ObjectivesThe Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing offers studies in various forms of professional writing and editing. The emphasis is on helping you to develop the skills required to prepare work for publication. In each area of study - fiction, creative non-fiction, writing for children, poetry, editing, publishing and scriptwriting - you will be given practical experience of the process of writing and revision. The program will develop your understanding of the requirements of writing and editing for different readerships. The units in the program will be valuable to you if you are experienced in writing but feel the need for further guidance or if you want to begin a career in writing. Study at this level can also help you if you are required to write in the course of your employment and wish to enhance your skills in written communication. The editing course introduces you to the key skills required for employment in publishing books and magazines. The School of Communication and Creative Arts adopts the philosophy that writing and editing should be taught by published writers and practitioners. The teaching staff includes well-known writers and editors, and the program draws on the talents of other publishing professionals as guest speakers.
Entry requirementsTo be eligible for admission into the Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing applicants require: * a bachelor degree from an approved tertiary institution; or * qualifications deemed to be equivalent; or * extensive relevant work experience undertaken at a senior level as deemed appropriate by the Course Selection Team.
Academic titleGraduate Certificate of Professional Writing
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. If you are studying a graduate certificate of 4 credit points, your total course EFTSL is 0.5.
This is a fee-paying course. Domestic students may be eligible for FEE-HELP assistance in paying these tuition fees. For more information about FEE-HELP go to http://www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/fees/.
Fee paying place - Domestic (DFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the university does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.
Fee paying places are available to domestic students. Domestic students are those who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent visa.
* 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. The cost of each unit offered in 2009 can be viewed at http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/handbooks2009/search.php.
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
The program is designed to provide career enhancement for students employed or wishing to be employed in the fields of children's literature, literature and professional writing. It enables students currently employed in these fields to upgrade their qualifications in order to apply for specialist positions and enhance their opportunities for promotion. It also provides for those seeking a qualification to enable refocusing of career options.
Course rules
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing, a student must successfully complete 4 credit points of study from the specified list of units below.
Course structure
Trimester 1
ALW729 Writing for Communication Media
ALW730 Creative Non-Fiction Writing A
ALW732 Fiction Writing: Story, Structure and Starting Out
ALW734 Script Writing A
ALW736 Poetics of Writing A *
ALW738 Editing
Trimester 2
ACM733 My Story: Autobiographical and Experimental Video Production
ALR715 New Ventures in Creative Enterprise
ALW720 Travel Writing
ALW731 Creative Non-Fiction Writing B
ALW733 Fiction Writing: Ideas and Innovations
ALW735 Script Writing B
ALW737 Poetics of Writing B *
ALW739 Publishing
Not offered Trimester 3 2008/09
ALW749 Crossing Borders - in Country Travel and Research Project
*Not offered 2009, offered 2010
Note: Students may complete any combination of units, though they should be aware that B units require A units as prerequisites.
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate 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
To be eligible for admission into the Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing applicants require:
* a bachelor degree from an approved tertiary institution; or
* qualifications deemed to be equivalent; or
* extensive relevant work experience undertaken at a senior level as deemed appropriate by the Course Selection Team.
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.
Advanced standing - specific
Applications for advanced standing will be considered depending on the student's prior qualifications and professional experience.
The Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing, the Masters of Arts (Professional Communication) and the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) comprise a suite of fully articulated courses. Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing will lead to admission into either the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing, the Master of Arts (Professional Communication) or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) with up to 4 credit points of advanced standing. Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing or equivalent will lead to admission into the Master of Arts (Professional Communication) or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) with up to 8 credit points of advanced standing.