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School of Media and Design

Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts in Visual Communication Design

Qualification / Course Information

Minimum Duration:

3 Years

Minimum Credits:

380

NQF Level:

7

SAQA:

117879

MODE:

Contact Learning

CAMPUS:

Bellville (Cape Town)

LANGUAGE:

English

COURSE OVERVIEW

Take your creative talents to the next level by studying the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts in Visual Communication Design.


This STADIO Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts in Visual Communication Design will be your entry into the world of graphic design and photography, by teaching you highly specialised skills to excel in a wide range of commercial areas in both print and digital media. You will use industry standard software, including Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, to emphasise innovative and design processes that define visual communication.

The art and science of photography will allow you to transform a digital or analogue image into a profound creative design that will set your portfolio of creative work apart from other graduates and will assist you to step into the career field as an Art Director or Creative Director.

 

Portfolio Requirements - Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts in Visual Communication Design

Stationary Requirements - Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts in Visual Communication Design

Entry Requirements

THE ADMISSION CRITERIA FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN VISUAL ARTS IN VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN ARE:

 

  • a Senior Certificate (SC) with degree endorsement

  • a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a minimum of 50% in four 20-credit subjects and a minimum of 30% in English Home Language or First Additional Language; or

  • a National Senior Certificate – Vocational Level 4 (NC(V)) with a minimum of 60% in three fundamental subjects including English; and minimum 70% in four vocational subjects.

In addition, applicants are required to submit a portfolio of evidence.

 

OTHER ACCESS PATHWAYS:
  • STADIO Higher Certificate in Photography (NQF 5); or

  • A cognate Higher Certificate on NQF 5 OR Advanced Certificate on NQF 6 or Diploma on NQF 6.

 

MATURE AGE EXEMPTION
Candidates who do not meet the requirements for degree studies listed above, but who have reached the ages of 23 or 45 respectively, may apply for Mature Age Exemption via the USAF Matriculation Board (https://mbit-application.usaf.ac.za/assessment/) under the following conditions:
  • Candidates who have reached/will reach the age of 23 during the first year of registration and who have achieved a Senior Certificate with a pass in at least four subjects, including one of the official languages experience and including one subject on Higher Grade; or

  • Candidates who have reached the age of 45 before or during the first year of registration.

 

STADIO is committed to achieving inclusion and to overcome barriers to access and success in higher education. Applicants who do not meet the stated admission criteria, but who have relevant work experience and/or prior learning may apply for admission under the policy on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). STADIO admits a maximum of 10% per cohort via RPL. The implementation of RPL is context-specific, in terms of discipline, programme and level. 

A limited number of applicants will be admitted under the rules of Recognition of Prior Learning, to find out more read HERE.

COURSE CURRICULUM

1st YEAR MODULES

  • Contextual Info Design 1

  • Creative Thinking

  • End User Computing

  • Foundations of Drawing

  • Fundamentals of Image Enhancement

  • History of Photography

  • Photography in Practice 1

  • Photography Theory 1

  • Presentation Skills

  • VisCom Design Business 1

  • Visual Imaging Studies 1

2nd YEAR MODULES

  • Academic Literacy

  • Contextual Info Design 2

  • Entrepreneurship 

  • Graphic Design & Typography 1 

  • Photography in Practice 2

  • Photography Theory 2 

  • Professional Practice 

  • VisCom Design Business 2 

  • VisCom Design Philosophy

  • Visual Imaging Studies 2 

3rd YEAR MODULES

  • Creative Art Direction in Context 

  • Contextual Info Design 3

  • Graphic Design & Typography 2

  • Introduction to Research 

  • Visual Imaging Studies 3

  • Work-Integrated Learning 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Below are some key career opportunities that you may consider once you have completed this qualification:
  • Illustrator

  • Visual Artist

  • Art Director

  • Layout Artist

  • Photo Journalist

  • Production Artist

  • Advertising Designer

  • Typography Designer

  • Graphic Artist/Designer

  • Commercial Photographer

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