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Visual Art (B8BA7Q)
The purpose of the three-year BA (Visual Art) degree is to develop students’ creative,
imaginative and critical knowledge, skills and academic research capabilities to practice as
artists within the domains of the visual-cultural industries, and/or to engage in postgraduate
study in visual art. A unique feature of the BA (Visual Art) degree is that it allows first year
students to choose selected cognate modules offered in the Faculty of Humanities, to enrich
their studies in visual art. This is unprecedented in the Faculty and augurs well for students
who intend pursuing graduate studies in any of the degree programmes mentioned below.
The BA (Visual Art) programme will equip students with a thorough knowledge of visual art practices, discourses,
theories and research methodologies. The programme facilitates the creation of meaning through art; research within
art history and criticism; contemporary artistic production; civic agency; visual identity; and visual technologies. The
programme will focus on creative and critical thinking according to ethical and professional standards, in order to explore
experimental, transformative and inter-disciplinary approaches to the making, reception and analysis of art within pan-
African and international contexts. In keeping with the University’s focus on promoting African scholarship, the BA (Visual
Art) programme addresses the need for academically adept, discipline-sophisticated and civic-minded graduates who are
able to respond to the challenges of visual culture in a globalized environment. The programme is accessible to students
in the Faculty of Humanities who wish to study Art History and Theory up to level three. The Department of Visual Art may
recommend that Visual Art students study selected cognate modules offered in the Faculty of Humanities.
Degree Programmes
: BA (Visual Art), BA Hons (Visual Art), BA Hons (Art Therapy), MA (Visual Art), Post Graduate
Certificate in Education (PGCA) and PhD.
Continuous Education Programmes (CEP)
: (a) Introduction to Visual Art Therapy and Social Action, and (b) Master’s
Pre-Proposal Writing in Art and Design.
Career Opportunities
Graduates could work in many areas of the visual art industries, including: Professional artist; Art education and
training; Art gallery, museum curating and management; Art criticism, research and journalism; Art consulting;
Art writing; Printmaking and print studio management; Aspects of digital photography, video production and editing;
Diverse digital and multimedia environments; Visual event management; General and graphic novel illustration;
Paper making and paper product design; Community and arts project management.
BA Degree