Visual arts

Choose a major in Visual Arts

Your future is a creative space.

Explore your creativity across a range of exciting mediums. You could explore digital media, photography, printmaking, and ceramics. With a major in Visual Arts, you'll discover the visual arts through the study of art history, visual language, concept development, and design.

In the Arts stream, you'll prepare for a future as an artist or working in the visual arts industry. You'll learn from practising artists as you develop practical skills alongside theory. Unleash your imagination as you discover new ways to create, and think about, visual art.

Why study Visual Arts?

Extend your talent and knowledge of art
Develop an appreciation of creativity and visual thinking
Learn to express conceptual aesthetic qualities that are both contemporary and traditional
Build an understanding of social and cultural contexts of visual arts
Develop a portfolio of creative work that demonstrates your technical and conceptual skills, creativity and passion.

Your career

Prepare yourself for a range of career opportunities in visual arts, craft or related fields.

Potential occupations include:

Artist
Photographer
Illustrator
Advertising Coordinator
Graphic Designer
Arts Administrator
Arts Writer / Critic or critic
Art Dealer
Historian
Curator

Potential employers include:

Galleries and studios
Museums
Festivals
Design and retail companies
Schools and education providers
Tourism and retail sectors.

What you will study

You'll explore a range of engaging topics.

Art history and theory
Design fundamentals
Contemporary issues in visual arts
Printmaking — plus ceramics, jewellery and photography if you choose to study the Bachelor of Arts

Study options

Study this major in the following degrees:

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts and Science
Bachelor of International Relations and Political Science / Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Laws - Legal Practice Entry / Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) - Legal Practice Entry / Bachelor of Arts

How many units?

A major in Visual Arts is comprised of 36 units, including:

Two Year 1 topics (9 units)
Two Year 2 topics (9 units)
Four Year 2 / Year 3 topics (18 units)

Visual Arts can also be taken as a minor. Your 18 units will include:

Two Year 1 topics (9 units)
Two Year 2 / Year 3 topics (9 units)

Add a year of Honours

Kickstart your career or future in research with one extra year.

By adding just one year full-time to your undergraduate degree, you can graduate with Honours. Enhance your career prospects, delve deeper into knowledge or launch yourself into the world of research.

Explore your honours year

Alexandra Reinhardt, Bachelor of Languages (French and Spanish)

“

Studying Visual Arts at Flinders University offered an introspective space for me to explore what it truly means to be an artist.

Prior to studying, I explored visual arts primarily through painting and drawing - creative practices I continue to practice today. However, the Visual Arts major opened up a new perspective of creation for me, where my art could take on the form of jewellery as both contemplative and practical.

Spending time in the TAFE SA jewellery studio allowed me to explore design compositions specific to my personal interests, experiment with various techniques, and refine my work amidst complex yet rewarding course components. Being able to utilise a range of tools and equipment throughout the course broadened my approach to creating as I could experiment with diverse materials.