Add a suite of marketing skills to your design portfolio.
We now live in a technologically advanced age where being multi-skilled is a necessity. Designers need to not only be creative, they must know how to promote themselves, their work and the products they design for both themselves and their clients. A university degree in Design and Marketing gives you the skills to manage your own career, in both the design and the marketing and business side.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- * Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some core and foundation business subjects at the Noosa Centre or Gympie campus. There may be a limited selection of subjects available at South Bank. The option to study at Noosa or Gympie is not available to international students on a Student visa.
- * Campus note: In addition to being able to study all courses at Sippy Downs, students may choose to complete some core and foundation business subjects at the Noosa Centre or Gympie campus. There may be a limited selection of subjects available at South Bank. The option to study at Noosa or Gympie is not available to international students on a Student visa.
We now live in a technologically advanced age where being multi-skilled is a necessity. Designers need to not only be creative, they must know how to promote themselves, their work and the products they design for both themselves and their clients. A university degree in Design and Marketing gives you the skills to manage your own career, in both the design and the marketing and business side.
If you're passionate about design, and also want the marketing knowledge to develop your own business skills, this program is for you. You will learn the language of visual design and communication and will gradually build a professional quality portfolio through working on a range of applied projects.
In parallel, you will study a range of business and management subjects that will provide you with an understanding of the marketing functions essential to a wide range of organisations. You will learn how to identify and analyse marketing opportunities, develop strategic marketing plans, undertake marketing research, select target markets and forecast demand for a wide range of products and services. To do this, you will come understand the importance of the marketing mix, including aspects of product design, pricing, placement and promotion; and you will be able to analyse the marketing effectiveness of organisations with a focus on their sustainability.
During your studies, you will work with experienced and dedicated designers and marketing professionals and work on a range of real life projects. You are also given networking opportunities during the program that help you towards building your career. For those who wish to apply, there is also the opportunity to study overseas for a semester in one of USC’s many partner institutions. To read in detail about each of the courses you will undertake, click on the “What will I study?” link above.
Career opportunities
You can work in multimedia and design across creative a range of industries, ranging from multiplatform publishing, web design, graphic design, marketing, corporate communications and, with this degree and some experience, you can even aim for opportunities in management roles.
Program structure
Introductory courses (7)
COR109 Auditing and Professional Practice
BUS101 Financial Accounting
BUS104 Business Finance
BUS105 Law of Business Associations
DES101 Company Accounting
DES105 Management Accounting
DES106 Taxation Law and Practice
Advanced courses (13)
MKG210 Communication and Thought
MKG211 Business Analytics
MKG220 Introduction to Management
MKG222 Introduction to Marketing
MKG322 Visual Literacy: Design Principles and Practice
MKG324 Introduction to Design
PLUS select 1 course from:
IBS310 Typography
MKG212 Consumer Behaviour
MKG221 Services Marketing
PLUS select 6 courses from your chosen design study area:
Graphic Design major
DES211 Marketing Communication
DES212 Marketing of Social Causes
DES213 Brand Management
DES214 Contemporary and Emerging Marketing Perspectives
DES215 International Marketing
DES216 Food Marketing
e-Media Design major
DES221 Sport and Event Marketing
DES222 Graphic Design A
DES223 Graphic Design B
DES224 Graphic Design C
DES225
DES226
Please note: Students must commence the advanced design courses in Semester 1 following the successful completion of DES105.
Elective courses (4)
Select 4 elective courses either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering). 1 elective must be an advanced level (200/300 coded) course. These electives may be used to complete a minor in a second area of design (Graphic Design, e-Media Design).
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses, including the core course
- You must select and register your compulsory major(s)/minor(s) as soon as possible
Program notes
- The 6 advanced courses from one of the design streams, plus DES101 and DES105, will constitute a major in that stream
- Students must commence the advanced design courses in Semester 1, following the successful completion of DES105
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression
- You may wish to use electives to complete an additional major or minor
- Register your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)