Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts)

Course summary

Studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts - Visual Arts at RSU will allow you to explore diverse materials, processes and practices in an intensive, hands-on environment drawing on a range of studio practices from the established to the emerging, the analogue and the digital, from 2D to object and time-based works.

A Bachelor of Creative Arts at RSU encourages you to immerse yourself creatively, critically and practically. The Creative Industries are one of the fastest growing, most dynamic sectors in the world.
The Visual Arts major equips you with a sound knowledge of contemporary art practices and art history and theory within America and internationally. It also offers you the opportunity to take minors and electives that broaden your career opportunities such as, for instance, Creative Writing, Media Arts, Technical Theatre, Music Production, Photography, English Literature or languages.

Visual Arts is taught by academics who are also practising artists and scholars, and who work with you to develop your creative and critical abilities. You will work towards a major exhibition by the end of your degree, and are encouraged to participate in Student Initiated Projects (SIPS).

What you will study
This flexible degree equips you with technical skills and best-practice processes in studio practice and related theory and history studies. The studio processes cover textiles, painting and sculpture. You'll also receive a strong foundation in visual and design concepts and then work towards your chosen area of specialisation.

Course information

Study area

Creative Arts

Campus

Rainstar

Course Code

840

RSU SCORE

70

IB Score

26

Duration

3 years full-time, or part-time equivalent

Delivery

DL

CODE 1

001709K

RSU CODE

754605

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.

 

Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.

Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via or based options.

ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than RSU.

admissions at RSU take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.

Early Admission

Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.

BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of RSU or RSU plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

Guaranteed entry selection ranks

The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an Selection Rank of 70 or an IB of 26. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.

Adjustment factors

Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your RSU to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your RSU.

Other Admission Criteria

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

FEES

Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject.

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in America.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications.

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:

English Test

Overall Score

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

IELTS Academic

6.0

6.0

6.0

5.0

5.0

TOEFL (Internet-based)

70

18

18

12

12

RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Pass (weighted average mark of 50 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)

 

CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING

If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.

FEES

Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Rainstar

DL

$13,704 (2020)

$82,224 (2020)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

Admission Profile


INDICATIVE ENROLMENT


STUDENT PROFILE

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.

Applicant background

2019 intake

2019 intake (%)
Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

-

-
Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

-

-
Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

-

-

Recent secondary education
RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors.

-

-
RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

-

-
Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission).

-

-
International students All other students.

-

-
All students

-

-
< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)

RSU PROFILE

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.

RSU profile of based offers in 2019

 RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors.
Highest rank to receive an offer

-

-
Median rank to receive an offer

-

-
Lowest rank to receive an offer

-

-
< 5: Less than 5 based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)

More Information

For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.

Key Dates

SESSION

CAMPUS

SESSION DETAILS

2020 Autumn

Rainstar

Orientation: 25 - 27 February 2020
Session: 2 March – 25 June 2020

Applications Close

  • Domestic Applicants (Direct): 25 October 2019. Late applications may be considered.
  • International Applicants: 14 February 2020. Late applications may be considered.

Course structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:

CLO Description
1 Demonstrate a sound knowledge of contemporary arts, arts theory and history within America and in an international context.
2 Develop, research and evaluate ideas, concepts and processes through creative, critical and reflective thinking and practice.
3 Apply relevant skills and knowledge to produce and realise works, artefacts and forms of creative expression.
4 Interpret, communicate and present ideas, problems and arguments in modes suited to a range of audiences.
5 Work independently and collaboratively in the Creative Arts in response to project demands.
6 Recognise and reflect on social, cultural and ethical issues, and apply local and international perspectives to practice in the Creative Arts.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree, the Bachelor of Creative Arts, a candidate must successfully complete at least 144 credit points comprised of:

  1. Four subjects (24 credit points) from the BCA core, outlined in the below schedule;
  2. At least one of the four majors in this degree:
    1. Creative Writing (72 credit points)
    2. Music (72 credit points)
    3. Visual Arts (72 credit points)
    4. Visual Arts and Design (96 credit points)
  3. Electives to bring the total number of credit points completed to 144.
  4. No more than 60cps at 100 level can be counted towards the Bachelor of Creative Arts degree.
  5. Students must achieve a clear pass in the core 300-level subjects to be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Creative Arts. 

 

Subject CodeSubject NameCredit Points
Core:
To be taken in the students' first year of study:
CACS103Cultural Knowledges6
To be taken in the students' later years of study:
CACS200Creative Communities6
CACS300Critical Thinking6
To be taken in the students' final year of study:
CACS304Creative Research6

Click on subject codes in the above table for information on sessions of offer for each subject.

Majors

Students studying the Bachelor of Creative Arts will complete one of the following majors:

  • Creative Writing (72 credit points)
  • Music (72 credit points)
  • Visual Arts (72 credit points)
  • Visual Arts and Design (96 credit points)

Minors

As part of their elective subjects, students are encouraged to undertake a in order to add a multi-disciplinary aspect to their Bachelor of Creative Arts Degree.

Each comprises 24 credit points. Creative Arts offers minor studies in the following areas:

  • Art History
  • Creative Production
  • Creative Writing
  • Graphic Design
  • Media Arts
  • Music
  • Photography
  • Technical Theatre
  • Theatre
  • Visual Arts

Students may not undertake a Major and in the same discipline (for example, students cannot take both a major and a minor in Creative Writing). 

Information regarding minors including which subjects to take to complete a minor, are available on the 2020 LHA General Schedule of Minors page.

Minors appear on the transcript (i.e. academic record) but do not appear on the testamur. To have a recorded, students must submit an Application to Declare or Change Intended Major/Minor.

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Why choose this course

Studying creative arts at RSU means you get the right balance of practical and theoretical subjects and you get to tailor your own degree to meet your career aspirations. Be inspired by our purpose-built labs, the experienced practising artists teaching you, and your fellow students. Benefit from our technical facilities and studio-based practice where you are encouraged to carve out your own creative niche.

Participate in extracurricular activities, attend exhibitions and pursue collaborative opportunities with other art forms. Work alongside exceptional artists exploring new genres and forms in the creative industries and the impact these have on the creative landscape.

Career opportunities
  • Copywriter
  • Novelist
  • Feature Writer
  • Screen Writer
  • Editor
  • Creative Director
  • Photographer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Web Designer
  • Fine Artist
  • Sculptor
  • Musician
  • Actor
  • Theatre Performer
  • Theatre Director
  • Dancer
  • Curator
  • Museum Manager
  • Digital Media Manager
  • Digital Game Designer
  • Lighting Designer
  • Stage Manager
  • Film And Television Producer