2020 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Creative Arts | 2020

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Creative Arts

Abbreviation:

BCA

UOW Course Code:

840

CRICOS Code:

001709K

Total Credit Points:

144

Duration:

3 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

Intake Session(s):

Autumn

Delivery Mode:

On-campus

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / Specified for each major

Overview

In the Bachelor of Creative Arts, students gain the skills to become practicing artists; to produce work – through image, sound and text – that will make a difference in the world.

The degree allows students to develop practical skills in their chosen discipline, as well as the theoretical knowledge to understand how creative art functions in contemporary cultural, political and artistic environments. Students focus on one major study area: Creative Writing, Music, Visual Arts or Visual Arts and Design. They also undertake multidisciplinary subjects to understand the implications of their practice in the broader context of Australian and international creative contexts and to explore the potential for collaboration across a range of creative fields.

The program of study prepares students for creative arts opportunities in many contexts. Our graduates have gone on to careers as artists, designers, writers, editors, publishers, musicians, , composers, sound technicians, technical operators, , curators, arts administrators or managers, teachers (on completion of a Master of Teaching). They have found work in many areas of the Creative Industries: galleries, publishing, festivals, print and digital media, radio, television and multimedia industries.

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

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 Australia 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. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials and classes, visit the Timetable page.

Majors

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

Minors

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

Each minor study 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 Minor Study 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 General Schedule of Minors page.

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

Work Integrated Learning

Undertaking a work integrated learning (WIL) experience during your university education is a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.

The Bachelor of Creative Arts uses as its foundation the principles of ‘embedded’ work-integrated learning: throughout their studies, students participate in a series of simulated workplaces in their chosen major, such as creative and technical studios, rehearsals and editorial workshops. In the BCA Core, students complete the subject CACS200 “Creative Communities”, which focuses on professional practice skills essential to the creative industries, including development of professional identities, and collaboration across creative disciplines. In their third year, students will undertake a major project in their chosen major continuing to build student experience, expertise and maturity, working with a range of methodologies and processes in a context that simulates professional working conditions. In their third year, students will undertake a major project in their chosen discipline continuing to build student experience, expertise and maturity, working with a range of methodologies and processes in a context that simulates professional working conditions. Through these experiences, students apply their skills to a real-world context, and gain an understanding of the professional practice and industry standards.

Bachelor of Creative Arts students may apply to enrol into the Creative Arts Internship subject, CACS302. The Faculty offers a limited number of industry placements each year. These offer students hands-on experience in cultural organisations that have agreed to partner with the Faculty on this initiative. Students are selected for this opportunity on the basis of both strong academic achievement and through application and interview.

Students are also encouraged to consider CRLP200 (6cp) as an elective. CRLP200 includes a quality assured workplace internship or industry project to gives students a competitive edge by developing professional skills through authentic learning in a real world context. Students focus on career goals and receive career direction guidance, strengthen their resume and gain skills to navigate the rapidly changing world of work, develop your communication skills and begin to build a professional network. 

INDS208 Working with Indigenous Communities is an elective subject available to all students. INDS208 fosters work skills, cultural competency and develops student awareness of Indigenous knowledges and community practices.

Honours

On completion of the Bachelor of Creative Arts, high achieving students may apply to undertake an additional Honours year.

Students considering Honours in Creative Arts are encouraged to enrol in CACS331 Contemporary Theory and Research Practice in their final year of their BCA.

Other Information

The Faculty may apply quotas to subjects to ensure optimal class sizes.

Further information is available via email: askuow@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 23 July, 2020