Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment where students can develop the critical and practical skills relevant to contemporary art practices.
• To create an environment in which students encounter diverse and interconnected activities such as curating, exhibiting, cross-disciplinary practice and critical writing.
• To enable students to gain a broad knowledge and understanding of all aspects of art making, encouraging risk-taking, curiosity, innovation and adventurousness.
• To foster a deep understanding of diverse methodologies that enables a critical framework for specialist art production, study and research.
• To enable the student to develop autonomous working habits based on best practice exemplars in the professional art world: and to be cognizant of their role in a global contemporary society.
• To ensure that students are able to contextualise their work with reference to relevant theoretical, historical, cultural, political and ethical issues, pertinent to contemporary art practice.
• To prepare students for employment in germane creative industries.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Benchmark Statement for Art and Design: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/honours/
• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• The QAA Policy Statement on a structured and supported process for personal development 
• Credit level descriptors for Higher Education, Sourthern England Consortium for Credit Accumulation and Transfer: http://www.seec.org.uk/publications/seec-credit-level-descriptors-2010-revised-2004

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

 On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Initiate, develop and evaluate projects to generate a distinctive and personalised studio practice.
• Use research methods related to studio practice: locate and evaluate visual and textual sources, organise ideas, develop critical perspectives on research materials and autonomous work practices based on reflective feedback.
• Analysis history and theory with an emphasis on the contemporary debate around the interpretation and production of meaning in Fine Art and the historical and international context.
• Select and experiment with a broad range of materials and processes appropriate to contemporary art production and dissemination.
• Synthesise intention, process, outcome and context, methods of presentation and dissemination, and an awareness of new developments within relevant fields of studio practice.
• Integrate entrepreneurial and professional practices in Fine Art: composing applications for further study and exhibition opportunities, marketing methods, approaches to curating and enterprise.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Initiate their own studio work with appropriate media, undertaking the research necessary to sustain their practice and to generate ideas, objectives, questions and solutions, either individually or collaboratively.
   
• Comprehend how to use relevant media and select what is appropriate for developing particular themes and ideas through to material outcomes whether these are objects, texts, acoustic or other methodologies based on critical awareness of contemporary and historical Fine Art practice.
   
• Be confident and skilled in discussing issues raised by their own work and that of their peers and be articulate in relating these issues to examples of both historical and contemporary practice from a national and international perspective.
   
• Identify opportunities to install artwork in coherent and communicative exhibitions.
• Research art historical themes and issues and present their conclusions lucidly in essay, presentation and dissertation formats.
   
• Apply professionalism and resourcefulness in establishing student’s own practice or promoting that of others and ensuring success with their post-course intentions.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Use information technology: word processing and image manipulation.
• Manage self learning: take on new practical and research skills in response to a developing programme of activity.
• Problem solve: be resourceful in identifying and working with appropriate materials and processes to resolve questions arising in their work and to set challenges for future practice.
• Teamwork: be skilled at working in groups, in determining the scope and goals of the project, in researching as a team and in delegating the separate tasks necessary for effective group presentation of material.
• Communicate effectively: be experienced in clearly presenting their work to diverse audiences both verbally and in writing. 
• Develop an appreciation of cultural diversity.

4. Programme structure

4.1 Part A - Introductory Modules

4.2          Part B - Degree Modules

 Students must choose a 20 credit module from the indicative School-wide options below:

4.3       Part I – Year Out (Four year Programme only)

 Students choose one fo the above options.

4.4       Part C - Degree Modules

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also:

• In order to progress from Part A to Part B, candidates must have accumulated 120 credits.
• In order to progress from Part B to Part C, candidates must have accumulated 120 credits in Part B.
• In order to qualify for the award of a Degree, candidates must have accumulated 120 credits in Part C. 

Successful completion of Part I leads to the additional qualification of Diploma in International Studies or Diploma in Professional Studies. 

Part-time students may negotiate the order in which modules are completed, subject to the following restrictions: 

All part A modules must be passed before the start of part B of the programme.

All part B modules must be passed before the start of part C of the programme. 

Students may transfer between full-time and part-time modes of study with the permission of the Dean of School (or nominee). 

Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates who have the right of re-assessment.

Reassessment will not be allowed in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) if:

• candidates have accumulated fewer than 60 credits in any part of the programme
• candidates have gained a mark of less than 30 in SAC117

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 20 and Part C 80 to determine the final percentage mark.