Art/Dance

BA (Hons) Creative Arts - Art

Is this course right for me?

This course enables you to develop a wide range of techniques and skills in various areas of Fine Art practice: Printmaking, Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Photography, Digital Media. The first year is spent developing fundamental skills in Printmaking, Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, with an option to study Ceramics and Photography.

The second year is spent working on negotiated self-directed projects in your chosen area of practice.

The 3rd year is spent working independently on your final work for your degree show.

What will I study?

During the course you will experience a wide range of artistic practices.
First year modules include Printmaking, Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, with options to take Ceramics and Photography. You will also attend lectures on contemporary art theory and practice. In the Second Year you will further develop your skills and ideas via your negotiated self-directed project. Lectures in the second year encourage a more in depth analysis of Art theory and practice. You will also have experience participating in and organising an exhibition in a gallery in Bath.

Third year studies concentrate on producing work for your final degree show, as well as developing your awareness of your own studio work in relation to contemporary art theory and practice.

How will I be taught?

You will be taught in a variety of ways including: group workshops, practical demonstrations, seminars, lectures, individual project briefs, individual and group tutorials.

Will I be able to gain practical experience?

Work experience is optional and may be included as part of your Professional Practice. We do however encourage students to take part in 'live projects' and competitions as well as organise and promote a public exhibition.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is on submission of project work and coursework. Sketchbooks, journals and research folders are essential throughout all years. In the first and second years you will be asked to write two essays, in the third year you will be are asked to give an illustrated talk about contemporary artistic practice and how it relates to your own work.

BA (Hons) Creative Arts - Dance

Is this course right for me?

The focus of the Dance course is on the making and performing of choreography that is underpinned by critical/ contextual studies. This means that you will be primarily concerned with creating performance whilst developing the necessary skills as a performer of exciting and challenging work. We also teach you to research into and reflect on your own learning process and to consider the work of known artists so that you become increasingly knowledgeable about Dance. The development of a range of dance related skills will prepare you for a variety of roles in the workplace.

What career options will I have when I finish my degree?

There are many career paths that ex-students have taken, some directly and others less directly associated with dance. Many continue into Post-Graduate education. For all dance students however, we offer the opportunity to leave here as alert, well organised, highly literate, creative, technically adept, informed and self-assured enterprising artists who are ready for the challenges of the workplace and capable of taking a place in it with confidence and with a great deal to offer. Examples of career paths include:

Teaching work with a variety of dance agencies across the country
Dance teachers in schools (Primary, Secondary)
Lecturers in Further and Higher Education
Choreographers
Dance Company Performers
Filmmaking
Running a dance company
Making and performing work as an independent dance artist
Continuing funded research
Arts administration
Dance Therapy
Community dance practitioners
Digital media specialists
A combination of the above.

What will I study?

You will study Choreography, which is concerned with the design, construction and creation of movement, developing an understanding of the choreography of others, whilst acquiring choreographic skills that include an understanding of choreographic principles, and devices. You will study Technique and Performance, which is concerned with the ability to dance, and develop an understanding of performance style in relation to the performance of others, whilst developing technical, expressive and interpretive skills that re-affirm what it is to be 'alive' in Dance. You will study Appreciation, which is concerned with the ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate the Dance of oneself and others in appropriate socio-historical and cultural contexts. Appreciation also involves a reflection on your personal development as a performer and maker of work. You will study and apply Digital Technology and other creative media through which you will explore and extend your learning and experience as a designer, performer and spectator of movement.

The content of modules you will study will broadly cover the three main strands of study within the BSU Dance study programme. These strands are Choreography, Technique, and Intermedia and Collaborative Practice.

How will I be taught?

Learning is through participation in a wide variety of activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, self-directed study and work based learning. Each module has between 2 and 5 hours formal contact time per week at level four and five (years 1 and 2), At level 6 these hours are reduced for dissertation work and may vary from week to week. You should allow yourself an additional 8 hours each week per module for private study and rehearsal (student-centred learning).

How will I be assessed?

Your knowledge and understanding are demonstrated and assessed through practical choreographic and performance assignments, essays, seminars, portfolios and specific research projects within all modules.
All assignments are internally moderated, with a proportion externally moderated by the external examiner for the programme. You will be able to take advantage of individual tutorials to assist you in your practical and written work, and to identify your research methodologies.