Art Degrees Online

The Fine Arts Department offers graduate courses leading to the Master of Fine Arts Degree (MFA). The program is in studio art and its areas of specialization are:
Drawing
Painting
Sculpture (including ceramic sculpture)
Computer Imaging

The MFA degree is intended to lead students to a thorough mastery of both material and conceptual skills, and is used as a guarantee of professional competence in the visual arts. It is accepted as the final degree in studio art, and is now generally required for those intending to teach in this field at university level. It implies professional mastery of at least one medium, as well as a thorough grounding in art history, and an understanding of contemporary critical issues. It provides the time and circumstances to develop one’s work in individual directions and also requires the successful completion, exhibition and defence of a coherent body of work in a comprehensive solo exhibition. The seminar course includes the writing of a major research paper in the first year, while the thesis exhibition will be accompanied by an extended artist’s statement. As it serves as a requirement for teaching art, a supervised opportunity to learn to teach will be provided.

About the course

Students learn a wide range of photographic skills and practices from fine art to commercial. Photo-techniques from analogue to the latest digital imaging are covered.

Graduates of this course will have a well-developed aesthetic sense, strong visual problem solving skills and be technically well equipped to produce innovative, exciting and questioning photo-based work.
Where it will take you

Graduates may work professionally as photographers in areas such as:
commercial, advertising, corporate and industrial either for professional studios or freelance
fine art exhibition and installation
media outlets such as magazines and newspapers either on a freelance or editorial basis
galleries, museums and government
Course components

The course consists of a core of eight studio-based subjects in the first two years, and two large studio-based subjects in the third year. These are supported by a contextual theory component of six subjects, and a minor elective sequence of five subjects. In the minor electives, students can elect subjects from other courses in the School of Visual & Performing Arts, such as Graphic Design, Multimedia, Animation and Visual Effects, Television Production, Acting for Stage and Screen, Design For Theatre and Television, and Jewellery.

The emphasis in the first year is on the acquisition of technical and aesthetic skills for the production of photographic works via both digital and analogue mediums. These skills are underpinned by contextual studies in photo-history, design theory and cultural studies.

In the second year the course concentrates on exploring, extending and building upon technical and conceptual skills gained in the first year. Emphasis is placed on students producing creative works of a high standard. Topics such as advanced digital photography, studio formats and lighting, imaging theories and techniques including critical analysis and interpretation of photographic imagery are introduced at this level.

In the third year students identify and investigate areas of photographic practice of particlar relevance to their career aspirations. These studies are linked and supported by a research seminar program.
The latest facilities

To make sure you are experienced using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:
digital photograpy facilities
digital imaging labs
analogue darkrooms
lighting studios
public gallery space
Hands-on experience

Students work collaboratively or individually on a range of photographic projects which may culminate in the production of a book, a CD-ROM or DVD, and a public exhibition of the work.
Graduation requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points (normally 22 subjects).

Students learn a wide range of photographic skills and practices from fine art to commercial. Photo-techniques from analogue to the latest digital imaging are covered.

Graduates of this course will have a well-developed aesthetic sense, strong visual problem solving skills and be technically well equipped to produce innovative, exciting and questioning photo-based work.
Where it will take you

Graduates may work professionally as photographers in areas such as:
commercial, advertising, corporate and industrial either for professional studios or freelance
fine art exhibition and installation
media outlets such as magazines and newspapers either on a freelance or editorial basis
galleries, museums and government
Course components

The course consists of a core of eight studio-based subjects in the first two years, and two large studio-based subjects in the third year. These are supported by a contextual theory component of six subjects, and a minor elective sequence of five subjects. In the minor electives, students can elect subjects from other courses in the School of Visual & Performing Arts, such as Graphic Design, Multimedia, Animation and Visual Effects, Television Production, Acting for Stage and Screen, Design For Theatre and Television, and Jewellery.

The emphasis in the first year is on the acquisition of technical and aesthetic skills for the production of photographic works via both digital and analogue mediums. These skills are underpinned by contextual studies in photo-history, design theory and cultural studies.

In the second year the course concentrates on exploring, extending and building upon technical and conceptual skills gained in the first year. Emphasis is placed on students producing creative works of a high standard. Topics such as advanced digital photography, studio formats and lighting, imaging theories and techniques including critical analysis and interpretation of photographic imagery are introduced at this level.

In the third year students identify and investigate areas of photographic practice of particlar relevance to their career aspirations. These studies are linked and supported by a research seminar program.
The latest facilities

To make sure you are experienced using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:
digital photograpy facilities
digital imaging labs
analogue darkrooms
lighting studios
public gallery space
Hands-on experience

Students work collaboratively or individually on a range of photographic projects which may culminate in the production of a book, a CD-ROM or DVD, and a public exhibition of the work.
Graduation requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points (normally 22 subjects).