Course details

Summary

Take your jade and hard stone carving skills to the next level and boost your employment prospects with TPP’s higher level carving programme. The New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 4) builds on the skills students learn in the Level 3 programme, preparing them to turn their passion for art and sculpture into a real career.

In this programme, students take more responsibility for the conceptual and creative processes and applying these to their carving skills. This programme provides students with an introduction to the technical and design aspects of carving limestone, jade and hard stones. This course includes traditional and contemporary design.

Potential students:

• may already have some artistic experience, and/or
• may wish to learn a new and unique skill for personal development, and/or
• may wish to gain employment in the hard stone and / or jade carving industry.

Core Elements

Graduates will be prepared for entry level positions in industry, or be able to go onto higher level study and further artistic exploration. It is expected that graduates will be able to produce simple regular pieces suitable for commercial production, however further on-job training may be required to meet industry production requirements.

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

Apply fundamental, conceptual and research skills in the production of hard stone and jade carving

Select and apply creative processes using a broad range of diverse techniques to solve problems in response to a given brief

Manage projects under broad guidance taking into account work practices and the fundamentals of ethics

Select and present work in context and analyse within conventions and contexts of hardstone and jade carving

Programme Structure and Workload

The programme balances classroom-based theory with a range of practical learning contexts to assist students to achieve the New Zealand Certificates in Arts and Design (Level 4).

Graduates of the Level 4 programme will build on the knowledge and skills achieved in the New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design.

Further Study Paths

Diploma in Jade and Hard Stone Carving (Level 5)

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Level 4 New Zealand Certificates in Arts and Design will be prepared for entry level positions in industry, or be able to go onto higher level study and further artistic exploration. It is expected that graduates will be able to produce simple regular pieces suitable for commercial production, however further on-job training may be required to meet industry production requirements.

Entry criteria

Applicants must have:

• Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet IELTS (or equivalent) Level 5.5 or above.
• NCEA level 3 credits in English and Mathematics or
• Having completed the TPP Level 3 programme or equivalent study in the “Arts” field or appropriate experience in the carving industry.

Special Entry may be granted where evidence exists that the applicant can successfully complete the programme. Please contact the Polytechnic for details.

Special Notes:

• Candidates must possess the physical capacity to engage in the practical carving components of the programme.
• Diagnostic literacy testing may be conducted to identify applicants requiring support. Students identified as requiring support / assistance in coping with tertiary level study will be supported by the polytechnic Student Support Services.
• School leavers wanting to study on the Certificate in Jade and Hard Stone Carving (Level 4) programme would be best to have studied Visual Arts and / or Graphics and Design, English and Maths unit standards at secondary school.