Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts)

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Career opportunities
• Participation requirements
• Mandatory student checks
• Fees and charges
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure
• Work experience
• Research and research-related study

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 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.

You will also be able to draw on the expertise of our staff, who are active practitioners and leading researchers in their fields, and engage with the wider arts industry through visiting specialists and professionals.

Choose to undertake work placements in art institutions, with contemporary artists, or 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 public arts spaces.

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

*Overseas study programs to be confirmed in 2022 and beyond, subject to government travel restrictions.

Career opportunities

Graduates are equipped with a dynamic and entrepreneurial skill set, ready for a career as creatives in the expanding arts industries. Our graduates have moved into career opportunities in roles such as:

• arts programmer or developer
• commercial art director, designer or illustrator
• gallery curator, technician, director or education officer
• independent artist and creative practitioner.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

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, the units you choose and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

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
• at least 6 credit points at level 3
• AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

Course structure

Core units

ACA100 Introductory Creative Studio 1A [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit ACA102]

ACA101 Introductory Creative Studio 1B [No longer available for enrolment, replacement unit AIX117]

Visual Art discipline units

Course Electives

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

ACD103 Dance and Screens [no longer available for enrolment]

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.