ObjectivesDeakin’s Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) offers you systematic exposure to collaborative possibilities between various art forms, the experience of bringing art forms together in major projects and training in creative arts enterprise and management. You will also receive grounding in the academic knowledge necessary to understand the arts and to create new forms of art. The program draws upon the expertise of its staff – who are active practitioners in their fields, and industry – through visiting, special guest and casual academic staff. The drama program will develop your skills in contemporary drama practices and perspectives. It is a dynamic combination of acting theory and practice, performance styles and processes, theatre history, text studies, community theatre and technical studies. Final year students are able to participate in performing arts (drama) internships. Deakin drama graduates have a well-deserved reputation for high levels of skill, flexibility and initiative. The course equips you with the skills to establish independent drama production companies and projects.
Entry requirementsApplicants should have successfully completed VCE, or equivalent, including a study score of at least 30 in Units 3 and 4 English (ESL) or 25 in Units 3 and 4 of any other English. Those aged 21 or over on 1 January and who do not hold VCE or equivalent should apply under Alternative Admission. This category is open to those who do not satisfy normal entrance requirements, but can demonstrate relevant work or life experience. Applicants must attend one day of audition/workshop activities between Monday 1 December and Friday 12 December.Applicants will not be eligible for selection if they have not attended the audition/workshop. Applicants must telephone (03) 9244 6700 (9am-3pm) 17-21 November to register. International and Interstate applicants can contact the department on (03) 9251 7651 and apply to audition on video. Please note, success in passing the audition does not guarantee a place in the course. Late applicants and Change of Preference applicants will only be considered if the above extra requirements have been fulfilled. The institution may contact applicants regarding the workshop/audition arrangements.
Academic titleBachelor of Creative Arts (Drama)
Course descriptionFees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
As a graduate of the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) you will be readily equipped with skills appropriate to the expanding arts and entertainment industries, whether it be live theatre, drama associations, drama education, contemporary performance companies, education, film and television production, performing arts centres or community theatre in Australia.
Graduates of other Deakin programs utilise skills gained in a drama sequence to improve their public presentation skills, personal confidence and team-working abilities. Combining a major in drama with education studies can qualify you to teach drama and performance in schools and other educational settings.
Course rules
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) a student must complete 24 credit points including:
* 12 credit points of core units
* 12 credit points of electives which may comprise 4-credit-point minor sequences to add a further specialism, or electives from across the Faculty of Arts and Education (or other University courses as approved)
* no more than 8 credit points taken outside the Faculty of Arts and Education
* no more than 10 credit points at level 1
* at least one wholly online unit
Course structure
Drama Core units
Year 1
Trimester 1
ACP101 Principles of Live Performance
ACP109 Improvisation and the Actor
Trimester 2
ACP177 Modern and Postmodern Drama
ACP110 The Paradox of the Actor
Year 2 Trimester 1
ACP205 Performance for Alternative Spaces
ACP279 The Integrated Performer
Trimester 2
ACP206 Processes of Realisation
ACP280 Performance, Text, Realisation
Year 3
Trimester 1
ACP378 Out of the Ether: Group Devised Performance
Trimester 2
ACP323 Out of the Box: Theatre Practice in Alternative Contexts
ACC316 Collaborative Major Creative Project (2 credit points)
The following unit is also available in addition to the major sequence
ACM337 Creative Arts International Project Or Study Tour
Minor Sequences
Select 4 credit points over 2 levels from the minor sequences listed below:
Animation
ACM126 Internet Arts
ACM132 Introduction to Animation
ACM138 3D Animation 1: Screen Space, Layout, Landscape
ACN203 Digital Studio
ACM240 3D Animation 2: Character and Performance
ACM308 Interactive Images
Creative Entrepreneurship
ACE222 Creative Industries
ACT201 Creative Production and the Audience
ACC301 Freelancing in the Arts
Plus select one of the following Internships:
AAV384 Graphics Internship *
ACD321 Performing Arts Internship - Dance
ACM321 Media Arts Internship
ACP321 Performing Arts Internship - Drama
ACV309 Visual Arts Internship
* Offered in Burwood from 2010
Cultures and Contexts
AAM219 Contemporary Australian Cinema
AAM220 Cinemas and Cultures
ACN108 History of Interactive Entertainment
ACT102 Criticism, Narrative and Contexts
ACT303 Art and the Politics of Censorship
ACT306 Art, Embodiment and Aesthetics
Dance (Via Audition)
ACD101 Introduction to Contemporary Dance Practice A
ACD102 Introduction to Contemporary Dance Practice B
ACD105 Ballet for Contemporary Movers
ACD110 Dance Improvisation and Body Awareness *
ACD203 Contemporary Dance Practice and History A
ACD204 Contemporary Dance Practice and History B
* ACD110 does not require an Audition
Drama (Via Audition)
ACP101 Principles of Live Performance
ACP177 Modern and Postmodern Drama
ACP279 The Integrated Performer
ACP280 Performance, Text, Realisation
ACP323 Out of the Box: Theatre Practice in Alternative Contexts
ACP378 Out of the Ether: Group Devised Performance
Film
AAM219 Contemporary Australian Cinema
ACM112 Writing with the Camera
ACM116 Screen Practices
ACM120 Moving Pictures: Screening Film History
ACM236 Screen Practitioners
ACM237 TV Studio Production
Graphic Design
ACG101 Graphic Design Studio
ACG102 Image and Text Applications
ACN107 Foundations of Design
ACG203 Graphic and Digital Imaging
ACG204 Visual Communication and Design
ACM207 Advanced Imaging
Interdisciplinary Practice
ACC303 Sound and Voice: Performance Collaborative Project
ACC304 Dance Video: Choreography and the Camera
ACC308 New Worlds: Physical and Digital Intersection
ACV211 Texts and Images II: in Quest of Story and Image
Motion Capture
AMC201 Motion Capture Boot Camp
AMC202 Animating Motion
AMC303 Digital Puppetry
ACN310 Choreographing Digital Space
Photography
ACM101 Still Images
ACM102 Comparative Imaging
ACM203 Photographic Practice
ACM204 Contemporary Photography
ACC308 New Worlds: Physical and Digital Intersection
ACM328 Shifting Focus: Experimental Photography and Creative Practice
Professional and Creative Writing
ALW101 Writing: Finding a Voice
ALW102 Writing: Telling a Story
ALW227 Script Writing: Focus On Fiction
ALW225 Fiction Writing: Story, Structure and Starting Out
Visual Arts
ACV101 Studio Art: Introductory Painting and Drawing A
ACV102 Studio Art: Introductory Painting and Drawing B
ACT104 Art and Technology
ACV203 Studio Art: Visual Narrative
ACV205 Studio Art: Pluralism A
ACV206 Studio Art: Pluralism B
Transition to University study
The faculty offers two units ASC160 Introduction to University Study and ALW117 Writing for Professional Practice which are specifically designed to ease the transition into university study. New students are encouraged to enrol in one or both of these units in their first year.
Wholly online units
To ensure that all Deakin students have the skills to meet the demands of the modern workforce, undergraduate students are required to complete at least one unit of their study wholly online.
The wholly online units offered by the Faculty of Arts and Education in 2009 are:
Trimester 1 or trimester 2
ACN108 History of Interactive Entertainment
Trimester 1
AIH265/AIH365 Great Debates: Unfinished Business of the Past
AIR236/AIR336 Global Capitalism and its Discontent
AIX391 Work Transition in the 21st Century
ALL379 Representing Australia
ALR383 Government Relations and Issues Management
Trimester 2
AIP238/AIP338 The Politics of Fear
ALC314 Advertising: Designing Desires
ALC320 Approaches to Media: Audiences and Effects
ASC320 Sex, Crime and Justice in An Electronic Age
Prerequisites
Because a number of disciplinary studies are cumulative in knowledge, technical competencies and/or study and research skills there are prerequisites which direct students to take some units before others. Students must seek advice from a course adviser before enrolling in units for which they do not have prerequisite or recommended units.
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Admission requirements - specific
Applicants should have successfully completed VCE, or equivalent, including a study score of at least 30 in Units 3 and 4 English (ESL) or 25 in Units 3 and 4 of any other English.
Those aged 21 or over on 1 January and who do not hold VCE or equivalent should apply under Alternative Admission. This category is open to those who do not satisfy normal entrance requirements, but can demonstrate relevant work or life experience.
Applicants must attend one day of audition/workshop activities between Monday 1 December and Friday 12 December.Applicants will not be eligible for selection if they have not attended the audition/workshop. Applicants must telephone (03) 9244 6700 (9am-3pm) 17-21 November to register.
International and Interstate applicants can contact the department on (03) 9251 7651 and apply to audition on video.
Please note, success in passing the audition does not guarantee a place in the course.
Late applicants and Change of Preference applicants will only be considered if the above extra requirements have been fulfilled. The institution may contact applicants regarding the workshop/audition arrangements.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Other Course Information
Assessment
Assessment within the award of Bachelor of Creative Arts varies from written assignments and/or examination to practical and technical exercises and performance. In some units assessment may also include class participation, online exercises, workshop exercises and tests.
Cross-institutional arrangements
Continuing Deakin students may apply to study units offered by another Australian tertiary institution and have them credited to their Deakin University degree. Further information is available from Arts Student Support.