Back to Find Courses page

Associate Degree of Creative Writing

Associate Degree

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    AssocDegCreatWrite

  • Course code

    2207005

  • Credit points

    192

  • Equivalent units

    16

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

Immerse yourself in the world of words and become a confident and skilled creative writer. The Associate Degree of Creative Writing provides students with a broad range of skills spanning several writing genres. It enables students to focus on the practice and theory of writing, along with developing the attributes and skills needed for a professional career in writing.

If you have a way with words, a passion for writing, or a story to tell, this degree will help build your confidence and provide professional feedback to assist in becoming published. 

The course offers a rich mix of creative writing and literary studies across a range of writing modes in fiction and non-fiction, including experimental writing, journalism, life writing, poetry, writing for stage and screen, and writing for young adults.

After completion of the Associate Degree, students may choose to apply to study a further eight units to gain a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The University is the education partner of the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival and the Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA), Northern Rivers Writers’ Centre and supports the Bellingen Writers’ Festival.

Graduate AttributeCourse Learning Outcome
Intellectual rigour

Apply critical analysis, reasoning and reflexivity to creative writing practices.

Demonstrate the ability to develop a creative written piece incorporating a range of writing techniques.

Creativity

Develop innovative and creative textual responses to explore contemporary and historical social and cultural issues.

Ethical practice

Investigate and evaluate issues with reference to principles of creativity, according to ethical conventions in the humanities.

Knowledge of a discipline

Demonstrate a critical understanding of practices of creativity using a variety of conceptual frameworks.

Demonstrate a command of at least one discipline within the range of writing genres. Apply theoretical ideas to understand and manage practical situations in creative writing.

Lifelong learning

Access, interpret and evaluate sources of information relevant to the study of creativity and the writing discipline.

Communication and social skills

Construct and present narratives in written text.

Negotiate contested issues and work collaboratively with others to achieve mutually agreed outcomes.

Cultural competence

Demonstrate a cosmopolitan and multicultural commitment as well as a local perspective on social and cultural issues.

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to interact in a culturally competent way with Indigenous communities.

Opportunities exist for writing students to undertake work placements with Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA), the Byron Bay Writers Festival, Northern Rivers Writers' Centre and the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival. Students can choose a professional placement unit during which they can spend 70 - 100 hours in an appropriate organisation using their knowledge and skills. 

While this course has no majors, studies in fiction and non-fiction writing include:
  • experimental writing
  • journalism
  • life writing
  • poetry
  • writing for stage and screen
  • writing for young adults

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Lismore Session 1 , Session 2 333301 053301
Online Session 1 , Session 2 N/A N/A

Career Outcomes

Graduates will be eligible for membership of the Australian Society of Authors, Australian Writers’ Guild, Australasian Association of Writing Programs and Copyright Agency Limited.

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Course requirements

  1. To be eligible for the award of Associate Degree of Creative Writing a candidate shall successfully complete not less than sixteen (16) units (192 credit points) comprising:
    1. all units listed in Part A; and
    2. eight (8) units from Part B; and
    3. three (3) units from Part C
  2. A candidate who while enrolled in the Associate Degree of Creative Writing has completed 8 units from either Part A or Part B may elect to be awarded a Diploma of Creative Writing following withdrawal from candidature for the Associate Degree.
  3. A candidate who while enrolled in the Associate Degree of Creative Writing has completed 4 units from either Part A or Part B may elect to be awarded a Certificate of Creative Writing following withdrawal from candidature for the Associate Degree.

Course structure

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 1
COM10295 -  Written Communication Introductory
WRI10001 -  Contemporary Reading and Writing Practices Introductory
ENG00400 -  Introduction to Written Texts Introductory
Plus one of the following Part C units:
CUL00210 -  Australia, Asia and the World Introductory
CUL00412 -  Indigenous Ways of Cultural Expression Introductory
Year 1, Session 2
WRI10003 -  Short Story Writing Intermediate
Plus two units from:
Part B
Plus one of the following Part C units:
SOC10399 -  Philosophy on Screen: Film and Television Introductory
HUM00271 -  Unruly Subjects: Citizenship Introductory
COM10627 -  Telling Tales: Introduction to Digital Storytelling Introductory
Year 2, Session 1
WRI10002 -  The Nature of Narrative: Self, Time, Place and the Environment Intermediate
3 units from:
Part B
Year 2, Session 2
3 units from:
Part B
Plus one unit from:
Part C

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 1
COM10295 -  Written Communication Introductory
WRI10001 -  Contemporary Reading and Writing Practices Introductory
Year 1, Session 2
WRI10003 -  Short Story Writing Intermediate
Plus one unit from:
Part B
Year 2, Session 1
ENG00400 -  Introduction to Written Texts Introductory
Plus one unit from:
Part B
Year 2, Session 2
Two units from:
Part B
Year 3, Session 1
WRI10002 -  The Nature of Narrative: Self, Time, Place and the Environment Intermediate
Plus one unit from:
Part B
Year 3, Session 2
One unit from:
Part B
Plus one unit from:
Part C
Year 4, Session 1
One unit from:
Part B
Plus one unit from:
Part C
Year 4, Session 2
One unit from:
Part B
Plus one unit from:
Part C

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 2
COM10295 -  Written Communication Introductory
WRI10001 -  Contemporary Reading and Writing Practices Introductory
WRI10003 -  Short Story Writing Intermediate
Plus one unit from:
Part C
Year 2, Session 1
ENG00400 -  Introduction to Written Texts Introductory
Plus two units from:
Part B
Plus one unit from:
Part C
Year 2, Session 2
Three units from:
Part B
Plus one unit from:
Part C
Year 3, Session 1
WRI10002 -  The Nature of Narrative: Self, Time, Place and the Environment Intermediate
Plus three units from:
Part B

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 2
COM10295 -  Written Communication Introductory
WRI10001 -  Contemporary Reading and Writing Practices Introductory
Year 2, Session 1
ENG00400 -  Introduction to Written Texts Introductory
Plus one unit from:
Part B
Year 2, Session 2
WRI10003 -  Short Story Writing Intermediate
Plus one unit from:
Part B
Year 3, Session 1
WRI10002 -  The Nature of Narrative: Self, Time, Place and the Environment Intermediate
Plus one unit from:
Part B
Year 3, Session 2
Two units from:
Part B
Year 4, Session 1
Two units from:
Part B
Year 4, Session 2
Two units from:
Part C
Year 5, Session 1
One unit from:
Part B
Plus one unit from:
Part C

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes

Part A
ENG00400 Introduction to Written Texts Introductory
COM10295 Written Communication Introductory
WRI10003 Short Story Writing Intermediate
WRI10001 Introduction to Creative Writing Introductory
WRI10002 The Nature of Narrative: Self, Time, Place and the Environment Intermediate

Part B

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes
Choose any eight (8) of the following units:
ENG00411 Writing Genre Intermediate
ENG00401 Issues and Themes in Contemporary Writing Intermediate
ENG00407 Writing for Performance Intermediate
WRI20004 Writing Lives Intermediate
ENG00406 Theories of Text and Culture Advanced
ENG10022 Writing from the Edge Advanced
COM01402 Act One: Screenwriting Intermediate
WRI20002 Introduction to Editing and Publishing Advanced
WRI20001 Writing for Young People Intermediate
WRI20003 Writing Poetry Intermediate

Part C

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes
Choose any three (3) of the following units:
COM00481 The Fourth Estate: News Journalism Intermediate
COM00482 Hot Topics: Feature Journalism Intermediate
CAR10503 Arts Industry Studies Intermediate
CUL00210 Australia, Asia and the World Introductory
SOC10399 Critical Thinking for Digital Times Introductory
CUL00412 Indigenous Ways of Cultural Expression Introductory
HIS10018 Writing Place: Landscapes, Memory, History Intermediate
ENG00408 Writing Project Advanced
COM00471 Professional Placement Advanced
COM10627 Telling Tales: Introduction to Digital Storytelling Introductory
HUM00271 Unruly Subjects: Citizenship Introductory
SOY10114 Independent Project Advanced