECO2200

Interaction Design Studio

12

Semester 1

 

 

DECO2014

User Experience Design Studio

12

 

Elective

6

 

Elective

6

 

Total for Year 2

48

Year 3

 

 

Semester 2

 

 

DECO3200

Interaction Product Design Studio

12

 

Elective

6

 

Elective

6

Semester 1

 

 

DECO3100

Information Visualisation Design Studio

12

 

Elective

6

 

Elective

6

 

Total for Year 3

48


Honours

The Bachelor of Design Computing can also be extended with a fourth year of Honours study.
Honours is an opportunity for students to engage with the rigour and depth of the research world. It can serve as an entry point into higher degree research, and is increasingly being recognised by industry as a valuable indicator of the critical thinking skills prized by employers.

To qualify for the honours degree, candidates must satisfy the requirements for the pass degree with a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 70 and in addition successfully complete 48 credit points consisting of a research thesis.

In their third year, students are encouraged to enrol in a preparatory unit of study as an elective, such as an Independent Study unit.

Honours may only be undertaken on a full-time basis.