School of Arts

Digital Arts

Digital Arts Undergraduate Major

The undergraduate major encompasses two areas of study: a theoretical component which is aimed at understanding of the nature of digital media and a creative component aimed at helping students develop the skills needed to exploit the multiple creative possibilities that have been unleashed by the digital revolution.

The undergraduate programme consists of 8 modules, 2 taken in the 1st year of study, 2 in the 2nd and 4 in the 3rd. These modules are divided into 4 “theory” modules and 4 “practical” modules, although this is a very loose distinction, since the theory modules incorporate a certain amount of practical work and the practical components draw on and extend students’ theoretical understanding. A more detailed account of the structure of the major is presented below.

  • DIGA110: Introduction to Digital Media (Theory)

    This module begins by offering students a basic introduction to the media, their nature and significance in human society and to digital media in particular. The concept “Visual Culture” will be introduced, then explored with particular attention to “visual narrative”. There is also be a focus on art as social action which compliments critical conditions evident in contemporary art production.

  • DIGA101: Introduction to Digital Arts (Practical: laboratory-based)

    This module aims to introduce students to current practices and principals of the digital arts as they apply to conceptual and contemporary production. The module focusses on digital imaging (painting, drawing, and design), photography and 3d modelling.

  • DIGA201: Applied Digital Arts (Practical: laboratory-based)

    The module aims to introduce sequential art practice and ideas as it relates to 3D image making and design and 2D image making and design. The module extends knowledge and skills introduced in DIGA101.

  • DIGA210: Film Studies (Theory)

    This module and its content is run by Media and Cultural Studies. Contact this discipline for further information.

  • DIGA301: Advanced Digital Arts 1 Arts (Practical: laboratory-based)

    The module aims to extend the practices and principles of digital art established in levels one and two. In particular the focus is on 2D and 3D animation processes.

  • DIGA302: Advanced Digital Arts 2 (Practical: laboratory-based)

    The module extends the 2D and 3D animation processes established in DIGA301 and introduces interactivity, installation and advanced design.

  • DIGA310: Advanced Film Studies (Theory)

    This module and its content is run by Media and Cultural Studies. Contact this discipline for further information.

  • DIGA311: Digital Theory (Theory)

    This capstone module extends and deepens students understanding of digital theory and includes the practical development of a community-oriented digital project.

The Digital Art Honours Programme

The Digital Arts Honours programme is comprised of 50% theory and 50% practice. The aim of this program is to introduce advanced level digital arts production and theory and to allow students to engage with a certain level of specialisation. The content for both the theoretical and practice-based components draw on and extend conceptual, aesthetic and technical processes and ideas introduced at the undergraduate level.

The postgraduate honours programme consists of 4 modules; 2 studio-based modules and 2 theoretical modules. Students are required to take one studio-based and one theory-based module per semester. While, the studio-based modules focus on specialisation and independent research – these modules may include structured tuition depending on the digital processes that are taught. The theory based modules include a critical to introduction academic writing and research and a long essay of 10-12000 words. The content builds on that taught in the undergraduate program and importantly relates to practice as well as theory.

  • DIGA701: Digital Arts Studio Work

    While these modules may be project-based, they also focus on individual specialisation within the field of Digital Arts practice. Students are required to research and produce a creative digital project responding to a topic set by your lecturer. Students are encouraged to draw on various skills learnt in the undergraduate programme

  • DIGA710: Critical Methodologies

    The aim of this component of the module is for students to learn the skills and knowledge required for researching and writing an extended study within the context of the Digital Arts. Students will be required to research and produce a proposal for the research project requirement for DIG7RP.

  • DIGA702: Digital Arts Studio Work

    While these modules may be project-based, they also focus on individual specialisation within the field of Digital Arts practice. Students are required to research and produce a creative digital project responding to a topic set by your lecturer. Students are encouraged to draw on various skills learnt in the undergraduate programme.

  • DIGARP: Research Paper

    AIM: The aim of this module is for students to apply the research skills and knowledge acquired from DIGA710 in semester one. Students are required to research and write an extended study (10 000 – 12000 words) within the context of the Digital Arts. Students will be required to use their proposal (from DIGA710) for the research project requirement.

MA and PhD Degrees in Digital Arts

Digital Arts can be pursued at the MA and PhD levels. Research can be practice-based with a textual components or purely theory-based. However, if one wants to pursue a practice-based study in Digital Arts at these levels the textual component must fulfil the requirements for a full research MA (40-50000 words) or PhD (70 – 80000 words).