Online Courses Handbook 2003

300890 v.2 Doctor of Creative Arts (Design)

DCA(Curtin)

Introduction
This course is a professional research degree. Twenty-five per cent of the course is spent in coursework contextualising the student's thesis by providing study in relevant history, methodology, theory and criticism with the other seventy-five per cent spent in preparation of a thesis. The thesis may be submitted in a traditional, printed and bound form, in an electronic format, as a film, exhibition, installation or in another medium. This allows for specialisation in the following areas - visual communication, three-dimensional design, and human environment design.

Course Entry Requirements/Prerequisites
Bachelor of Arts (Honours I or IIA) or equivalent, or a Masters degree in a relevant area.

Recognition of Prior Learning
Applications for recognition of prior learning for coursework components are assessed on an individual basis.

Duration and Availability
A minimum of two years and a maximum of five years for full-time study and a minimum of three years, maximum seven years for part-time study apply. It is expected that students will complete this course over three years full-time study, or equivalent part-time study. As most units are offered only once in each year and in the required sequence of study, there is some limitation of choice for students who study part-time.

Course Organisation
This course is studied as a research degree. The content of the degree should be determined in consultation with the Postgraduate Coordinator, School of Design. Students without prior studies in research methods and statistical data analysis will be required to undertake relevant preparatory units. This will increase the stated course duration.

Additional Course Expenses
Some areas require students to provide their own equipment and/or materials or pay a fee for the School to provide them (check with the individual schools/area). Schools will not bear the expense of projects involving unusual costs for example, a student wishing to make a film would have to provide the film stock and fund the post-production costs, and a student mounting an exhibition would have to pay for framing and/or installation expenses. Thesis preparation and binding, and other costs are normally covered by doctoral students. Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other vital study materials. In addition, students may also need to contribute some of the cost of consumables, which varies depending on the area of study.

Special Note
It is a requirement that two-thirds of this course is undertaken by research and only one-third by coursework.

Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit

Majors, Streams or Other Core Components

13528 v.2 DCA 701 - Design Professional Praxis I 8.0 50.0

13529 v.2 DCA 702 - Design Professional Praxis II 3.0 50.0

13530 v.2 DCA 703 - Design Research Issues and Methods 3.0 50.0

99123 v.2 Doctoral Thesis - Design

150.0

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