Bachelor of Creative Arts - University of Wollongong

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Overview

The Bachelor of Creative Arts is a three-year full-time course made up of a combination of theory and practical work in a major study area.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate their ability (in both theory and artistic practice) to meet the criteria for a proposed major as determined by an interview or audition. Portfolio and/or audition requirements are specified below for each major.

International applications may be submitted anytime throughout the year for commencement in the next academic year.

Course Requirements

The BCA degree requires 3 years of full-time study or part-time equivalent and the completion of subjects to the value of 144 credit points.

Students enrolling in the BCA are required to complete either:

1. a) 108 credit points of core subjects in the major (36 credit points each at 100, 200 and 300 level); and

b) 36 credit points of elective subjects of which no more than 18 credit points may be taken at 100 level.

OR

2. 144 credit points of core subjects in the Visual Arts and Graphic Design major.

Electives

A limited range of electives is offered by the Faculty of Creative Arts. However, students are encouraged to take advantage of the full range of subjects available within the University. The core subjects focus on practice, in conjunction with a study in the history and theory of the discipline.

Honours

A fourth year is available at Honours level for outstanding students.

CREATIVE WRITING

This major offers both a practical and theoretical understanding of writing practice. Classes are based around a combination of lectures, workshops, group discussions and individual presentations; and students participate in public readings, performances and publication projects. In addition to writing fundamentals and theory subjects, students specialise in one or more of the following areas in first year: poetry; prose fiction; scripting for film and television; or scripting for theatre. These are developed into a large-scale writing project in the final year. Additional subjects, normally taken in second year, are offered in arts journalism; editing; hypertexts; writing for performance; and scripting/scoring sound texts.

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND NEW MEDIA

Students are introduced to a range of graphic and digital imaging techniques and practices across a number of industrial contexts, including: graphic design; web design; and interactive multimedia design. The major encourages an interdisciplinary approach to the study and practice of creative print, as well as screen-based design. Students are encouraged from first year to carry out research on historical and contemporary designers and cultural trends, then experiment with a range of production techniques, computer software and creative solutions. Students gain a solid grounding in visual art methods of drawing and constructing images, both analogue and digital. Subjects introduced in the second year include typography; campaign graphics; editorial design; and web design. Advanced design theory and production subjects in third year introduce professional practice methods and techniques. Interactive multimedia and new media theory form a focus in third year, and major projects are developed for real clients. An end-of-year exhibition of final-session work is held, and an online gallery is also available for students to show their work.

MEDIA ARTS

The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Media Arts) explores the contemporary field of experimental media practice that links traditional media production to emerging tendencies in creative computing.

CREATIVE ARTS

The first year establishes a foundation in media and computation. The second year focuses on digital cinema and approaches to interaction (in games, networked media and electronic installation). The final year has a professional project-based emphasis; students research and produce portfolio work in a specialised field of media arts practice. Students may be interested in taking subjects from other related areas, such as Multimedia and Game Development in a Bachelor of Computer Science, or Robotics subjects within the Bachelor of Engineering.

PERFORMANCE (MUSIC & THEATRE)

The Performance major is designed to develop skills leading to a high level proficiency in onstage performance. Students are provided with studies in performance (singing and speech); physical performance (acting and movement); dramaturgy, history and theory; text interpretation; and devised performance techniques through improvisation. Tuition in production skills is available to students with an aptitude for performance technology. Students undertake core technique subjects that provide a broad appreciation of performance history and culture. Interpretative skills are developed with reference to standard repertoire. Improvisation techniques are also developed to allow students to devise/perform material. Second year focuses on on-stage interaction and students continue technique classes and perform in limited-access performances. In third year, students perform to a wider audience at one of the theatres on campus or at performance venues off-campus.

SOUND (COMPOSITION AND MUSIC PRODUCTION)

This course examines the major facets of music composition, digital sound studies and sound production, exploring the creation and manipulation of sound through the use of digital technologies. The design of sound for multimedia applications forms a significant component of the major. Creativity is extended through studies in the theory of sound (acoustics); composition (electronic media, improvisational and traditional); computer music applications; and critical listening skills.

VISUAL ARTS

Visual Arts studies are based on studio practice and related theory and art history. Studio processes cover textiles, painting and sculpture, with supporting studies in photography, video, printmaking, installation, and digital image making. Studio skills are developed throughout the course, including skills in gallery practice and visual presentation appropriate to the medium. Students are encouraged to contextualise their artwork in contemporary practice by developing research processes, attending exhibitions and participating in the wider artistic community. By third year, students are expected to explore and develop personal themes and ideas to a greater depth and complete a body of work for exhibition in the final-year graduating exhibition.

VISUAL ARTS AND GRAPHIC DESIGN

This major consists of compulsory subjects drawn from the majors described above, for those focused on design for publishing and print.

ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All applicants must supply, as appropriate for each major, a portfolio of artwork (including photographs and slides), written texts, musical compositions, or a theatrical performance on certified VHS video or DVD format (which clearly states the name of the applicant on screen).