Bachelor of Visual Arts
Course code/s: RBVA Bendigo
In this course students are encouraged to specialise or to diversify in line with contemporary practice in the visual arts. The strong lecture and studio sequence of Studio: Practice and Theory subjects is structured to accelerate development in the range and depth of students’ creative concepts and contextual awareness. Theoretical and visual cultural studies contribute to studio production of folios in their major medium, selected from an offering of ceramics, painting/drawing/printmaking, or photography. Visual Arts Media Workshops in these major media expand students’ technical expertise through a sequence of challenging applied assignments. Comparative Studies in Visual Media provide opportunities to explore new means of combining and hybridising media from another discipline in conjunction with the major, and this subject itself can become a second major. Additional disciplines of illustration and photojournalism provide further options in this subject. The first year in the degree is supported by a vigorous Art and Visual Culture program. Professional Studies is a compulsory subject in the final two semesters of the course and guides students in the vocational outcomes of their study.
For students who successfully complete all requirements of the course and whose academic transcript indicates that more than 50% of their studies are devoted to one medium, this specialisation will be reflected in the title of their degree.
Students should note that this course is available at the Mildura Campus, but the range of disciplines may be restricted.
Recognition
The course is primarily designed to produce professional artists, although graduates may also have the opportunity to work as art administrators, curators and directors in public, commercial and corporate collections and galleries, as art conservators, valuers or dealers, community arts officers, colour and interior design consultants, art therapists, art critics or historians, photojournalists, professional photographers, illustrators, secondary art teachers, in continuing education or with private providers, or as tertiary art lecturers with relevant further study.
Admission requirements
Applicants must satisfy the University’s normal entrance requirements, including a study score of at least 20 in units 3 and 4 of English, or equivalent. It is desirable for all applicants to have undertaken Studio Arts and/or Art. A Diploma of Arts, or equivalent approved qualification, will qualify individuals for entry to the degree course at a level determined by a selection committee. Mature age students will be considered for admission by the selection committee.
Folio requirements
Applicants must attend for interview, which is conducted in late November, and submit a folio to an interview panel. A statutory declaration confirming that the work is that of the applicant must accompany the folio. The folio should demonstrate the applicant’s aptitude, creativity, sense of design and abilities in a range of media or in a specialist area. It should contain material relevant to the applicant’s proposed course of study including finished pieces and preparatory studies. Where possible, students should bring the original artwork but, where size is a constraint, photographs or electronic documentation will be considered.
Contact hours
Contact hours refers to the minimum time students are required to attend studio study and develop their work within this practical environment. During staff–student engagement time, teaching will occur in the form of lectures, workshops, technical demonstrations, tutorials, individual staff–student consultation, and studio practice as directed by the student’s approved, individual research proposal. Staff are present outside formal engagement times and studio technical support staff may be available for technical demonstrations, information and assistance. Major studies are built upon individual student proposals and developed through sustained studio practice and independent research into contexts and theory with supporting written and presented outcomes.
Course structure
The course is undertaken by full-time study over three years. It may also be undertaken by part-time study after consultation with the Visual Art Selection Committee. All compulsory subjects must be successfully completed. This course is valued at 120 credit points per year.
Electives for non-Bachelor of Visual Arts students are available.
Subjects include options in:
Painting
Drawing
Printmaking
Ceramics
Photography
Photojournalism
Electives for Graphic Design students are supplied from the Bachelor of Visual Arts Media Workshop subjects.
First year
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Art and Visual Culture A | VPA1VCA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Studio: Practice and Theory A | VPA1TMA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Visual Arts Media Workshop A | VPA1MWA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Comparative Studies in Visual Media A | VPA1CVA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Art and Visual Culture B | VPA1VCB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Studio: Practice and Theory B | VPA1TMB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Visual Arts Media Workshop B | VPA1MWB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Comparative Studies in Visual Media B | VPA1CVB |
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Studio: Practice and Theory C | VPA2TMC |
| TE-SEM-1 | Visual Arts Media Workshop C | VPA2MWC |
| TE-SEM-1 | Comparative Studies in Visual Media C | VPA2CVC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Studio: Practice and Theory D | VPA2TMD |
| TE-SEM-2 | Visual Arts Media Workshop D | VPA2MWD |
| TE-SEM-2 | Comparative Studies in Visual Media D | VPA2CVD |
Third year
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Studio: Practice and Theory E | VPA3TME |
| TE-SEM-1 | Professional Studies A | VPA3PSA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Visual Arts Media Workshop E | VPA3MWE |
| or | ||
| TE-SEM-1 | Comparative Studies in Visual Media E | VPA3CVE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Studio: Practice and Theory F | VPA3TMF |
| TE-SEM-2 | Professional Studies B | VPA3PSB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Visual Arts Media Workshop F | VPA3MWF |
| or | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Comparative Studies in Visual Media F | VPA3CVF |
Studio major
Sequential studies in any one given medium offered in Studio: Practice and Theory subjects constitute a major area of study. Students are encouraged to expand their technical knowledge in their chosen media by undertaking parallel studies in Visual Arts Media Workshop subjects. The aesthetic and technical base is further expanded through the studio-based Comparative Studies in Visual Media subjects in another medium. Studio majors available are: ceramics, painting/drawing/printmaking, photography and photojournalism.
Facilities available
Quality facilities include industry-standard digital imaging and mural inkjet printing laboratories; photographic lighting studios; darkrooms for black and white and alternative photographic processing and chemical printing; extensive painting; and drawing studios and intaglio and relief printmaking equipment. There is a ceramics centre with clay preparation plant; wheels and mould -making; and electric, natural gas, LPG and wood-fired kilns. Students have access to studios during weekday evenings and at weekends, under the regulations as prescribed by the Program Convenor, La Trobe Visual Arts and Design. A large gallery is maintained with a continuing program of exhibitions.
Regulations
While it is permissible to take longer than three years to complete the course, any subject failed must be passed on the second attempt in the consecutive semester or year. Any formal written examination will be moderated. Reconsideration is not possible for the studio-based subjects Studio: Practice and Theory, Visual Arts Media Workshops, and Comparative Studies in Visual Media, where the whole folio is assessed by a panel of examiners.
Special assessment details
Visual Arts Media Workshop and Comparative Studies in Visual Media subjects will be progressively assessed on three assignments per semester. Studio: Practice and Theory subjects are based on folio assessments, which will be assessed by a panel of staff responsible for studio subjects. The examination panel for the Studio: Practice and Theory F assessment includes outside moderators selected for their high standing in visual arts. Writing and presentation tasks are included in all subjects.