Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide an intellectually stimulating environment in which students can develop the critical, conceptual and practical skills of the Textile Designer/Artist/Practitioner.
• To promote a forward thinking culture where students approach their work with a sense of enquiry, individuality and innovation.
• To pursue independent research and develop a personal visual language which can be applied to a range of Textiles practice.
• To ensure that students have first hand experience of the processes involved in the planning and production of contemporary Textile outcomes.
• To ensure the practice of Design, Art & Craft informed by awareness of historical and contemporary practice.
• To create a framework of experience that allows the student to make informed decisions about their future directions.
• To create an environment where independent judgement and decision making is undertaken, and a strong critical awareness promoted, based on a knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses.
• To ensure that students are able to contextualise their work with reference to theoretical, historical, cultural, political and ethical issues.
• Demonstrate the ability to engage in critical analysis of text, images and objects as appropriate, and find, select and use contemporary, historical, theoretical, visual and material sources for research & writing.
• To maintain and develop professional and external links and relationships in appropriate industrial and commercial contexts.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Benchmark Statement for Art and Design:  http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/honours/

• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• The QAA Policy Statement on a structured and supported process for personal development

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Generate ideas, research, concepts and solutions in response to internally/externally set briefs or within a self-initiated period.
• Conduct personal research demonstrating a critical and questioning attitude to history and material culture.
• Select and experiment with a broad range of materials and processes appropriate to the production of a range of Textiles outcomes.
• Synthesise intention, process, outcome and context, and methods of presentation and dissemination.
• Integrate professional and enterprising practice in Textiles and other design and craft related specialisms.
• Synthesise current and emerging technologies relevant to Textiles production.
• Develop independent, confident and innovative approaches to Textiles production.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the breadth and variety of opportunity within the Textiles discipline and be able to apply a suitable methodology to realise their own creative goals.
• Articulate their experiments and outcomes with reasoned arguments.
• Critically analyse the aesthetic and functional dynamics of design.
• Show independence of concept through discovery, creativity and problem solving.
• Identify opportunities for continuing professional development through further study or employment.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Undertake research into Art and Design concepts, process and contexts.
• Direct research skills into written assignments and verbal presentations.
• Confidently use specialist equipment necessary for the preparation of yarns, fibres, dyes and materials , and confidently work with a range of Textiles processes.
• Demonstrate experimentation with materials and processes appropriate to Textile outcomes and final applications and produce evidence of technical and materials research.
• Demonstrate a high standard of technical expertise in the Textile conclusions.
• Manipulate and develop imagery through to textiles outcomes using CAD.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Manage self learning: initiate independent research and source areas of investigation, organise and plan work schedules, manage workloads and meet deadlines, plan time to make the best use of equipment and resources.
• Problem solving: analyse information, and through selection and experimentation make informed judgements and decisions. Evaluate and recognise areas of personal strength and needs. Formulate reasoned responses to the critical judgement of others.
• Communication: present work both visually and orally to a high standard, interact effectively with others through collaboration and negotiation, write on a given or chosen topic either in essay form or project brief, and display design work to exhibition standard.
• IT: Demonstrate information technology skills in word processing and the appropriate computer software applications with which to develop design and practice
• Team working: co-ordinate the use of common resources, share responsibility for a task with others.
• Numeracy: produce specifications sufficient to reproduce fabric samples, show an understanding of the calculations involved in the use of specialist equipment.
• Identify opportunities for continuing professional development through further study or employment.

4. Programme structure

4.1       Part A - Introductory Modules

4.2       Part B - Degree Modules

Students can choose SAB553 or SAB554 or SAB555.

• If a student chooses SAB553 or SAB554, they must also take SAB550
• If a student chooses SAB555, they must also take SAB552

4.3          Part I – Year Out (Four year Programme only)

Students choose one of the above options

4.4       Part C - Degree Modules

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also:

• In order to progress from Part A to Part B, candidates must have accumulated 120 credits.
• In order to progress from Part B to Part C, candidates must have accumulated 120 credits at part B.
• In order to qualify for the award of a Degree, candidates must have accumulated 120 credits in part C.

Part-time students may negotiate the order in which modules are completed, subject to the following restrictions:

All part A modules must be passed before the start of part B of the programme.

All part B modules must be passed before the start of part C of the programme.

Students may transfer between full-time and part-time modes of study with the permission of the Dean of School (or nominee).

Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates who have the right of re-assessment.

Reassessment will not be allowed in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) if;

• candidates have accumulated fewer than 60 credits in any part of the programme
• candidates fail to gain credit in SAC631
• candidates have gained a mark of less than 30 in SAC632

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C.  The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 20 and Part C 80 to determine the final mark.