Freshman Abroad Academic Themes
What can I study?
Please note that the information below may vary for students coming to Swinburne on a tailored Freshman Abroad program, organised by their home institution.
Swinburne will run three concurrent academic streams as part of Freshman Abroad. Each stream will have its own theme. Under Australian visa regulations, you will be required to study a minimum of three and a maximum of four units.
If you're after flexibility, all three streams provide the opportunity to study units outside of your stream on the same campus.
Please note that units outlined below are subject to change.
Stream 1 at Hawthorn campus
Business and Management: topics include Accounting, Economics, Marketing and Human Resource Management.
Liberal Arts: topics include Politics, Media, Sociology and Philosophy.
Engineering and Computer Studies: topics include Chemistry, Biology, Engineering Maths and Biotechnology.
Highly recommended units:
HAT110 Australia – A Global Context
Be introduced to Australia's history, politics and culture. Discover the key icons of Australian identity and explore Australian politics: its issues, parties and personalities. You will also examine Australia’s changing place within the global community. Field trips are included.
HAM113 Professional Communication Practice
Undertaking this unit is strongly encouraged for freshmen. Develop academic skills relative to both technical and non-scientific fields. Equip yourself with oral and written communication skills needed for competing in the contemporary marketplace. The unit is designed around three key areas: researching, writing and presenting.
| Business and Management | |
| Microeconomics (HBE110N) | |
| Accounting for Managers (HBC110N) | |
| Introduction to Business Law (HBL111N) | |
| Fundamentals of Marketing (HBM110N) | |
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship (HBN110N) | |
| Introduction to New Venture Development (HBN210N) | |
| Australian Global Business Perspectives (HBI241N) | |
| Organisation and Management (HBH110N) | |
| Foundations of International Business (HBI110N) | |
| Liberal Arts | |
| History of Ideas (HAH101) | |
| The Media in Australia (HAM105) | |
| Sociology 1B (HAS112) | |
| International Politics (HAP117) | |
| Introduction to Philosophy (HAH100) | |
| Critical Thinking (HAH103) | |
| Australian Politics (HAP100) | |
| Writing Fiction (HAC103) | |
| Intercultural Communications (HAC213) | |
| Statistics and Research Methods (HMA103) | |
| Introductory Law (HBSL100) | |
| Health Policy and Planning (HES1718) | |
| Engineering and Computer Studies | |
| Engineering Maths (HMS111) | |
| Chemistry 1 (HES1510) | |
| Foundation Maths (HMS101) | |
| Concepts of Biology (HES1610) | |
| Digital Electronics Design (HET202) | |
| Sustainable Design (HES1115) | |
| Mechanics of Structures (UHT1125) | |
| Introduction to Programming (HIT2080) | |
| LAN Principles (HET104) | |
| Energy and Motion (HET124) | |
| Electronics Systems (HET182) | |
| Professional Skills – Telecommunications (HET105) | |
Stream 2 at Lilydale campus
Culture and Communications: topics include Aboriginal Studies, Tourism, Journalism and Public Relations.
Highly recommended units:
LIN100: Aboriginal Australia: Victorian People, Places and Experiences
Indigenous issues in Australia continue to be at the centre of public discussions concerning our national identity and history, as well as our political, legal, health and education systems. This unit aims to provide you with an understanding of Australia’s Indigenous peoples and the issues that define their experiences as Australian citizens. Field trips are included.
| Communications and Culture | |
| Indigenous Australian Experiences (LIN101) | |
| Professional Communication Practice (LPR100) | |
| Introduction to Media (LSM103) | |
| Cultural Perspectives on Science and Technology (LSM101) | |
| Learning and Communication Behaviour (LCL100) | |
| Introduction to Tourism (LTT100) | |
| Marketing Concepts (LBM100) | |
| Explorations in Sociology (LSS102) | |
| Introduction to Management (LTE100) | |
| Psychology 101 (LSY101) | |
| Microeconomics (LBE100) | |
| Accounting 1 (LBC 100) | |
| Survey Research Methods (LSQ201) | |
| Foundations of Business Systems and eCommerce (LEB111) | |
| Introduction to Commercial Law (LBL100) | |
Stream 3 at Prahran campus
Film, Television and Design: topics such as Communication Design, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Multimedia Design, Scriptwriting and Directing Narrative Film and production techniques.
Entry requirements: Students selecting design or communication units will need to have completed a high school-equivalent course unit in art, design or media. Units with these requirements are marked with an asterisk (*).
| Film, Television and Design | |
| * Introduction to Communication Design (HDCOM111) | |
| * Form and Structure for Communication Design (HDCOM121) | |
| * Photography in Communication Design (HDCOM122) | |
| * Design Thinking (HDC011) | |
| * 20th Century Design (HDC001) | |
| * 2D Animation (HDMMD111) | |
| * 2D Character Animation (HDMMD122) | |
| * Imaging for Storyboard and Narration (HDMMD112) | |
| * Interactive Design for Web Technology (HDMMD121) | |
| * Interior Design Construction Technology (HDINT121) | |
| * Theory of Interior Design (HDINT122) | |
| Australian Film and Television History (HDFTV002) | |
| Race, Class and Gender In Hollywood Cinema (HDFTV003) | |
| Film Screening Series: Contemporary Cinema | |
| Scriptwriting and Directing Narrative Film (HDFTV111) | |
| Production Management/Sound Design (HDFTV123) | |
| Documentary Production (HDFTV121) | |
