UNISA Visual Arts Course Module 2025-2026
Students interested in Multimedia must refer to the list of modules listed under Multimedia Studies.
General information: These study units may only be taken for the BVA and BA degree (Culture and Arts) with specialisation in Multimedia Studies. Visual Arts 2 can also be taken for the BEd degree with specialisation in Art. This subject was previously known as Fine Arts. Students are strongly advised to follow the advice given in the various modules. Credit for a degree is granted for modules: (i) either VAR2601- 2602 or VAR201- 204, (ii) either VAR3701 – 3702 or VAR301 – 304, (iii) either VAR4801 – 4802 or VAR401 -404.
The study unit PMP3701 may only be taken by students registered for the BA (Culture and Arts) degree with specialisation in Multimedia Studies. Professional Multimedia Practice must be registered for in conjunction with VAR3701.
Students requesting credits from other institutions must contact the department and submit a portfolio, and if successful, they will receive a permission document. Prospective students must obtain prior permission from the Department of Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology before registering for this module. They are to contact the department and submit a portfolio of artworks. Students registered for the BVA degree or the BA (Culture and Arts) degree with specialization in Multimedia Studies, are all expected to attend the two workshops presented. The following modules are not part of the Multimedia Studies and may only be taken for the BVA degree: VAR3702, (VAR312H), VAR4801, (VAR411K), VAR4802, (VAR412L).
Regarding PMP3701 students requesting Credits from other institutions must contact the department and submit a portfolio. On success they will receive a permission document.
Registration for all practical modules closes on the same day as the semester registration closing date and not the closing date for year modules. Students must attend a minimum of one day of both practical workshops.
| Visual Literacy – ARH1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To acquire sufficient art history and theoretical skills in order to engage meaningfully with contemporary art. |
| Form and Motion – FRM1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To provide students with basic skills training in three-dimensional design and motion studies. The module aims at developing creative thinking through the guidance of projects and incorporates traditional art making skills with a focus on video and three-dimensional digital image design. This module should preferably be taken simultaneously with or after the completion of TDM1501. |
| Drawing 1 – GAR1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to the discipline of drawing and to provide students with basic skills training in drawing. The module aims at developing creative thinking through the guidance of projects and incorporates both methodologies inherent to art practice and the principles and techniques of drawing. |
| Graphic Processes – GAR2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: GAR1501 or GAR1116 or GAR1014 & GAR1025 (Only applicable to 02224 ) TDM1501 or TDM101L (Only applicable to 02305) |
|
| Purpose: To advance upon the methodologies and techniques introduced at NQF Level 5 of visual arts studies and to enable students to investigate various themes within contemporary culture with a range of graphic media. By focussing on formal and conceptual aspects an independent research methodology will be developed. Although students are introduced to the module through the discipline of drawing, expanding the visual research base to include alternative forms of graphic expression is encouraged. Students will explore ways of engaging with metaphor in art and are advised to develop a critical attitude to utilising media and creative conventions. Multimedia students will learn to produce a short animation (two or three dimensional) and expand upon the new media production concepts and techniques explored in VAR211D. |
| Visual Arts 1 – VAR2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: GAR1501, TWF1501& THF1501 (Only applicable to 02224) Co-requisites: VAR2602 TDM1501& FRM1501 (Only applicable to 02305) |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to formally and conceptually explore the visual and metaphorical potential of the notion of mass culture. The learning takes place through the exploration of various formal manifestations such as drawing, painting, sculpture, traditional and non-traditional rendering, digital prints and photographic images. Multimedia students will learn to produce a short animation (two or three dimensional). Multimedia students will expand upon the new media production concepts and techniques explored in VAR211E. |
| Visual Arts 2 – VAR2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: GAR1501 & TWF1501& THF1501 (Only applicable to 02224) Co-requisites: VAR2601 TDM1501& FRM1501 (Only applicable to 02305) |
Co-requisite: VAR2601 |
| Purpose: To enable students to formally and conceptually explore the visual and metaphorical potential of the notion of mass culture. Expressive figurative manifestations of re-interpretation, deconstruction and application of historical as well as contemporary cultural phenomena, icons and myths are encouraged. The learning takes place through the investigation of various formal, traditional as well as non-traditional methodologies and media. Multimedia students will expand upon the new media production, concepts and techniques explored in VAR2601. |
| Visual Arts 3 – VAR3701 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: VAR2601 & VAR2602 or VAR211D & VAR212E |
|
| Purpose: To provide students with competency in the medium of a student’s choice. No specific assignments are set. Students submit a proposal in which the area of research, subject matter, methodology, strategy and choice of materials are identified. Understanding and manipulating form-content dynamics is a strong focus. The final practical work must be presented in a professional venue such as a gallery and accompanied by the necessary exhibition documentation. |
| Visual Arts 4 – VAR3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: VAR2601 & VAR2602 or VAR211D & VAR212E |
Co-requisite: VAR3701 & PAT3701 |
| Purpose: This module extends the focus and concerns of Visual Arts 3 and will enable students to acquire an advanced level of competency. Students continue their practical visual research based on the proposal that was presented for VAR3701. |
| Visual Arts 5 – VAR4801 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Pre-requisite: VAR3701, VAR3702 & PAT3701 (Only applicable to 02224) |
Co-requisite: VAR4802 & PAT4801 |
| Purpose: Students present a proposal in which they formulate their own area of visual research with regard to concept, methodology and strategy. Students continue with their practical visual research according to the proposal. No specific assignments are set and the final practical work must be presented in a professional venue such as a gallery and accompanied by the necessary exhibition documentation. |
| Visual Arts 6 – VAR4802 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Pre-requisite: VAR3701, VAR3702 & PAT3701(Only applicable to 02224) |
Co-requisite: VAR4801 & PAT4801 |
| Purpose: Tthis module entails continuance of VAR411 and the practical visual research. No specific assignments are set and the final practical work must be presented in a professional venue such as a gallery and accompanied by the necessary exhibition documentation. |
