Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To develop flexible thought processes including critical, analytical, lateral and sequential design thinking, that afford students opportunities to explore ideas or concepts in depth. 

• To identify, develop, and synthesize specialist materials, processes and techniques, in relation to studio craft through a range of current and emergent analogue and digital media including opportunities to bring information and ideas together from relevant alternative topics.

• To initiate research leading to creative professional practice in Graphic Communication and Illustration. 

• To prioritize elements of the visual and verbal interface for communications effectiveness; including drawing, typography, sequential and narrative design and emergent media, through research, ideation, communication and elicitation.

• To produce expressive, reflective and professional practitioners who understand audience needs. 

• To discuss and evaluate personal and group outcomes in relation to economic, vocational, ethical, sustainability and global contexts.

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

The Benchmark Statement for Art and Design

The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

The QAA Policy Statement on a structured and supported process for personal development

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

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

• Integrate basic approaches to visual research.  

• Articulate the functions of graphic communication and illustration.  

• Appreciate the functions of historical and critical studies in Art and Design.  

• Synthesise the social, cultural and economic roles of visual communication.  

• Locate their work within relevant environments for audiences.  

• Adopt and adapt appropriate practical solutions to design problems. 

• Apply visual communication within a global context.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

• Process visual research through ideation, communication and elicitation.
  
  
•  Identify and critically discuss the definitions and functions of images, texts, practices and objects in Art and Design.
  
  
• Demonstrate critical and creative skills, and to apply them in the formulation and appraisal of methodologies for problem solving.
  
  
• Negotiate and pursue specialised areas of study using relevant resources provided to support their learning such as workshops, labs and the Library.
   
• Students will receive timely specialist feedback on all assessed work following each assessment point to help them critically locate personal practice within the wider creative and global arena.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

• Experiment with materials, processes and technology.  

• Employ effective design strategies and methods to express ideas.  

• Evaluate and negotiate individual and group roles and functions within a range of interdisciplinary practice models as part of their learning community.  

• Diagnose and solve a variety of visual problems relevant to current and emergent environments and audiences.  

• Identify design problems and develop and express appropriate practical design solutions.  

• Produce work that demonstrates critical, creative, technical and practical skills equating with professional and business practice within a global context.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

• Engage in critical discussion relevant to the discipline about the relationship between theory and practice.

• Foster accountability, ambition, opinion, innovation and resourcefulness within individual and group working. 

• Demonstrate an awareness of the role of social, cultural and economic factors in relation to their own and others’ work.

• Organise, present and communicate ideas and arguments orally, visually and in written form. 

• Demonstrate the ability to communicate, manage and appraise projects with autonomy and initiative. 

• Understand the significance of international professional practice and apply an awareness of global perspectives and transcultural considerations.

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.

Optional modules will be available in the following subject areas:

• History of Art, Architecture and Design

• Visual Culture

• Arts Management

• English, Drama, Publishing and Creative Writing

   

In the 2017-2018 academic year the available modules will be:

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

Students choose one of the above options

4.4 Part C - Degree Modules

 Students choose either Route A or Route B in Semester One

Route A

Route B

Semester Two 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B and 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: 

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

5.2 Reassessment

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 SAC806.

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 in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The average weighted mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 20 and Part C 80 to determine the final percentage mark.