Located in Kingsway Buildings, you will develop an individual approach to making, that is supported by critical studies in Art Theory and Art History.
You are challenged to develop innovative work from an essentially taught curriculum at Level 4 (Year 1), to a supervised and individually driven learning programme at Level 6 (Year 3).
Why study Fine Art at Chester?
Fine Art programmes offered by the University of Chester provide opportunities to engage with:
- A contemporary approach to traditional media
- An exploration of textiles in a fine art context
- Digital Media in the form of still and moving images
- Inter-disciplinary practice that cuts across the boundaries of traditional media
- Contextual research in contemporary artistic practice
- Visual research that promotes exploration and speculation
- Art criticism and the development of analytical and interpretive thinking
Features:
The Department of Art and Design has an experienced staff team who have a wide range of expertise and research interests. All staff are actively practicing, exhibiting and publishing their work on a national or international stage.
Students studying Fine Art have the opportunity to develop their practice across a wide range of disciplines. Whether you choose to specialise in a single area such as traditional casting techniques in sculpture, or find your own unique combination such as textiles with video to make an interactive installation, the choice is yours.
The Fine Art programme at Chester recognises the importance of the student experience beyond the confines of the studio. Students will have the opportunity to visit some of the world's most exciting cultural centres through organised study tours to places such as New York, Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Sienna, Venice and Prague.
Preparation for life after university is recognised as an important part of the curriculum. Both the Experiential Learning module in Year 2, and the Professional Practice module in Year 3, provide opportunities for you to develop valuable employment related skills.
Rated No.1 for Student Satisfaction in the Times Higher Education National Student Survey 2007, the Fine Art programme at Chester provides a contemporary fine art experience that is centred on the needs of each individual.
Programme Structure:
Two pathways are offered: a Single Honours degree in Fine Art or a Combined Honours degree, where Fine Art is studied with a second subject.
In the Combined Honours pathway, Fine Art may be studied as a joint, major or minor subject. This means you can choose the proportion of each of your two subjects to suit your interests and strengths. Combined Honours and Single Honours programmes are taught through modules of different sizes, which run throughout the academic year. Each academic year provides the opportunity to gain the 120 credits required to progress to the next level of study.
- Single Honours: all of these credits will be gained from the Fine Art Programme
- Combined Honours: some of the credits will be gained from Fine Art whilst the remaining credits will come from your other subject.
Single Honours
Single Honours Level 4 (Year 1)
Compulsory Modules:
Studio Practice 1 (40 credits)
- Introduction to the basic media areas of painting, sculpture, textiles, printmaking and time-based digital media.
Visual Research 1 (20 credits)
- Introduction to a variety of practical and conceptual strategies that can be used for the exploration and development of visually based ideas.
Contextual Research 1 (20 credits)
- Exploration of the historical and contemporary artistic contexts that relate to a student's own personal practice.
Art History and Theory (20 credits)
- Introduction to the skills and knowledge required to make an informed analysis of both contemporary and historical images, artefacts and texts.
Interdisciplinary Practice 1 (20 credits)
- Exploration of those aspects of Fine Art practice that go beyond the boundaries of traditional studio practice.
Single Honours Level 5 (Year 2)
Compulsory Modules:
Studio Practice and Theory 2 (60 credits)
- An initial period of practical visual research is followed by a period of project realisation culminating in a final body of practical work and a critical studies essay.
Contextual Research 2 (20 credits)
- Further exploration and articulation of the historical and contemporary artistic contexts that relate to a student's own personal practice.
- Interdisciplinary Practice 2 (20 credits)
- Further explorations of non-traditional Fine Art practice with an emphasis on an experimental approach to ways of working that may be seen as unfamiliar and challenging.
During the second year, students elect to study either the Work Based Learning module or Fine Art and Photography Experiential Learning module. Work Based Learning is a more general option providing work experience within a wider social and/or commercial context. Fine Art and Photography Experiential Learning provides the opportunity to work in a creative environment related to an area of Fine Art practice.
Single Honours Level 6 (Year 3)
Compulsory Modules:
Studio Practice 3 (60 credits)
- Following on from Year 2, each student further develops their own individual approach culminating in a professionally presented exhibition.
Contextual Research 3 (20 credits)
- A highly individual exploration that confirms and constantly updates the context for the student's studio practice.
Fine Art and Photography Professional Practice (20 credits)
- An opportunity to develop a professional approach to marketing and self-promotion within a group context, providing essential skills for life after University.
Optional Modules (choose one of the following 20 credit modules)
Critical Theory (Research Option)
- In negotiation with staff, students will undertake in-depth, individual research in a chosen area of concern culminating in an extended academic essay.
Critical Theory (Taught Option)
- Students make a presentation and write an essay in response to a series of lectures and seminars concerned with the relationship between contemporary fine art theory and practice.
Combined Honours
At Level 4 (Year 1), students on the Combined Honours programmes will study modules that account for 60 credits in each subject area.
At Level 5 (Year 2), students on the Combined Honours programmes will study 60 credits in one subject and 40 credits in the other subject, in addition to a 20 credit module of experiential or work based learning.
At Level 6 (Year 3), students on the Combined Honours programmes will take either:
- an equally weighted route of 60 credits in each subject with the possibility of undertaking a Dissertation or Final Studio Practice Project in one subject
or
- A major / minor route involving 80 credits in the major subject which should normally include a 40 credit Dissertation or Final Studio Practice Project. The remaining 40 credits in the minor subject should include modules that do not lead to a dissertation or final project.
Combined Honours (Joint, Major or Minor) Level 4 (Year 1)
Compulsory Modules:
Studio Practice 1 (40 credits)
- Introduction to the basic media areas of painting, sculpture, textiles, printmaking and time-based digital media including visual and contextual research
Art History and Theory (20 credits)
- Introduction to the skills and knowledge required to make an informed analysis of both contemporary and historical images, artefacts and texts.
Combined Honours (all) Level 5 (Year 2)
Compulsory Modules:
Studio Practice and Theory 2 (40 credits)
- Students produce a significant body of practical work that is informed by both visual and contextual research components that are embedded within the module.
During the second year, students elect to study either the Work Based Learning module or Fine Art and Photography Experiential Learning module. Work Based Learning is a more general option providing work experience within a wider social and/or commercial context. Fine Art and Photography Experiential Learning provides the opportunity to work in a creative environment related to an area of Fine Art practice.
Optional Modules (choose one of the following 20 credit modules):
- Fine Art and Photography Experiential Learning
- A portfolio of Work Based Learning modules
In addition there is the option to choose a 20 credit module from your second subject or the following module from Fine Art:
Interdisciplinary Practice 2 (20 credits)
- Further explorations of non-traditional Fine Art practice with an emphasis on an experimental approach to ways of working that are challenging.
- Plus 40 credits from your second programme
Combined Honours (Joint) Level 6 (Year 3)
Compulsory Modules:
Studio Practice 3 (40 credits)
- Students will present an exhibition of a significant body of practical work that is informed by both visual and contextual research components that are embedded within the module.
Optional Modules (choose one of the following 20 credit modules):
Critical Theory (Research Option)
- In negotiation with staff, students will undertake in-depth, individual research in a chosen area of concern culminating in an extended academic essay.
Critical Theory (Taught Option)
- Students will make a presentation and write an essay in response to a series of lectures and seminars concerned with the relationship between contemporary fine art theory and practice.
- Plus 60 credits from your second subject.
Combined Honours (Minor) Level 6 (Year 3)
Compulsory Modules:
Image and Text for the 21st Century (40 credits)
- Students will write an extended essay in response to a series of lectures and seminars concerned with the relationship between contemporary and historical artists and works, and associated and relevant texts
- Plus 80 credits from your second subject.
Combined Honours (Major) Level 6 (Year 3)
Compulsory Modules:
Studio Practice 3 (combined Honours) (40 credits)
- Students will present an exhibition of a significant body of practical work that is informed by both visual and contextual research components that are embedded within the module.
Fine Art and Photography Professional Practice (20 credits)
- Students will have the opportunity to develop a professional approach to self-promotion that will provide them with the skills to operate in a fine art context after they leave the University.
Optional Modules (choose one of the following 20 credit modules):
Critical Theory (Research Option)
- In negotiation with staff, students will undertake in-depth, individual research in a chosen area of concern culminating in an extended academic essay.
Critical Theory (Taught Option)
- Students will provide a presentation and write an essay in response to a series of lectures and seminars concerned with the relationship between contemporary fine art theory and practice.
- Plus 40 credits from your second subject.
You may be assessed by the following methods:
- An examination of practical work presented in a portfolio (which may be in a digital audio or video format) or as a studio exhibition/installation.
- An assessment of a written assignment.
- Assessment of a studio journal that documents the contextual framework that emerges out of any given set of practical work.
- Assessment of a studio journal that documents the visual research that supports a given set of practical work.
- A verbal presentation.
- A dialogue assessment involving a discussion between a member of staff and an individual student where some degree of self-assessment allows for a negotiated mark.
These forms of assessment contribute in various proportions to the overall mark of any given module. This type of assessment is usually referred to as summative assessment.
Formative assessment occurs as part of an ongoing review of your work, but no marks are awarded as part of this process. Through reflection, discussion, comparison and feedback within individual and group sessions, you will be encouraged to develop your work in an informed and critical manner. An important factor in this type of feedback is the development of your own ability to self-assess and reflect critically upon your work.
In the course of their studies in Fine Art, students progressively acquire not just subject specific skills and knowledge, but also the independence of mind, self-discipline, confidence and powers of criticism, which find general application in employment.
Although particularly suited for art-related professions or careers within the cultural industries, these key cross-disciplinary skills (including critical thinking, visual analysis, independent research, project management and creative problem solving) are the same transferable skills required within a range of professional and commercial organisations and contexts.
Single Honours Fine Art
| UCAS points: |
A minimum of 240 - 280 UCAS points from GCE A Levels, including a grade C in one of the subjects recommended by the department |
| GCE A Level: |
The department recommends one of the following subjects:
Art, Art and Design, Fine Art
|
| BTEC: |
BTEC National Diploma/Certificate (Art & Design): merit/distinction profile |
| Irish/Scottish Highers: |
B in 4 subjects, including Art |
| International Baccalaureate: |
26 points, including 4 in Visual Arts |
| QAA: |
QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma (Art and Design), Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Open College Units or Open University Credits |
| OCR: |
OCR National Extended/Diploma (Art and Design): merit/distinction profile |
| Extra Information: |
The Advanced Diploma: acceptable in combination with one of the GCE A Level subjects listed above
Welsh Baccalaureate (core) will be recognised in our tariff offer.
(Note: Applicants may be required to attend a portfolio interview, before an offer of a place can be made.)
|
Combined Honours Fine Art
| UCAS points: |
A minimum of 240 - 280 UCAS points from GCE A Levels, including a grade C in one of the subjects recommended by the department |
| GCE A Level |
The department recommends one of the following subjects:
Art, Art & Design, Fine Art
|
| BTEC: |
BTEC National Diploma/Certificate (Art & Design): merit/distinction profile |
| Irish/Scottish Highers: |
B in 4 subjects, including Art |
| International Baccalaureate: |
26 points, including 4 in Visual Arts |
| QAA: |
QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma (Art & Design), Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, Open College Units or Open University Credits. |
| OCR: |
OCR National Extended/Diploma (Art and Design): merit/distinction profile |
| Extra Information: |
The Advanced Diploma: acceptable in combination with one of the GCE A Level subjects listed above
Welsh Baccalaureate (core) will be recognised in our tariff offer.
|
