2018 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Visual Arts and Design Major | 2018

UAC Code: 754607

This major is available for students studying the Bachelor of Creative Arts.

A major study in Visual Arts and Design is suitable for students who wish to combine study in the fields of Visual Arts and Design. The Visual Arts component is based on studio practice and related theory and history studies. The studio processes cover textiles, painting and sculpture - with support studies in drawing, printmaking, photography, video, installation, digital image making and curatorial practices.

In the Design component students are introduced to a range of graphic design techniques and practices across a number of conceptual, social and industry contexts including visual communication design, innovations in design practice and sustainability & ethics. Student work is shown throughout the year in gallery spaces in the Faculty.

The structure of the course is based on a common foundation first year, followed by a sequence of parallel Visual Arts and Design studio subjects, leading towards a capstone project-based subject, which can involve work in one or both fields of study. Students may focus on either Visual Arts or Graphic Design theory subjects at 300-level. The course culminates in a final year major project and public exhibition of students’ work within the Graduate Show.

Subjects Required for Major Study

Students studying the BCA: Visual Arts and Design Major will complete the core subjects for the BCA , and at least 96 credit points as outlined below.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points
Core:
CAVA101 Visual Foundation 1 6
CAVA102 Visual Foundation 2 6
CAVA103 Visual Foundation 3 6
CAVA104 Visual Foundation 4: Studio Practice 6
VCD 201 Typography 6
VCD 203 Social Impact Design 6
CAGD231 Graphic Design and Visual Communication Theory 1 6
CAGD232 Graphic Design and Visual Communication Theory 2 6
CAVA201 Visual Arts Studio 1 6
CAVA203 Visual Arts Studio 3 6
CAVA231 Visual Art, Modernism and the Avant-garde 6
CAVA232 Contemporary Indigenous Art: Theory and Practice 6
VCD 301 Professional Design Practice 6
CAVA301 Visual Arts Workshop 6
Plus ONE from the following:
CAGD390 Graphic Design Major Project 12
CAVA390 Visual Arts Major Project 12

Students interested in Graphic Design are strongly recommended to enrol in VAD 190, and VAD 192 as electives in their BCA, or to complete the Graphic Design Minor.

NOTE: Students in the Bachelor of Creative Arts/Bachelor of Communication and Media double degree (course code 1795) cannot take the 'Visual Arts and Design' major with the 'Visual Communication Design’ major.

Timetables

Click on subject codes in the above course structure for information on sessions of offer for each subject.

To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.

Minor Study

As part of the BCA, students are encouraged to complete a minor as outlined on the BCA Course Handbook Page.

Students interested in Graphic Design are strongly recommended to enrol in VAD 190, and VAD 192 as electives in their BCA, or to complete the Graphic Design Minor.

Minors appear on the transcript (i.e. academic record), but do not appear on the testamur. To have a minor study recorded, students must submit an Application to Declare or Change Intended Major/Minor.

Work Integrated Learning

Undertaking a work integrated learning (WIL) experience during your university education is now a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.

Bachelor of Creative Arts students may apply via their Course Coordinator to enrol into the Creative Arts Internship subject, CACS302. The Faculty offers a limited number of industry placements each year. These offer students hands-on experience in cultural organisations that have agreed to partner with the Faculty on this initiative. Typically students will spend a minimum of 60 hours in an organisation, working on an agreed project from their major study area, with exposure to a fully operational professional environment. These hours can be undertaken on a daily basis or as a single block as negotiated with the host organisation. Students are selected for this opportunity on the basis of both strong academic achievement and through application and interview.

In their third year students will undertake a major project in their chosen discipline continuing to build student experience, expertise and maturity, working with a range of methodologies and processes in a context that simulates professional working conditions.

Third year students may choose to take an additional history/theory subject, particularly if they are interested in Honours or teaching, however, they also have the option of enrolling in CACS301, the Professional Practice subject. In this subject, students will map professional and career pathways in the context of both individual artistic practice and the creative and cultural industries. It will develop an understanding of arts infrastructure, including government agencies, the commercial and the not-for-profit sector. Fundamental professional avenues of support such as legal advisory services and funding structures will be introduced as well as individual portfolios and curriculum vitae, project and funding submission development and making presentations. Students will undertake an individual research assignment into an aspect of the arts that fits with their career ambitions. The subject will be delivered in partnership with key arts and cultural organisations.

Honours

See Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours).

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Other Information

Further information is available via email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 28 August, 2018