Electives

Electives

Electives are the perfect way to create your own bespoke degree experience, and to set you up with the skills you need for your future career.

The elective unit options are below. The categories will help guide you in selecting your electives. If you meet the prerequisites and co-requisites, you can choose any of the units you’re interested in, no matter what degree you’re studying right now - click on a unit to read the Handbook entry for more information.

Check out our Summer and Winter page and our Overseas Opportunities page for a list of units offered in these teaching periods.

There are also the Flagship Rich Educational Experiences (FREE) units including the Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) and Monash Innovation Guarantee (MIG) options - take a look to see if you are eligible.

If you're interested in using electives to hone a specific area you may be interested in our Minors, which group electives in broad study areas.

Please note, if you’re undertaking a Fine Art, Design or Architecture unit - and are not enrolled in a MADA course - you must enrol in and complete OHS1000, a quick and easy unit worth 0 credit points that can be completed online in Moodle in 10-15 minutes.

Search Art, Design and Architecture electives in the Handbook

Not all elective units are offered each year or each semester - the Handbook will have the latest information, check the unit entry to see if there is an offering.

Search for all available electives and filter by location, level and semester.

Search

Browse electives by theme

For details about a unit - description, teaching periods, enrolment rules, objectives, assessment and contact hours - click on a unit tile, which will open the unit entry in the Monash Handbook in a new tab.

Make sure you look through a range of themes! Explore your options across different areas. Some electives will appear more than once as they fall in to several categories.

Some units are offered as both Level 2 (second-year) and Level 3 (third-year) options. The links below will open the units Level 2 Handbook page, but the Level 3 code has been included when a unit has both options. (You can only take the unit once).

Please note that occasionally there are some unit title changes so a title may change after you start your course - clicking on a unit will take you to the unit Handbook entry, which will include a note with the previous unit title.

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Architecture and Urban Planning

Architecture and Urban Planning

Further your studies with architecture or urban planning electives.

Undergraduate

ARC3501 | Architecture | 6 CP Advanced studies in architecture A

UPD3501 | Urban planning | 6 CP Reimagining cities

ARC3502 | Architecture | 6 CP Advanced studies in architecture B

Postgraduate

UPD4301 | Urban planning | 6 CP Urban positions and practices

UPD4302 | Urban planning | 6 CP Regulating the city

ARC4501 | Architecture | 6 CP Advanced architecture studies 1

ARC4502 | Architecture | 6 CP Advanced architecture studies 2

UPD5301 | Urban planning | 6 CP Economics and the city

UPD5302 | Urban planning | 6 CP Democratic city

ARC5501 | Architecture | 6 CP Advanced architecture studies 3

ARC5502 | Architecture | 6 CP Advanced architecture studies 4

Art History and Theory

Art History and Theory

Explore art through its history and theory.

Undergraduate

AHT1101 | Fine Art | 6 CP Introduction to the history and theory of art

AHT1102 | Fine Art | 6 CP Modernism and the avant-garde

AHT2031 | AHT3031 Fine Art | 6 CP World wide: Art beyond the Western canon

AHT2102 | Fine Art | 6 CP Post-war practices 1945-1990

AHT2105 | AHT3105 Fine Art | 6 CP Contemporary international art

AHT2130 | AHT3130 Fine Art | 6 CP Renaissance to Baroque: Italian art and architecture in context

AHT2135 | Fine Art | 6 CP Renaissance art and architecture

AHT2440 | AHT3440 Fine Art | 6 CP History and theory of photography, film and video

AHT2530 | AHT3530 Fine Art | 6 CP Neo-Baroque aesthetics: History and theory

AHT2740 | AHT3740 Fine Art | 6 CP Australian art

AHT2882 | AHT3882 Fine Art | 6 CP Contemporary Asian art and exhibitions

AHT3220 | Fine Art | 6 CP Museums, archives and cultural heritage

Communication Design

Communication Design

Encompasses typography, branding and advertising. (Also see Painting, Drawing and Illustration for other options).

Undergraduate

DGN1302 | Design | 6 CP Typography 1

DGN1303 | Design | 6 CP The language of graphic design

DGN1520 | Design | 6 CP Social media for design analysis and communication

DGN1533 | Design | 6 CP Photographic art direction

DGN2304 | Design | 6 CP Typography 2

DGN2305 | Design | 6 CP Type design

DGN2402 | Design | 6 CP Advertising design

DGN2511 | Design | 6 CP Branding for designers

DGN2512 | Design | 6 CP Packaging design

DGN2521 | Design | 6 CP Creative prototyping: Designing with game engines

DGN2524 | Design | 6 CP Unconventional publishing

DGN2704 | Design | 6 CP Web design

Curatorial Practices

Curatorial Practices

Specialist electives from Art History and Curating available to all.

Undergraduate

AHT1202 | Fine Art | 6 CP Curating: Introduction

AHT2712 | Fine Art | 6 CP Curating: Histories and theories

AHT2722 | Fine Art | 6 CP Curating: Making exhibitions

AHT3001 | Fine Art | 6 CP Art writing and criticism

Design: first-year recommended electives

Design: first-year recommended electives

Get your degree started - or broaden your experience - with these first-year Design electives.

Undergraduate

DGN1302 | Design | 6 CP Typography 1

DGN1303 | Design | 6 CP The language of graphic design

DGN1533 | Design | 6 CP Photographic art direction

DGN1602 | Design | 6 CP Digital design drawing

DGN1904 | Design | 6 CP 3D modelling fundamentals

Digital

Digital

Electives that promote creative digital fluency.

Undergraduate

PHO1204 | Fine Art | 6 CP Photography: Digital imaging for contemporary art

DGN2522 | Design | 6 CP Creative prototyping: Interactivity

DGN2523 | Design | 6 CP Creative prototyping: Connected objects

DGN2535 | Design | 6 CP Creative visualisation

DGN2601 | Design | 6 CP Video production design 1

DGN2602 | Design | 6 CP Video production design 2

DGN2704 | Design | 6 CP Web design

Postgraduate

DGN4029 | Design | 6 CP Designing interactive systems

DGN4604 | Design | 6 CP Cinematic design for film

DGN5604 | Design | 6 CP Advanced cinematic design for film

Film, Photo and Print

Film, Photo and Print

Embraces photography, printmaking and audiovisual practices.

Undergraduate

PHO1203 | Fine Art | 6 CP Photography: Introduction

DGN1533 | Design | 6 CP Photographic art direction

PRM2001 | Fine Art | 6 CP Printmaking: Etching, relief printing and the artist book

FNA2034 | Fine Art | 6 CP Sound in the space of art

PRM2201 | Fine Art | 6 CP Printmaking: Photographic techniques and transformations

PHO2202 | Fine Art | 6 CP Photography: Advanced darkroom and lighting

PHO2207 | Fine Art | 6 CP Photography: Processes

PRM2401 | Fine Art | 6 CP Printmaking: Screenprinting and the contemporary poster

DGN2601 | Design | 6 CP Video production design 1

DGN2602 | Design | 6 CP Video production design 2

FNA2903 | Fine Art | 6 CP Film: Art and cinema

Postgraduate

DGN4604 | Design | 6 CP Cinematic design for film

Form - materials, models, jewellery, glass, sculpture

Form - materials, models, jewellery, glass, sculpture

Includes everything from physical 3-Dimensional artefacts like sculpture and furniture, to digitally rendered models.

Undergraduate

SCU1021 | Fine Art | 6 CP Material transformations: Ceramics

GLS1231 | Fine Art | 6 CP Material transformations: Foundations in hot glass forming

DGN1904 | Design | 6 CP 3D modelling fundamentals

SCU2021 | Fine Art | 6 CP Material transformations: Glass and sculptural forming

DGN2033 | Design | 6 CP Material explorations

JWL2311 | Fine Art | 6 CP Material transformations: Jewellery and object forming

JWL2313 | Fine Art | 6 CP Material transformations: Contemporary jewellery practices

DGN2512 | Design | 6 CP Packaging design

DGN2810 | Design | 6 CP Furniture design 1

DGN2815 | Design | 6 CP Furniture design 2

Postgraduate

DGN4201 | Design | 6 CP 3D modelling and virtual space

DGN5201 | Design | 6 CP 3D animation

Industrial Design

Industrial Design

Further develops skills specific to the field of industrial design practice.

Undergraduate

DGN1602 | Design | 6 CP Digital design drawing

DGN1904 | Design | 6 CP 3D modelling fundamentals

DGN2033 | Design | 6 CP Material explorations

DGN2040 | Design | 6 CP Creative sustainability

DGN2120 | Design | 6 CP Designing for sustainability

DGN2211 | Design | 6 CP Design for digital fabrication

DGN2310 | Design | 6 CP Service design studio

DGN2500 | Design | 6 CP Design thinking for global challenges

DGN2540 | Design | 6 CP Practice-based design methods

DGN2810 | Design | 6 CP Furniture design 1

DGN2815 | Design | 6 CP Furniture design 2

Interdisciplinary

Interdisciplinary

Units that deliberately seek to bring our disciplines together in collaborative projects.

Undergraduate

DGN2000 | Design | 6 CP Interdisciplinary design

BEX3300 | Design (BusEco) | 6 CP Business and design

Internships

Internships

Opportunities for students to embed themselves in industry experiences within and outside the university. Students must apply via the MADA Internship Moodle page - link in Handbook entry for each unit.

Undergraduate

ADA3406 | Faculty Wide | 6 CP Art, Design and Architecture internship

Postgraduate

ADA5406 | Faculty Wide | 6 CP Art, Design and Architecture internship

Painting, Drawing and Illustration

Painting, Drawing and Illustration

Embraces painting, technical drawing, life drawing, illustration and animation. (Also see Communication Design for other options).

Undergraduate

PTG1001 | Fine Art | 6 CP Painting: Introduction to materials and methods

DWG1201 | Fine Art | 6 CP Drawing: Introduction

DGN1602 | Design | 6 CP Digital design drawing

PTG2031 | Fine Art | 6 CP Painting: Colour strategies

PTG2033 | Fine Art | 6 CP Painting: Figuration

DGN2204 | Design | 6 CP Illustration as design

FNA2222 | Fine Art | 6 CP Extended studio practice

DWG2509 | Fine Art | 6 CP Drawing: The body

DWG2519 | Fine Art | 6 CP Drawing: The anatomical specimen

DGN2531 | Design | 6 CP Animation design

DGN2532 | Design | 6 CP Illustration for narrative

DWG2784 | Fine Art | 6 CP Drawing: Tuscany in context

DWG3518 | Fine Art | 6 CP Drawing: Advanced studies

Research

Research

Engage with research methodologies and learn to interpret and synthesise data, critical theories and concepts.

Undergraduate

AHT4503 | Fine Art | 6 CP Advanced fine art research: Theory

AHT4504 | Fine Art | 6 CP Advanced fine art research: Writing

Postgraduate

UPD5500 | Architecture | 6 CP Independent research project

Social Impact

Social Impact

For those wanting to engage creative practice in relation to sustainability, social impact and design thinking.

Undergraduate

BLK1000 | Fine Art | 6 CP Indigenous Australian creative practice and ways of knowing

FNA2035 | Fine Art | 6 CP Interventions in sound, performance and socially engaged practices

DGN2040 | Design | 6 CP Creative sustainability

DGN2120 | Design | 6 CP Designing for sustainability

DGN3203 | Design | 6 CP Design for culture and heritage

UPD3501 | Urban planning | 6 CP Reimagining cities

Postgraduate

ADA5111 | Design | 6 CP Design thinking for business

DGN5203 | Design | 6 CP Design for culture and heritage

DGN5204 | Design | 6 CP Design for social impact

Spatial Design

Spatial Design

Electives that will help you engage with spatial experiences.

Undergraduate

DGN1602 | Design | 6 CP Digital design drawing

DGN2033 | Design | 6 CP Material explorations

DGN2120 | Design | 6 CP Designing for sustainability

DGN2303 | Design | 6 CP Professional documentation for design

DGN2505 | Design | 6 CP Exhibition design

DGN2525 | Design | 6 CP Sensory design

DGN2810 | Design | 6 CP Furniture design 1

DGN3203 | Design | 6 CP Design for culture and heritage

Unit offerings are subject to change. Please check the handbook for 2027 offerings.

Our minor offerings Whether you're an aspiring painter, a budding designer, or an art enthusiast, our minors provide a dynamic blend of practical and theoretical skills and intellectual exploration. Browse minor offerings