BA Honours in Art Theory

Purpose

To develop students’ creative, imaginative, and critical knowledge, skills, and academic research capabilities within the domains of the art therapy discourse, visual arts and psychosocial and therapeutic industries. The Honours programme will equip students with an intermediate knowledge of Art Therapy theories, and research methodologies, as they relate to eventual practice as an Art Therapist on completion of a Masters in Art Therapy, as well as an ability to think competently, safely, and ethically in a range of observed clinical settings. The programme facilitates the process of exploration and critical inquiry, on both an internal and external level, to understand how meaning is created through art making, which can then be applied in a clinical context.

Admission Requirements

An appropriate Bachelor’s Degree or BTech Degree with a minimum of two years of Psychology is a prerequisite for entry, and this should be supported by a portfolio of the applicant’s own experiential and image-based work.

All prospective students would need some experience of working with image making within community contexts.

All students will be required to submit a portfolio of their own artwork and a letter of motivation.

Selection Process

Selection is based on academic merit of the candidate’s art portfolio, psychological maturity, and capacity to engage creatively with their internal world and external worlds. Candidates require a minimum of two years of Psychology. Applications are approved by the Departmental Committee comprising a panel of assessors from the Visual Art Departmental Committee and Art Psychotherapy specialist lecturers. Candidates will be interviewed, and their portfolios assessed by the Visual Art Department’s Selection Committee panel. Candidates who are not accepted may request to receive feedback regarding their unsuccessful submission. Applicants who wish to specialise in Art Therapy are selected by means of an entrance assessment comprising the following: A personal portfolio that demonstrates an ability to engage reflectively with visual art, image making and design practices, an interview where candidates reflective practice will be assessed, a written motivation that demonstrates sufficient academic and research competency, evidence of community engagement experience (recommended).