Skip to Content
Need Help Live Chat
Diploma of Visual Arts CUA51120
Show sidebar
  1. Home
  2. Courses
  3. Creative
  4. Art
  5. Visual Arts

Overview

In this course, you will combine specialised technical, creative and conceptual skills to prepare for, and develop an emerging arts practice. You will gain the skills and knowledge to be able to plan and realise a body of work in one or more art forms.

Your visual arts practice will be underpinned by a sound grasp of art theory and history and the ability to critically analyse and synthesise information from a range of sources.

Qualification:

 Diploma of Visual Arts CUA51120

Next Intake:

 Semester 1 2025

Course No:

 DP-BD62

Campus:

 CIT Reid*


*From Semester 2 2025, the location of this course will transition from CIT Reid to the new CIT Woden campus. CIT will provide support for students who will be making the move to Woden. Learn more.

Duration:

 Two Semesters full-time approx.. 20 hours face-to-face at CIT Reid Campus with the addition of 8-10 hours of independent study. Or part-time equivalent.

Cost Info:

Further information about fees is available at Course fees and assistance

Indicative Cost:

 $3,485

Likely Job Outcome:

 Entry to other tertiary or higher education art and design programs.
Visual artists work in a wide range of contexts across the arts and other industries. They are often sole practitioners but may also hold positions in government or commercial organisations. Artists work within and across many media, and their practice may incorporate ceramics, digital art, glasswork, drawing and illustration, jewellery making, painting, photomedia, printmaking, sculpture, textile design and wood design.

Application Type:

 Portfolio - Standard
Share:

Timetable Information

To help with the enrolment process print your timetable, or keep the window open, so that you can refer back to it for your course code, course name, and the Course Reference Numbers (CRNs) or Block Code.

Additional Information

In addition to the course fees you may also be required to pay additional ongoing costs for textbooks, additional equipment, materials, stationary, excursions and exhibition fees.
Applicants with advanced industry knowledge may apply for a process of skills recognition.

Entry Requirements

Individuals must provide evidence of their technical and organisational skills to conceptualise and create works in selected visual arts media via portfolio submission and interview prior to enrolment.

Skills and knowledge may have been acquired through experience in creative practice or formal study such as a completion of a Certificate IV in Visual Arts CUA41320 or its predecessor.

Students who have achieved a Skill Set from the Certificate IV can progress to the same Diploma Skill Set. EG: Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Digital Art with discussion and approval of the teacher.

Skills Recognition

To study any course at CIT (excluding non-accredited training) you must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).

Further Study

Completion of this qualification may provide you with credit towards a Bachelor degree in a related course. CIT maintains relationships with a number of local and regional universities such as ANU, UC, ACU and CSU. Credit arrangements are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, contact the university directly.

Literacy Skills Information

We suggest that you will need Australian Core Skills Framework literacy levels of at least 4 across reading, writing, learning, oral communication and, depending on your course of study, numeracy skills to successfully complete this course. If you do not have this level, you can still enrol and seek support to improve your skills or you may prefer to begin with the lower level course. Please visit Foundation Skills.

Transition Information

Qualifications at CIT are regularly updated or replaced to meet current industry needs and maximise your employment opportunities. If this occurs while you are part way through a qualification, you may need to vary your learning to meet the new national requirements. CIT will aim to make this as smooth as possible for you.

Subject Cancellations/Changes

To ensure positive outcomes for all students, CIT may need to cancel or change classes at short notice. CIT will make every effort to inform students as soon as changes are made and will also make every effort to offer alternative arrangements for students to meet the requirements of the subject and complete their qualification. In an unfortunate instance when this cannot be met, you will receive a full refund. Please ensure you maintain current contact details via CIT Self Service or by contacting CIT Student Services at infoline@cit.edu.au.


Subject Information

Complete 15 subjects

Core: Complete all 5

  • CUAACD531   Refine drawing and other visual representation tools
    • CIT Code: ARTS386
      Cost: Standard $325.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use drawing and other visual representation tools to develop, refine and communicate ideas for creative work. It involves evaluating the role of drawing in communicating ideas, experimenting with drawing and visual representations and developing an individual approach to the use of drawing. The unit focus is on manual drawing development and refinement, and visual representation as cognitive tools in a professional practice, rather than a particular level of drawing technique. The unit applies to professional practitioners working in any area related to visual communication using drawing and other visual representation tools to support their practice.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAPPR511   Realise a body of creative work
    • CIT Code: ARTS391
      Cost: Standard $375.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to integrate conceptual, technical and organisational skills to create a coherent body of work in any creative form.The unit applies to individuals who are developing their professional practice, and who convey a well developed command of materials, process and technique, and strong conceptual and theoretical development in their completed work.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAPPR512   Develop sustainability of own professional practice
    • CIT Code: ARTS392
      Cost: Standard $200.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish goals for own professional practice and determine how your practice can be developed in a sustainable way. All aspects of sustainability, such as individual, social, environmental and economic, should be considered.The unit applies to those who may be required to consider the sustainability of their practice in any creative sector or artistic area of expertise.No licensing, legislative or certification conditions apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAPPR513   Present a body of own creative work
    • CIT Code: ARTS393
      Cost: Standard $225.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use creative, technical and project management skills to produce a professional and innovative presentation of own creative work. The unit applies to individuals who maintain an up-to-date presentation package or portfolio of creative work. This unit involves the use of digital formatting in the design and delivery of the presentation or portfolio. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAPPR515   Establish and maintain safe creative practice
    • CIT Code: ARTS394
      Cost: Standard $120.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to determine and respond effectively to broad and specific safety requirements in a professional practice.It involves determining work health and safety (WHS) requirements, identifying hazards, managing risks, and monitoring and enhancing safety of the practice. The unit applies to those who are sole practitioners or working in collaborative teams across all sectors and areas of expertise, who are responsible for managing safety. The practitioner applies a self-directed approach to ensuring safety. The unit could apply to a range of internal and external work environments, including workshops, studios, offices, field locations and performance venues. The unit does not apply to individuals employed by organisations to manage the safety of a practice.No licensing, legislative or certification conditions apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Electives: Complete minimum of 6

  • CUASCU511   Refine sculptural techniques
    • CIT Code: ARTS395
      Cost: Standard $250.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research, select and experiment with a broad range of sculptural techniques to refine and apply to individual sculptural work.The unit applies to highly skilled visual artists who integrate the use of those different techniques explored, to realise a coherent body of creative work which usually includes the creation of three-dimensional (3-D) sculptural forms. They work with a high level of independence seeking mentoring and guidance as required.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUADRA501   Refine drawing techniques
    • CIT Code: ARTS284
      Cost: Standard $310.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and experiment with a broad range of drawing techniques to refine and evaluate an individual professional style. This unit relates to drawing as an art form and differs from units that focus on drawing as a visual representation tool.It applies to highly skilled visual artists who integrate the use of those different techniques explored, to realise a coherent body of creative work. They work with a high level of independence seeking mentoring and guidance as required.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUASCU512   Investigate sculptural materials and processes
    • CIT Code: ARTS396
      Cost: Standard $350.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and explore a range of sculptural materials and processes to integrate into own sculptural work.The unit applies to highly skilled visual artists who integrate the use of those different materials and processes explored, to realise a body of creative work which usually includes the creation of three-dimensional (3-D) sculptural forms. They work with a high level of independence seeking mentoring and guidance as required.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAPAI511   Refine painting techniques
    • CIT Code: ARTS388
      Cost: Standard $270.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and experiment with a broad range of painting techniques to refine and evaluate an individual professional style. It involves researching different painting ideas and techniques and consolidating a selected technique to a professional level.It applies to highly skilled visual artists who integrate the use of those different techniques explored, to realise a coherent body of creative work. They work with a high level of independence seeking mentoring and guidance as required.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAPAI512   Investigate painting materials and processes
    • CIT Code: ARTS389
      Cost: Standard $300.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and explore a range of painting materials and processes to develop an individual professional style. It involves researching different painting materials and processes, exploring them in more detail and integrating them into one's own work.It applies to skilled visual artists who integrate the use of those different materials and processes explored, to realise a body of creative work. They work with a high level of independence seeking mentoring and guidance as required.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAPRI511   Refine printmaking techniques
    • CIT Code: ARTS390
      Cost: Standard $360.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research, select and experiment with a broad range of printmaking techniques to refine and apply to individual print work.The unit applies to highly skilled visual artists who integrate the use of those different techniques explored, to realise a coherent body of creative work. They work with a high level of independence seeking mentoring and guidance as required.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUADIG518   Refine digital art techniques
    • CIT Code: ARTS387
      Cost: Standard $250.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to refine digital media techniques and to develop own digital art style in a body of creative work. It involves researching different digital media ideas and techniques, selecting a technique to refine and consolidating the skills associated with this technique through the development of a body of work. This occurs through a process of research, refinement and evaluation, and encompasses animation, video and sound production.The unit applies to those whose professional practice includes the creation of digital media works. Work could be completely digital or an integration of digital and traditional media.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAACD523   Make mixed media artworks
    • CIT Code: ARTS375
      Cost: Standard $245.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to make artworks that combine the use of different media. It involves sourcing ideas and exploring the potential for different mixed media ideas, creating finished artworks and evaluating own work. Mixed media usually refers to a range of visual media, but it could also involve the integration of non-visual elements, such as sound.The unit applies to those who work independently and have a well-developed command of techniques in a particular creative form. Individuals may be exploring mixed media for the first time as part of an emerging practice. Work would be undertaken independently with support available as required.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAACD532   Create observational drawings
    • CIT Code: ARTS368
      Cost: Standard $220.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop finished observational drawings for different art, craft and design purposes. It involves developing and refining drawing techniques, exploring media and tools to achieve desired outcomes and finalising own observational drawings.The unit applies to those who work in any area of visual communication and design who use observational drawing skills in their work. They possess well-developed manual observational drawing techniques but may also use digital tools to produce drawings. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • CUAACD412   Experiment with moulding and casting techniques
    • CIT Code: ARTS376
      Cost: Standard $220.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop technical skills in moulding and casting through experimentation. It involves developing different ideas based on own knowledge and existing ideas, extending moulding and casting skills through experimentation and producing moulds and casts.The unit applies to those who work on the design and production of three-dimensional projects in industrial and creative contexts. In the creative industries this includes ceramic artists, sculptors and prop makers. No licensing, legislative, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Electives: Must complete 2

  • CUAIND512   Enhance professional practice using creative arts industry knowledge
    • CIT Code: ARTS397
      Cost: Standard $200.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain creative arts industry knowledge and monitor and manage own professional practice. This includes applying industry knowledge to research-based work activities, when interacting with others, and when engaging in professional practice in the music industry.The unit applies to those who have advanced research and analysis skills working as practitioners, administrators or managers. They could be working in the public or private sector in a variety of contexts.No licensing, legislative or certification conditions apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil
  • BSBMKG433   Undertake marketing activities
    • CIT Code: BUSN420
      Cost: Standard $200.00
      Description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare, coordinate and review basic marketing activities. It is a foundation unit covering general and basic marketing activities that do not require detailed or complex planning or implementation.The unit applies to individuals working in a variety of occupational roles who have responsibility for a range of tasks involving marketing, analysis and planning. It could be undertaken as part of a broader role of a person in a small enterprise, or as part of a marketing plan for a larger enterprise.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
      Prerequisites: Nil

Related Courses

Certificate IV Visual Arts CUA41320

More Information

For more information about this course please contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au