BA (Hons) in Creative Arts

Summary

The OCA BA (Hons) Creative Arts degree gives you an exciting opportunity if you have a passion for more than one creative arts practice. This Open degree programme allows you to choose from the full range of distance learning courses available through the OCA, combining the study of art, creative writing, art history, printmaking, sculpture, music, graphic design, illustration, book design, and photography. You may combine the media which interest you most, studying poetry and music for example, or art alongside creative writing, or illustration together with photography.

Degree overview

The Creative Arts Open Degree provides a unique opportunity for OCA students to fulfil their creative potential by studying two disciplines in depth to degree level. The development of a new level six programme for this degree gives a real opportunity to grow in its ability to merge two separate disciplines and create one final body of work, contextualise this work and develop an understanding of a professional practice.

Degree aims

• To widen access to education in creative arts at the undergraduate level through Open and Flexible Learning.

• Ensure students gain the technical skills in each of the disciplines chosen to form a solid foundation for further development.

• To provide an intellectually stimulating interdisciplinary programme of study based on high-quality study material and tutor support.

• To develop students’ creative capacities and their ability in interpretation and application.

• To develop students’ critical understanding of the theoretical and conceptual issues central to the creative arts practice and the social, historical and cultural context in which it is practised.

• To provide an environment in which the student has the possibility of changing their view of the world and their interaction with it both artistically and intellectually.

• To foster high-level ethical and professional standards and an awareness of the possibilities offered by existing and new developments in areas of the creative arts to expand their application areas.

• To develop autonomous learners capable of applying intellectual and practical skills in a chosen area of contemporary creative arts activity appropriate to employment, further study, or life-long learning.

Our Story

The Open College of the Arts was founded in 1987 by Michael Young, Lord Young of Dartington, the driving force behind numerous citizen-centred and educational initiatives such as the Consumers Association, the National Extension College and the Open University.

Young’s original vision was to offer the general public the chance to take high-quality arts courses by distance learning education, without prior qualifications or restrictions. He saw the OCA as a means of transforming people’s lives, giving them the opportunity and skills to express their creative talents under the guidance of professional artists. We still live by those values.

Today the OCA is a thriving educational charity whose charitable purpose is to widen participation in arts education. Over 2000 students each year now study creative and visual arts courses and degrees by open learning with us. OCA strategy is determined by a Board of Trustees. Our head offices are on the site of a former colliery in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and all of our tutors work from their homes or studios.

OCA is part of the University for the Creative Arts

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is one of the UK’s leading specialist universities offering a range of courses in art, architecture, communications, design and media across five campuses in the South East of England. Graduates include Zandra Rhodes, Karen Millen and Tracey Emin.On 1 November 2016, the Open College of the Arts became part of the University for the Creative Arts. This merger built on a close working relationship established in 2010.

The Students’ Association (OCASA)

When you enrol you become part of the OCA Student Association (OCASA), who acts as the voice of students. The college takes student representation seriously. The OCASA president attends our board meetings so the student's voice is heard at the highest levels.