Photography

							                                UNIVERSITY OF KENT



                    Degree and Programme Title
                      BA (Hons) Photography
           Year 3 Top-Up from HND or Foundation Degree


1.  Awarding Institution/Body                 University of Kent
2.  Teaching Institution                      West Kent College
3.  Teaching Site                             West Kent College, Tonbridge
4.  Programme accredited by:                  University of Kent
5.  Final Award                               BA (Hons)
6.  Programme                                 Photography
7.  UCAS Code (or other code)
8.  Relevant QAA subject                      Art & Design, Media & Communication
    benchmarking group(s)
9. Date of production/revision                June 2006
10. Applicable cohort(s)                      2006 entry (from September 2006)



11. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
1. Widen participation in Higher Education by providing progression opportunities
    for HND or Foundation Degree achievers to gain a BA (Hons) Degree in
    Photography.
2. Support and encourage learners to further develop their artistic, professional and
    personal approach to the subject through the provision of high quality teaching,
    guidance and learning within a creatively stimulating and well-resourced
    environment.
3. Offer opportunities to capable learners, regardless of culture, background,
    learning difficulties or disability, to develop academically and creatively within the
    medium.
4. Increase learners’ knowledge of photography with regard to historical and
    contemporary issues and contexts so as to further develop critical and analytical
    skills and provide an intellectual basis for the understanding of attitudes, issues
    and debates within contemporary visual culture.
5. Foster independent learning and encourage the ability to work in an autonomous
    and professional manner.
6. Enable learners to understand photography’s place within visual culture and
    facilitate their ability to place their own work in an appropriate context.
7. Produce graduates who have a sound intellectual understanding of the structures
    and institutions of photographic practice and who are well equipped with a range
    of knowledge, skills and techniques to carry the practice of photography forward
    both professionally and with regard to further study and research.
12. Programme Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate
knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following
areas. The programme outcomes have references to the subject benchmarking
statement for (SB).
Knowledge and Understanding                Teaching/learning and assessment
                                           methods and strategies used to
                                           enable outcomes to be achieved and
                                           demonstrated
A. Knowledge and Understanding of:
1. The historical evolution of art, design,   Knowledge and understanding of the
    photography and related media and         historical evolution, critical theory,
    genres such as film and video.            contemporary debates, concepts and
2. The significance of the works of other     methodologies (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) will be
    photographers, artists and designers.     developed through a series of illustrated
3. The contexts and concepts relating to      lectures, seminars and discussions.
    photography and its place within          Learners will be given background
    contemporary visual culture together      reading from relevant texts prior to the
    with the development of critical theory   study of particular topics and encouraged
    and its application within                to carry out further independent research
    contemporary photographic practice.       (6). Seminars and tutorials will be used to
4. Visual communication and the use of        provide guidance for further reading and
    visual language.                          research and to provide learners with the
5. The application of appropriate             opportunity to follow up and clarify
    methodologies to critical analysis and    material presented during lectures. The
    ideas development.                        acquisition of knowledge and
6. Research methods and synthesis and         understanding will be assessed through
    the appropriate presentation of           oral and written presentation and through
    findings and analysis.                    the dissertation. Technical skills and
7. Conventional and digital photographic      knowledge (7, 8, 9) will be developed
    equipment, techniques, processes          through lectures, practical
    and materials and their application for   demonstrations and workshops. Learners
    studio and location photography.          will be encouraged to carry out self-
8. Historic and contemporary processes        directed research and experimentation.
    and techniques for image                  Knowledge, skills and ideas development
    manipulation.                             will be considered and discussed during
9. The implications and potential of key      group critiques and individual tutorials
    developments in current and               and will be assessed through practical
    emerging media and technologies.          photography projects. Professional
10. The relationship between the              practice will be explored within lectures,
    aesthetic and utilitarian dimensions of   seminars, workshops and
    the medium.                               demonstrations (10, 11) and assessed
11. Contemporary professional practice        within presentations and practical
    and the relationship of photographers     projects.
    with audiences, clients and
    consumers.
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual Skills:
1. The synthesis of ideas and concepts        Seminars and tutorials will be used to
    from the work of others and from          encourage learners to reflect upon and
    historical, cultural and contextual       synthesise knowledge (12) acquired
    references.                               through lectures, readings and research.
2. The generation, development and            Learners will be guided at group and
    evaluation of ideas in response to        individual tutorials in the development of
    themes or tasks.                          ideas (13) and will be required to
3. The use of appropriate techniques          produce a workbook or visual diary (14)
    and conventions to visually represent     to record the process and evolution of
    a range of objective and subjective       their own work (15) from initial inception
    information, meanings and                 to final outcome. Constant reflection and
    messages.                                 evaluation will be encouraged and
4. The effective articulation of              workbooks will be examined at group
    knowledge, understanding, attributes      critique and assessed with project work.
    and skills in the contexts of             Learners will be encouraged during
    professional practice, further study,     lectures, demonstrations and tutorials to
    research and self-fulfilment.             engage in independent research (16) in
5. The undertaking of effective and self-     support of project work, proposals,
    directed research using appropriate       essays and dissertations and will be
    resources.                                guided during group and individual
6. The oral and written presentation of       tutorial towards references and the
    ideas and concepts.                       appropriate breadth and depth of
7. The interpretation, articulation and       research. Research will be assessed
    analysis of ideas and information         within project work and oral and written
    through the use of visual language.       presentations (17). Learners will be able
8. The critical analysis and evaluation of    to demonstrate their ability to critically
    the work of themselves and others.        analyse and evaluate (18, 19) in
9. The demonstration of critical thinking     discussions, presentations, essays and
    and analysis skills through the           dissertations. Learners will be guided in
    presentation of arguments and             the writing of proposals, essays and
    conclusion.                               dissertations (20) during tutorials.
C. Subject-specific Skills:
1. The effective generation of ideas,         Learners will be encouraged to express
    concepts, proposals and solutions         ideas and communicate information
    independently in response to briefs       using photography and will be expected
    and as self-initiated work.               to demonstrate a commitment to
2. The use of visual language within          exploring the creative and commercial
    photography through the ability to use    potential of the medium. Learners will be
    techniques and materials in an            required to produce photographic work of
    intuitive way to convey intended          an appropriate technical quality and to
    meanings and messages.                    research and develop the use of
3. The application of appropriate             techniques, processes and materials in
    technical and practical skills relating   support of their own work. Learners will
    to conventional and digital               be supported in their acquisition of skills
    photographic techniques for studio        and knowledge of equipment and
    and location work.                        techniques through tutorials,
4. The effective demonstration of             demonstrations, and workshops.
    professional practice and                 Learners will be required to present work
    presentation skills.                      at group tutorials and critiques for the
5. The selection, testing and use of          evaluation of progress. Learners will be
    appropriate materials, processes,         required to gain sponsorship and
    techniques and environments.              successfully organise a group exhibition
6. The application of resourcefulness         of their work together with individual
    and entrepreneurial skills in support     professional portfolios.
    of their own practice.
D. Transferable Skills:
1. Self Development – the ability to          The opportunity for the development of
    manage own roles and                      transferable skills is integrated within all
    responsibilities; to study                modules, with particular skills fostered
    independently; to manage own time         through specific forms of teaching and
   in achieving objectives; to undertake    learning. All modules require
   personal and career development; to independent research and the application
   transfer skills gained to new and        of a variety of communication forms.
   changing situations and contexts; to     Regular feedback will be given to the
   identify personal strengths and          learner in individual tutorials, group
   needs.                                   tutorials and critiques to encourage
2. Interaction – the ability to relate to   development of presentation, analysis
   and interact effectively with            and communication skills. Learner
   individuals and groups; to work          participation in discussions, seminars
   effectively as a team member; to         and critiques will develop both
   undertake collective endeavour and       communication and interaction skills.
   negotiation; to accurately define and    Self-directed research and projects will
   review the work of others; to treat      enable learners to acquire management
   others values, beliefs and opinions      and self-development skills. The
   with respect.                            development of subject specific skills
3. Communication – the ability to           requires a correlative development of
   organise, analyse and evaluate           technology and creativity skills and
   information effectively; to articulate   knowledge and will be demonstrated
   ideas and information effectively in     through effective solutions to briefs and
   visual, oral and written forms; to       self-initiated work. Practical projects
   present ideas and work to audiences foster the learners’ ability to identify,
   in a range of situations.                explore and resolve the problems of
4. Management – the ability to select       creative work, and develop skills of
   and use a variety of information         creative experimentation, problem
   sources; to deal with a combination of solving, and presentation in relation to
   routine and non-routine tasks; to        the realisation of creative endeavours.
   identify and solve a range of routine
   and non-routine problems.
5. Technology – the ability to source,
   navigate, select, receive, evaluate
   and respond to a variety of
   information from a variety of sources;
   to select and use a range of
   technological equipment and
   systems; to select and effectively
   employ appropriate communication
   and information technologies.
6. Creativity – the ability to apply a
   range of skills and techniques to
   develop a variety of ideas in the
   creation of new/modified products
   and solutions; to use a range of
   thought processes to identify and
   define intellectual and practical tasks;
   to articulate reasoned arguments
   through reflection, review and
   evaluation.
For more information on which modules provide which skills, see the module
mapping
13. Programme Structures and Requirements, Levels, Modules, Credits and
    Awards

The programme is studied as a one-year top-up to BA (Hons) Degree following
successful completion of HND or Foundation Degree in Photography or a
related/relevant discipline with the required grade profile. This is a full-time
programme delivered over three terms (two 15-week semesters) and consisting of
three double-weighted 30 credit modules, all of which are required to be undertaken
to complete the programme, together with two single-weighted 15 credit modules
chosen from the optional module range. Failure in any module will constitute failure
to obtain the BA (Hons) award, although credits can be given for successfully
obtaining modules. All modules will run across the three terms of the programme.
The year of study will involve the student in approximately 1200 hours of learning
time of which 450 hours will be guided.
Code           Title                                    Level Credits           Term(s)
Pathway A
HA625          Photography Design: Dissertation A       H         15            1, 2, & 3
HA626          Photography Design: Advanced             H         60            1, 2, & 3
               Professional Practice A
HA602 v.2      Photography Design: Major Project        H         45            1, 2, & 3
Pathway B
HA600          Photography Design: Dissertation B H               30            1, 2 & 3
HA601          Photography Design: Advanced             H         45            1, 2 & 3
               Professional Practice B
HA602 v.2      Photography Design: Major Project        H         45            1, 2 & 3
Pathway C
HA627          Photography Design: Dissertation C H               45            1, 2, & 3
HA628          Photography Design: Advanced             H         30            1, 2, & 3
               Professional Practice C
HA602 v.2      Photography Design: Major Project        H         45            1, 2, & 3


14. Support for Students and their Learning
 Induction programme at the commencement of study followed by weekly
    personal tutorials.
 Each learner is provided with a detailed Programme Handbook during induction,
    which includes information about College/University policies and procedures.
 Each learner is allocated a Personal Tutor responsible for both Pastoral and
    Academic support.
 Well equipped and stocked Learning Resource Centre at West Kent College with
    further resources accessible through University of Kent.
 Language and study skills support is provided by both West Kent College and
    University of Kent.
 Dyslexia and disability support is provided by West Kent College.
 Excellent staff/student ratio provided for lectures, demonstrations and seminars.
 Specialist photography resources at West Kent College include: separate black &
    white and colour darkrooms; two fully equipped photography studios; 35mm,
    medium and large format camera systems; electronic-flash and tungsten lighting
    systems; digital camera systems.
 Specialist computer resources at West Kent College include: two AppleMac
    suites each complete with 21 student CPU’s, scanners, laser and inkjet printers,
    internet access, industry standard software.
 Two full-time photography technician/instructors.
   Specialist technical and IT support.
   Central support services at West Kent College include counselling,
    education/career guidance, welfare.


15. Entry Profile
Entry Route
For fuller information, please refer to the University prospectus
 Entry to the one year BA (Hons) Degree Top-Up programme is by a profile of
    240 credits, 120 credits at Merit or Distinction level, achieved on HND or
    Foundation Degree programme in Photography or related/relevant discipline.
 All applicants will be subject to inspection of a Portfolio of photography work.
 Mature learners are welcome to apply and all applicants will be interviewed.
What does this programme have to offer?
 Progression opportunities for HND or Foundation Degree students to gain BA
    (Hons) Degree in Photography within a creatively inspiring and well-resourced
    environment.
 The development of a range of intellectual, creative and practical skills that open
    up a variety of career pathways in photography, media and the creative
    industries.
 Knowledge and skills that provide an excellent foundation for post-graduate study
    and research in photography.
Personal Profile
 A desire to combine intellectual and practical studies with an interest in exploring
    the creative potential of photography.
 An intention to pursue career and/or post-graduate study opportunities in
    photography.
 Good oral, written and creative skills and a willingness and desire to develop
    these.


16. Methods for Evaluating and Enhancing the Quality and Standards of
   Teaching and Learning
Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment, the
curriculum and outcome standards
 Student evaluations via questionnaires, personal tutorials, programme
   committees and focus groups.
 Annual programme monitoring reports, including a review of progression and
   achievement statistics.
 External examiners’ reports.
 Periodic programme review and development.
 External accreditation.
 Peer and Developmental Inspection Group observation.
 Internal verification programme.
 Annual staff appraisal and active staff development programme.
 Continuous monitoring of student attendance and progress.
 Mentoring of new and part-time teaching staff.
 Quality Assurance Agency subject review.
 Personal academic support system for learners.
Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and
standards
 Staff/student programme committee.
 West Kent College Developmental Inspection Group.
 Board of Examiners.
 Faculty Academic Board.
 West Kent College quality assurance and review programme.
 Peer review.
Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and their
learning experience
 Staff/student programme committee.
 Student evaluations via questionnaires, personal tutorials and focus groups.
 Student representation on Academic Board.
 Exit questionnaires.
 Email and other communications.
 Student role in marketing activities.
Staff Development priorities include:
 Minimum expected qualification for appointment to teaching team:
    PGCE/Cert.Ed, first degree/appropriate professional qualification, post-graduate
    degree/diploma or notable professional qualification.
 Mentoring of new and part-time teaching staff.
 Annual staff appraisal and active staff development programme.
 Programme and curriculum area team meetings.
 Dissemination of good practice on new teaching and learning methods via INSET
    training programmes.
 Staff development programmes at West Kent College and University of Kent.
 Professional experience in photography and/or the media and creative industries.
 ILT training.


17. Indicators of Quality and Standards
 External examiners reports on HND have consistently commented on the high
   standards of student work and specialist resources.
 Good recruitment and retention on HND Photography programme.
 High standard of student achievement monitored at annual Exam Board.


The following reference points were used in creating these specifications:
 Art & Design Benchmarking Document
 Media & Communication Benchmarking Document
 West Kent College Teaching and Learning Plan
 University of Kent Mission statement
 University of Kent Code of Practice for Quality Assurance

Programme Specification Template
Annex 2
18 May 2001
Reformatted 11 April 2002