Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts)

2021 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2021 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts)
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2021. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Cloud Campus	No
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Deakin course code	A359
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Note: Geelong Waterfront campus students can take units of study at the Waurn Ponds Campus.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin’s Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts) combines in-depth disciplinary training in drawing, painting, 3D construction, fabrication, and digital technologies alongside a sequence of open-ended studio-based studies encouraging cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary thinking. Gain both the practical studio skills and adaptable critical thinking skills, necessary to participate successfully in the art world and allied creative industries.

Theoretical elements of the course are highly integrated with studio practice and designed to develop transferable skills alongside the necessary specialist knowledge required to participate critically in your chosen fields.

There is emphasis on exhibition making as an integral aspect of professional studio practice and our various studio and gallery spaces are designed to support a dynamic culture of studio production and development, collaboration, experimentation, exhibition and critique.

Want to experiment with expression and make a career out of adventurous, contemporary art?

From specialised studio practice and interdisciplinary learning to leading theory and critical thinking, you’ll develop the skills to be an adaptable, articulate and creative practitioner.

Draw inspiration from and gain expertise in:

digital technologies
traditional techniques
interdisciplinary practices
studio practice.

Draw on the expertise of our staff, who are active practitioners and leading researchers in their fields. You’ll also engage with the arts industry through visiting specialists and professionals.

Choose to undertake work placements in art institutions, with contemporary artists as well as at major community and cultural events. You can also go overseas on an optional international study tour.

Through this course, you’ll develop transferable skills in:

critical thinking
collaboration
experimentation
technique
visual analysis.

By coupling your major with units in other creative arts disciplines, you’ll expand your career opportunities in areas like marketing, media, and communications. Alternatively, work in arts and cultural communities when you graduate, or develop an independent studio career working towards exhibitions in commercial galleries or publicly-run arts spaces.

If you’re considering becoming a visual arts teacher, you can combine your art specialisation with further postgraduate teaching studies.

Career opportunities

Graduates are equipped with a dynamic skill set, ready for a career in the expanding arts industries. You may find work in roles such as:

artist
artist agent
gallery or exhibition curator
arts centre manager
art director
videographer
creative director
desktop publisher
illustrator.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Transition to University study

The faculty offers two units AIX160 Introduction to University Study and AIX117 Professional Writing for Work which are specifically designed to ease the transition into university study. New students are encouraged to enrol in one or both of these units as electives in their first year.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities	Interpret and apply conceptual, theoretical and technical skills in the analysis and presentation of a range of creative outcomes.
Communication	Critically employ a variety of mediums, methods and techniques to present ideas and practical work.
Digital literacy	Critically evaluate, manipulate and apply a range of information technologies, digital tools, devices and environments to support and develop creative processes.
Critical thinking	Analyse and synthesize research materials across a diversity of sources and mediums to generate original and diverse creative work.
Problem solving	Apply theoretical and practical knowledge to generate and express solutions to creative arts problems
Self-management	Develop, manage and critically reflect upon the production and presentation of creative works in accordance with industry standards and personal learning goals.
Teamwork	Contribute in a constructive and respectful way to the collaborative production of creative outcomes.
Global citizenship	Engage critically, respectfully and with self-awareness when working within diverse social and cultural contexts in creative arts practice.
Approved by Faculty Board March 2019

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts) a student must complete 24 credit points including:

8 common core units (totalling 12 credit points)
4 Visual Art discipline units
2 course electives
6 electives
no more than 10 credit points at level 1
AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

Course structure

Core units

ACA100

Introductory Creative Studio 1A

ACA101

Introductory Creative Studio 1B

ACA210

Creative Studio 2A (2 credit points)

ACA211

Creative Studio 2B (2 credit points)

ACA310

Creative Studio 3A (2 credit points)

ACA311

Creative Studio 3B (2 credit points)

ACA309

Creative Careers and Contexts

ACA397

Exhibition and Performance

Visual Art discipline units

ACV101

Painting in the Visual Arts

ACV212

Digital Practices and the Visual Arts

ACV115

Drawing and the Body in Visual Arts

ACV213

Modelling and the Visual Arts

Course Electives

Complete two 1 credit point units from the following course electives list A:

ACD103

Dance and Screens

ACD104

Exploring Dance Styles From Hip Hop to Bollywood

ACD207

Improvisation in Movement and Dance

ACD208

Dance Beyond the Studio

ACI101

Analogue Photography

ACI102

Digital Photography

ACI204

Photographic Storytelling

ACI205

Photographic Lighting

ACP103

Acting Studio

ACP109

Improvisation in Drama and Performance

ACP207

Dramatic Plot, Story, Character and Theme for Performance

ACP208

Theatre and Creative Technologies

Electives

Complete six free electives, of which at least two must be 2nd or 3rd level

We suggest students complete at least 4 units in a subject area different to their degree, preferably a linked sequence of study in the same area. This choice can include units from any degree in the University but is best chosen from the subject areas in the Bachelor of Creative Arts: (Dance, Drama, Photography), Bachelor of Design: (Visual Communication, Digital Technologies, 3D Animation) or Bachelor of Arts programs.

Work experience

Work-integrated learning opportunities are embedded through the Bachelor of Creative Arts programs with real client briefs, opportunities for client and industry engagement and professional practice. These may be discipline specific or may introduce students to other opportunities in the diverse field of creative arts. This level of engagement occurs at first, second and third year and is core to the course. In particular we have a Creative Careers and Contexts and Exhibition and Performance units where students meet industry practitioners, visit creative industry workplaces, organise and promote a festival of exhibitions and performances and learn the appropriate practical, administrative, marketing and self-management skills required to launch and maintain their careers as creative artists in their chosen discipline. Student will develop a career development strategy that can be used to demonstrate the essential skills and knowledge for a future job application, successful pitch for funding or, development of a self-run project.

Assessment

Assessment takes place at the unit level and has been designed to ensure successful attainment of all the Course Learning Outcomes and corresponding Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes over the duration of the course.

Other Course Information

Course duration - additional information

Delays in completing the placement could mean that the course will take longer to complete than the stated duration.

International students are required to study full-time to complete their course within the duration registered on CRICOS

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.