Course Objectives

In the second specialisation year in the Folk Art study programme, the student will further improve his/her skills in crafting and designing their chosen material. It requires a long period of study for the student to master skills in shaping his/her chosen material; this requires a combination of technical and aesthetic expertise, so he/she will be able to achieve his/her objective, as expressed in a final product. The third year in particular will improve the student’s expertise within tradition-based arts, crafts, design and aesthetics; and it is intended that the student will develop a clear and personal style of expression founded in the traditional arts.

Through the work on his/her Bachelor's thesis, the student will:

• Increase his/her knowledge of the material and the material’s qualities and characteristics.
• Work with topics related to continuing the practice of the traditional arts and reformulating new artistic expressions.
• Work with design problems related to specific technical challenges and solutions.
• Acquire further knowledge and training in developing an idea that culminates in a finished product.
• Work independently and reflect on choices and solutions.

Course Description

Knowledge within the tradition-based arts, crafts and design using various materials is perhaps less in focus today. The work on the Bachelor’s thesis will provide the student with more confidence to continue further work within the area of arts and crafts; not least because they will have spent three years focusing on a special area of study in relation to the material they have chosen.

The Bachelor’s thesis which students work on in the spring semester is based on the teaching that is provided in the autumn semester.

The student will be given the opportunity to specialise within their field, both theoretically and practically.

The student will work systematically in order to acquire new knowledge. The semester starts with the drafting of a project that forms the basis for further work. The student will define his/her project by limiting his/her field of study, formulating project questions and setting a project schedule. The project outline must be approved before the student embarks on his/her independent work.

• Students should be able to limit their field of study, formulate questions, use source material, present and evaluate the results of their work.
• Students will gain knowledge of different methods for gathering data and on the basis of this select appropriate methods, in which the combination of practical and theoretical approaches will be central.

The project will include theoretical and practical creative components, and should reflect the aim of the study programme, which is to achieve a higher level of skills in practising the arts and crafts. The student will receive supervision, attend seminar teaching and undertake self-study when writing his/her Bachelor’s thesis.

The student will do research to gather primary and secondary sources for his/her thesis.

Learning Methods

Teaching and learning methods include seminars, individual supervision and self study. After the Bachelor’s thesis’ plan has been approved in the spring semester, students will acquire theoretical and practical knowledge through work with their chosen material up until the point of the final Bachelor’s examination.

Three mandatory one-week seminars will be conducted in course unit 4 in the spring semester, where students will present their work and receive feedback, and review other students’ presentations.

During these workshop sessions, students will also be able to discuss common themes and questions; between the workshop sessions students will have the opportunity to work independently and receive supervision.

Students will be given the opportunity of taking parts of the study programme abroad; the period of study abroad in the third year is in the spring semester. Students who have chosen to take part of this semester at an institution abroad will be eligible for exemption from mandatory sessions, but they should keep in contact with their supervisor at the home institution where they will take their final examination.

Assessment Methods

Spring semester, 30 ECTS credits

The following course requirements must be fulfilled in order to receive a diploma:

The student must have participated in the 3 mandatory weekly workshop sessions.

Students should have attended the mandatory counselling sessions.

Project – the Bachelor’s thesis counts for 100% of the final grade.

The Bachelor’s thesis will be presented at the conclusion of the academic year through exhibition and oral presentation.

A-E are passing grades and F is a failing grade.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean