Course code: 2119 · Caulfield campus · Internal mode ·
Full-time: three years plus one year for honours · Course coordinator: Dan
Wollmering
The Bachelor of Fine Art is a three-year degree program of education within the
discipline and practice of the fine arts. A fourth year of honours studies is
available for students of merit to pursue specialist study and research.
The fine arts are involved with perception and imagination, aesthetics and
social and cultural issues: they frequently concern cultural and philosophical
inquiry (such as mainstream and marginality), but are often practised solely as
an expression of intellectual, creative or spiritual freedom.
The fine art studio subjects include painting, printmaking, sculpture,
tapestry, conceptual practice, photomedia and digital art and are supported by
specialist subjects in drawing, professional practice and the theory of art and
design. Elective offerings open up possibilities of studying media and ideas
beyond the chosen specialisation.
The course provides a strong focus of fine art activity oriented to the student's chosen studio. The course is structured to give students the following areas of study.
This is the main study of the course. The major studios are offered at each year stage. The course provides the following major studios:
Students take 66 credit points in the major studio. In order to permit the possibility of movement between studios at the end of first year (subject to selection), without requiring a repeat of first-year studies, the credit-point requirement for graduation in a studio major is 54 credit points.
Students study theory, context and cultural aspects of art and design. Twelve credit points are taken in core subjects in the first year of study and a further 12 credit points are taken in elective theory subjects in the second and third years of study.
All students take a professional practice subject.
Students take two compulsory six-credit-point subjects in the first year. These studies are concerned with the development of perception and visual concepts using drawing. It is anticipated that all students will take further studies in the drawing studio - up to 24 credit points may be taken this way.
This is a preferred elective strand and it is anticipated that most students will at minimum take the subject Digital imaging 1. Students are expected to have taken a basic computing course prior to enrolment in Digital imaging 1.
Elective studies are selected in consultation with the studio coordinators. Subjects will generally be taken from those available within the Faculty of Art and Design, but subjects offered elsewhere in the university are also available. As well as the drawing and digital imaging electives, it is likely that many students may also wish to take photomedia and/or other studio studies, and visual communication. A typical program for the balance of the electives might include:
This additional one-year course provides intensive study in the student's selected area of studio practice. It is supported by theory and elective studies.
The student's study program is developed in conjunction with the course coordinator. Practice is closely linked to the research methods and seminar studies provided in the theory program.
The program reviews research concepts and methodologies and develops the student's capability to apply them both theoretically and in their studio practice.
Selected by students in consultation with the course coordinator. These may provide support for the student's major studio studies or honours project, address areas complementary to the student's previous studies or address issues relevant to the student's career objectives.
Three years of full-time study. The expected number of hours per week for a full-time student is 48 (contact and non-contact), with appropriate adjustment for any part-time study. An 80 per cent attendance record for studios, lectures, seminars etc is required before a student may present for assessment in any subject. Exceptions will be subject to the approval of the course coordinator.
One additional year of full-time study, or two years part-time. Workload as for the pass degree.
The course will be offered through the VTAC system. Entry is on the basis of portfolio, interview and ENTER. Students must have completed VCE English units 3 and 4 with a grade average of at least C. Applications will also be considered on the basis of other qualifications assessed as equivalent to the VCE.
Completion of the Bachelor of Fine Art or the Bachelor of Visual Arts with a major study in one of the studio areas of the Bachelor of Fine Art or equivalent pass degrees, at a credit level average or higher. Depending on the number of places available, students may also be required to submit a portfolio of studio work for selection into the honours program.
Credit will be granted for equivalent studies completed elsewhere at approved institutions. Advanced standing in the course for students who have completed part of similar courses at Australian or international universities will be considered up to a maximum of two years and in accordance with other regulations of Monash University. Each application for credit or advanced standing will be considered on its own merits.
No credit or advanced standing will be provided in this course.
For students with Australian residency, these courses fall within the lowest band of HECS liability. The fee for international students will be set by the vice-chancellor from time to time, and is currently $12,500 per annum.
Subject |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Total years 13 |
Year 4 |
Total years 14 | |||||
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
||||
Drawing |
C |
Drawing
1A |
Drawing
2B |
12 cps |
12 cps | ||||||
Elective |
(12*) cps |
||||||||||
Theory of art and design |
C o r e |
History of pre-industrial art and design 6 cps |
Visual culture and media of the industrial age 6 cps |
Theory of art and design 3 cps |
Theory of art and design 3 cps |
Theory of art and design 3 cps |
Theory of art and design 3 cps |
24 cps |
Research methods in design 6 cps |
Research seminar in design 6 cps |
24 cps |
Elective |
|||||||||||
Professional practice |
C o r e |
Professional practiceA 3 cps |
3 cps |
3 cps | |||||||
Elective |
(3*) cps |
||||||||||
Digital imaging |
C o r e |
||||||||||
Elective |
It is anticipated that most students will take Digital imaging 1. |
3 cps |
3 cps | ||||||||
Major art studio# |
C o r e |
Major studio practice and theory1 9 cps |
Major studio practice and theory2 9 cps |
Major studio practice and theory3 12 cps |
Major studio practice and theory4 12 cps |
Major studio practice and theory5 12 cps |
Major studio practice and theory6 12 cps |
66 cps |
Project studies 12 cps |
Major project 18 cps |
96 cps |
Elective |
Other studio studies. 6cps at minimum. |
(12*) cps |
|||||||||
Electives |
3 cps |
3 cps |
9 cps |
9 cps |
6 cps |
6 cps |
36 cps |
6 cps |
42 cps | ||
Total |
24 cps |
24 cps |
24 cps |
24 cps |
24 cps |
24 cps |
144 cps |
24 cps |
24 cps |
192 cps |
* Indicates an estimate of a student's elective choice, and is allocated
on a proportional basis, not necessarily actual credit points in the year 3 and
4 subtotals.
cps: credit points - the total student workload per week including in
and out of class work is normally obtained by doubling the credit points.
Subject |
Credit points |
Average
taught |
Average
out of class |
Total hours | |
Year 1 |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Major studio 1 |
9 cps |
10 hours |
8 hours |
18 hours |
Drawing 1A |
6 cps |
5 hours |
7 hours |
12 hours | |
History of pre-industrial art and design |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Electives |
3 cps |
2 hours |
4 hours |
6 hours | |
24 cps |
20 hours |
28 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Major studio 2 |
9 cps |
10 hours |
8 hours |
18 hours |
Drawing 2B |
6 cps |
5 hours |
7 hours |
12 hours | |
Visual culture and media of the industrial age |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Electives: possibly Digital imaging 1 |
3 cps |
2 hours |
4 hours |
6 hours | |
24 cps |
20 hours |
28 hours |
48 hours | ||
Year 2 |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Major studio 3 |
12 cps |
8 hours |
16 hours |
24 hours |
Theory of art and design |
3 cps |
2 hours |
4 hours |
6 hours | |
Electives: possibly 6 cps of drawing |
9 cps |
5 hours |
13 hours |
18 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Major studio 4 |
12 cps |
8 hours |
16 hours |
24 hours |
Theory of art and design |
3 cps |
2 hours |
4 hours |
6 hours | |
Electives |
9 cps |
5 hours |
13 hours |
18 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Year 3 |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Major studio 5 |
12 cps |
8 hours |
16 hours |
24 hours |
Theory of art and design |
3 cps |
2 hours |
4 hours |
6 hours | |
Professional practice A |
3 cps |
2 hours |
4 hours |
6 hours | |
Electives |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Major studio 6 |
12 cps |
8 hours |
16 hours |
24 hours |
Theory of art and design |
3 cps |
2 hours |
4 hours |
6 hours | |
Electives |
9 cps |
5 hours |
13 hours |
18 hours | |
24 cps |
15 hours |
33 hours |
48 hours | ||
Total (over three years) |
144 cps |
(16.6 hours average per week) |
(31.3 hours average per week) |
||
Year 4 |
|||||
Semester 1 |
Project studies |
12 cps |
14 hours |
2023 hours |
24 hours |
Research methods in art and design |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
Electives |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
10 hours |
38 hours |
48 hours | ||
Semester 2 |
Major project |
18 cps |
14 hours |
3235 hours |
36 hours |
Research seminar in art and design |
6 cps |
3 hours |
9 hours |
12 hours | |
24 cps |
4 hours |
44 hours |
48 hours | ||
Total (over four years) |
192 cps |
(14.5 hours average per week) |
(33.7 hours average per week) |
Teaching hours quoted are based on student groups of 20. Where group size is
less than 20, some consolidation of teaching will occur.