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QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: 909971; Online: 909975

CRICOS code (International applicants): 103182K

You are currently viewing the 2023 Handbook. For study in 2024, please refer to the .

Notes

In 2023 the program follows the Semester calendar. The Academic Calendar and Important Dates webpage will allow you to view and download a copy of the important dates for the Semester calendar.

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Program aims

The program aims to produce graduates who have:

1. a coherent body of knowledge and advanced skills in their chosen visual art studio area.

2. a broad knowledge of the historical, cultural and theoretical underpinnings of contemporary visual art practice.

3. the cognitive skills needed to engage in critical thinking and analysis when identifying and solving visual art problems with intellectual independence.

4. effective written, verbal and visual communication skills.

5. the ability to adapt knowledge and skills in the planning, development and realisation of a range of individual and collaborative practical, creative and scholastic outcomes.

6. taken responsibility and accountability for their own learning in collaboration with others within broad parameters.

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Program objectives

On successful completion of the program, students should be able to:

1. Use advanced studio-based knowledge, technical proficiency, and apply individual work ethic necessary for practice as a skilled, professional visual artist.

2. Use a broad knowledge of the historical, ideological, critical and ethical perspectives in the visual arts, both historically and in contemporary cultural, social contexts and industry.

3. Apply a high level of critical reflexivity and reflectivity in the design, implementation and evaluation of individual and group art projects with an ability to adapt knowledge and skills in problem solving.

4. Apply a flexible and innovative approach to practicing creativity and engaging the visual arts in the wider community and in a range of professional industries.

5. Use a range of verbal, written and visual communicative forms that will enable effective and articulate engagement with relevant organisations, industry bodies and professional networks.

6. Actively engage with the advocacy and pursuit of ongoing research in the visual arts and their role in cultural growth.

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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 07. Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Program Information Set

View UniSQ’s admission criteria, student profiles and a summary of all offers made under via the QTAC website.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Have achieved a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 60, or equivalent qualification.^

• Or if no ATAR, successfully undertake an interview with portfolio and written statement.

Subject Pre-requisites

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 2.

Applicants are advised to also address the following:

• expectations: English (Units 3 & 4, C).

• expectations: Visual Arts, or equivalent

Note: It is a requirement that Queensland-based students hold a current positive notice indicating that they are deemed suitable for working with children and young people whilst studying the Bachelor of Visual Art. Further information about the Blue Card or Exemption Card suitability process is available from the

Interview information

Applicants for the Bachelor of Visual Art must attend an interview and must provide:

• a head shot style photo of themselves

• a school exit statement or evidence of previous education standard achieved

• Applicants are to present a portfolio of work at interview. This should contain at least 8-10 high quality images of past artwork. Please note: it is not necessary to bring/provide the physical work.

• Those applying without an ATAR are to provide a written statement (500 words) addressing your interest, goals, and aspirations in studying visual arts, with some reflection on your visual art experiences and training.

Information about the online study mode

The Visual Art majors are available on-campus in Toowoomba and online.

Online Visual Art students should note the following further requirements:

• all Curation, Innovation and Cultural Management courses are available online

• only painting, drawing and sculpture studio courses are available online.

• On-campus/online students may be able to gain credit for approved studio intensives/workshops undertaken in the non-teaching periods eg. McGregor Summer and/or Winter schools

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, external or online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The Bachelor of Visual Art consists of 24 units comprising 4 SCA Core units, courses within a 12-unit major, and 8 units of complimentary studies that can consist of a second 8-unit major, two 4-unit minors, or one 4-unit minor and/or approved elective courses as follows:

• one 12-unit Visual Art major, 4-unit SCA Core, and one 8-unit second major^*, OR

• one 12-unit Visual Art major, 4-unit SCA Core and two 4-unit minors, OR

• one 12-unit Visual Art major, 4-unit SCA Core, one 4-unit minor and 4 units of elective courses)^{^}

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete this program.

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Core courses

• Year 1, Sem 1 and 3: SCA1001 Persuasive Communication: Presenting Yourself and Your Ideas

• Year 1, Sem 2 and 3: SCA1002 Introduction to Creative and Critical Thinking

• Year 2, Sem 1 and 3: SCA2001 Cultural Responsibilities and Creative Communities

• Year 2, Sem 2 and 3: SCA2002 Arts Business: Making and Managing Your Arts Career

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Major studies

Curation, Innovation and Visual Art major:

This major explores the future of visual art and its applications within not only visual art, but also how artists within evolving new employment opportunities such as health, design, new media, architecture, museum and gallery professions and education have adapted them. A key focus of this major is how artists have historically and currently, translated their work and ideas principles as our societies evolve. Through a high level of critical reflexivity and reflectivity in the design of personalised study, students gain a broad knowledge of the historical, ideological, critical and ethical perspectives in the visual arts, and how these are used within expanded employment areas such as arts therapy, interior design and education.

Visual Art Studio Practice major:

The Studio Practice major enables students to gain advanced studio-based knowledge, technical proficiency, and the individual work ethic necessary for visual arts practice as a skilled, professional within contemporary culture and society. This is through technical development workshops, seminars, projects and studio experimentation allowing students to develop their skills collegially and individually creating personalised artistic outcomes as a visual representation of the student’s voice. This major allows students a flexible and innovative approach to practicing creativity and engaging the visual arts in the wider community as a way of capturing and reshaping our stories as a culture.

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Minor Studies

Minor studies are designed to enable students to widen their knowledge and perspectives.

As part of the eight units of complementary studies (see Program Structure above), if students are not undertaking a second major, they must take at least one of the Minors indicated in the section of the UniSQ handbook. The remaining courses can be used to undertake a second minor, or a maximum of 4 electives.

All of the discipline areas of the Creative Arts will offer suites of minors from their existing major course offerings but students may also select minors from any recognised area in the university (as listed in the Minor studies link above). Students should take courses to the value of at least four units in the selected minor study. Choice of a minor will depend on the availability of the subject area, timetabling constraints, quotas and other restrictions such as interviews in certain areas of the Creative Arts, as well as approval of the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts.

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Electives/Approved courses

Elective courses are designed to enable students to further increase their knowledge and widen their perspectives. For recommendations on how electives can fit into the structure of their program, students should consult the Program Structure and Minor Studies sections above. Choice of an elective will depend on the availability of the course(s), timetabling constraints, quotas, and other restrictions such as auditions and interviews in certain areas of the Arts, as well as approval by the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts.

Courses available for elective study are generally those found in Minor studies and are listed in the section.

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IT requirements

Students should visit the UniSQ to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

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Other program requirements

Students will need to provide some of their own art materials. Materials lists will vary depending on the studio area(s) the student is undertaking. Further details will be provided during Orientation Week and at the commencement of individual courses.

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Articulation

Students undertaking aspects of degrees in the School of Creative Arts as an extension of TAFE studies, or through any of our current Articulation Agreements (such as the College of Creative Arts in Melbourne), are encouraged to visit the for current advice on enrolments.

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Exit points

Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete the Bachelor of Visual Art and who satisfy all of the requirements may exit with a Diploma of Creative Arts (DCRA) or the Associate Degree of Creative Arts (ADCA).

Students may exit with the Diploma of Creative Arts (DCRA) if they have completed 8 courses as follows:

• A minimum of 2 SCA-coded Core courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts and

• 6 other courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

Students may exit with the Associate Degree of Creative Arts (ADCA) if they have completed 16 courses as follows:

• A minimum of 4 SCA-coded Core courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts and

• 12 other courses from the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

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Credit

Credit will normally only be granted on the basis of formal studies of equivalent material undertaken at a college of TAFE, college of advanced education or university. Studies successfully completed within the last five years are automatically eligible to be used as a basis for a claim for credit. Studies completed more than five years ago will be considered, but should be accompanied by evidence that the knowledge and skills acquired from those studies have been maintained. Students who believe that they may qualify for credit should consult the for further information about the content of courses and the procedures to be followed for credit claims.

Students who have been granted credit have a responsibility to ensure that their knowledge and skills are kept up to date in these areas. This is particularly important when they have been granted credit from a course which is a pre-requisite for another course. Refer to the section entitled Credit and Exemption Procedure in the Guide to policies and procedures.

Students who have completed a Diploma or Advanced Diploma in an area specifically related to one of the majors in this program within the last five years, will normally be eligible for up to 8 credits and up to 12 credits respectively.

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Course transfers

Students wishing to transfer from another degree into the Bachelor of Visual Art (BVSA) may do so. However, in addition to your UniSQ application, you are required to audition and/or interview for the major of your choice. Please see Admission Requirements above. It is the responsibility of the student to register for this process.

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Honours

Students wishing to undertake further study, and who meet the entry requirements, may apply to enrol in the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) program. Honours pathways are available in the Music, Theatre, and Visual Art specialisations. Further information is available at BCAH Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours)

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Enrolment

All students are urged to adhere to the recommended enrolment patterns as detailed in relevant sections of this handbook. Completion of enrolment requirements will be necessary before a student will be permitted to enrol in more advanced courses.

Students should also heed the following advice:

• In addition to the School Cores and a choice of 12-unit major (see Program Structure above), one second major of eight units OR one minor study of four units OR four elective units may be taken from non-Creative Arts undergraduate programs with approval of the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts;

• on-campus students should take courses in the on-campus (ONC) mode and will only be permitted to take courses externally during Semester 1 and 2 with the approval of the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts or where a course is only available in online or external mode.

• students are required to monitor their own enrolments and seek help immediately from the SoCA Programs Director or the discipline convenor if anomalies or confusion occurs.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

• Recommended enrolment pattern – Curation, Innovation and Cultural Management (12-unit major)
• Recommended enrolment pattern – Visual Art Studio Practice (12-unit major)

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Recommended enrolment pattern – Curation, Innovation and Cultural Management (12-unit major)

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Recommended enrolment pattern – Visual Art Studio Practice (12-unit major)