2479 - Bachelor of Visual Arts

The course offers a program of broad education in the visual arts. Graduates may practise professionally in one or more art media, or may become involved in art gallery activities, cultural programs and art education, or in a range of art and design industry activities.

The visual arts are concerned with the range of activities of the fine arts and design, as well as the newer areas such as photomedia and digital media, in addition to the theoretical and cultural aspects of art and design. The course comprises a choice of major disciplines in art, along with complementary studies and a choice of elective units which, taken together, enable students to form individual study programs.

This BVA degree is an alternative minimum entry requirement for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts, which provides a fourth year of study at Caulfield. Students may extend studies in their chosen major discipline at fourth-year/honours level and undertake studies in the research methods of the visual arts.

To educate graduates who have a knowledge and understanding of the disciplines of the visual arts. Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Visual Arts, graduates will have an array of concepts and skills pertinent to visual arts practice. They will have the:

• capacity to critically assess and contribute to contemporary discourse in visual arts
• ability to evolve their own aims, interests and vision, to be expressed through their studio work whilst working independently
• ability to apply knowledge, understanding and imagination in aesthetics, history, theory and cultural studies in an independent manner.

The degree structure is given depth by a sequence of units which form a major study taken over three years. It is given breadth by complementary and other units in studio and theory from which individual study programs can be formed.

(a.) First-year study program

The first year of the course has a common structure for all students that provides a sound introduction to both theory and practice in the context of the visual arts and assists the student to make an informed choice of a major study. Elective units are chosen after consultation with the studio coordinator. An example first semester is as follows:

• introductory visual arts studio (6 points)
• drawing (6 points)
• theory of art and design (6 points)
• elective (6 points)

(b.) Second and third-year study program

In consultation with the course coordinator, students seek selection into one of the major disciplines, together with supporting units. In the second year of the course, places in specific studios will be allocated on the basis of academic merit. The typical semester pattern consists of:

• Major study (6 points)
• Complementary practice (6 points)
• electives (6 points)
• Theory of art and design (6 points)

(c.) Major study (second and third years)

At least 36 points must be taken in the chosen major study at year two and year three levels. Added to the 12 points obtained in year one, this provides a core major of 48 points. Students select one of the following major studies:

• glass
• interdisciplinary design
• metals/jewellery
• painting
• photomedia
• printmedia
• sculpture
• theory of art and design

(d.) Elective units

Elective units are selected by students in consultation with the course coordinator. They will generally be taken from those within the Faculty of Art and Design, however units elsewhere in the University are also available.

(e.) Professional practice (6 points)

All students take one professional practice unit at third-year level.

(f.) Occupational health and safety (0 points)

A compulsory health and safety unit which deals with issues relevant to art and design.

First year (48 points)

First semester

• DWG1201 Drawing 1B (fine art/visual arts) (6 points)
• OHS1000 Introduction to art and design health and safety (0 points)
• TAD1101 Introduction to visual language (6 points)
• VIS1111 Visual arts studio 1 (6 points)
• elective (6 points)

Second semester

• DWG1202 Drawing 2B (fine art/visual arts) (6 points)
• TAD1102 Modernism and the avantgardes (6 points)
• VIS1112 Visual arts studio 2 (6 points)
• elective (6 points)

Second year (48 points)

First semester

• major studio 3 (6 points) and complementary practice (6 points), or theory of art and design (12 points)
• complementary study (theory or studio) (6 points)
• elective (6 points)

Second semester

• major studio 4 (6 points) and complementary practice (6 points), or theory of art and design (12 points)
• complementary study (theory or studio) (6 points)
• elective (6 points)

Third year (48 points)

First semester

• major studio 5 (12 points) or theory of art and design (12 points)
• complementary study (theory or studio) (6 points)
• elective (6 points)

Second semester

• major studio 6 (12 points) or theory of art and design (12 points)
• complementary study (theory or studio) (6 points)
• PPR3202 Professional practice B (6 points)

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.