New Creative Arts Degree Aligns with Industry for Greater Job Opportunities

Graduates of the new Bachelor of Creative Arts will be equipped with broader skills required by industry to ensure greater job opportunities in visual and performing arts.

The new program, which will be offered from 2009, was designed by the university after conducting significant industry research.

Head of Creative Arts, Dr Janet McDonald, said USQ’s approach to creative arts study would be unique in Australia.

'The Bachelor of Creative Arts takes the best of what we currently offer in music, theatre, visual arts and media without losing the artistic and theoretical abilities of our discipline areas,' she said.

'The tertiary sector as a whole is moving away from overspecialised undergraduate degrees. The new program will replace five separate creative arts degrees and majors (music, visual arts, media, multimedia and theatre) with a single degree called the Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA).'

Enhancing study with practical experience is also a feature of the new program supported by theatre student, Chris Horne.

'I want to be as industry ready as possible,' he said. 'How many designers can say that they can stage manage a show while having incredible arts skills?

'The new degree will emphasise connections with industry, so we will have more professionals working with us as tutors and mentors to give students the skills they need as entry-level practising artists.

'Being able to cross over disciplines and get taught by the best in the country, you just can’t compare it! It’s great!'

“I want to go into design, so I am hoping that I can take some Visual Arts subjects which will enable me to expand my skills in painting, sculpting and drawing. Theatre is always such a hard industry to break into, and the more skills you have under your belt the more employable you will be.”