General Education courses

Choose a creative course as part of your General Education requirement.

Architecture

ARCHHTC 102G - Modern Architecture and Urbanism

This course examines the cultural contexts that shaped the development of architecture, urban design, landscape and the environment during the twentieth century. Emphasis is placed on the historical developments that influenced changes in style and the theoretical contexts that shaped attitudes towards inhabitation, social organisation, national identity, and cultural self-expression, amongst other things.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Semester One
  • BAS students cannot take this General Education course

Dance

DANCE 101G - Introduction to Dance and Creative Processes

This course aims to develop an understanding of our moving bodies through movement awareness, dance improvisation, choreography, and interdisciplinary arts processes.You will experience both theoretical and practical classes, which focus on a range of practices that dancers and movement practitioners use to facilitate kinaesthetic awareness, experimentation, play, communication and choreography. We will explore somatic theory and practice, improvisation scores, choreography, dance analysis, and contact improvisation. We will also explore the relationships between dance and other artistic disciplines.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Summer School, Semester One and Semester Two
  • BDanceSt students cannot take this General Education course

DANCE 200G - Dance and Culture

Through practical dance classes and theoretical investigations into diverse cultural environments around the world, this course critically examines the interrelationship between dance and wider political and cultural movements.You will physically engage in the study of various social dance forms. You'll discuss and write about the cultural environments that have contributed to, and been affected by, these dances.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Semester Two
  • BDanceSt students cannot take this General Education course

Design

DESIGN 102G - Design Futures

How and why do design practices evolve, respond to and influence change? In this course students learn how to apply a design approach to complement current practice and expand future career prospects. It offers insight into what motivates designers, what tools they use, and how they collaborate with others in diverse contexts. They will learn how to speculate on the potential conditions, causes and contingencies for future design practices. Students will also apply analytical and practical methods to design.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Semester One and Semester Two
  • BDes and BDes conjoint students cannot take this General Education course

Fine Arts

FINEARTS 109G - Introduction to Photographic Practice

Introduces the methods, concepts and contemporary contexts of photographic practice alongside the development of a photographic portfolio. Students will use their own camera, (this can include cell phone cameras) to develop a portfolio of photographic work and explore the ways in which contemporary arts and cultural practices in Aotearoa enable a critical reflection on the production of images.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Semester One and Two
  • BFA and BFA conjoint students cannot take this General Education course

FINEARTS 210G - Understanding Contemporary Visual Arts Practice

How does the contemporary art world work? This course presents perspectives on contemporary artistic practices, milieu, and institutions. The course involves active exploration of the local art scene. This includes visits to galleries, and guest presentations from artists, curators, gallerists and critics. The overarching premise for this paper is there are many contemporary art "worlds" (not just a single "art world"), and we will explore the many practices and spaces that constitute these. No prior knowledge or experience of contemporary art is assumed.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Summer School and Semester Two
  • BFA and BFA conjoint students cannot take this General Education course

Music

MUS 144G - Turning-Points in Western Music

This course introduces the history and literatures of Western music from medieval times to the late 20th-century. You will study, discuss, and write about the people and the factors (artistic, intellectual, social, technical) that were and are Western music’s agents of change. No previous knowledge of music is assumed.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Summer School, Semester One and Semester Two
  • BMus and BMus conjoint students cannot take this General Education course

MUS 149G - Rock to Reggae: Tracking Popular Music in New Zealand

This course introduces New Zealand’s home-grown popular music, from roughly the 1950s to the present day. A broad range of musical styles will be considered and situated within various social contexts. The issue of cultural identity in music – at national and local levels – will also be explored. No previous knowledge of music is assumed.

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Summer School, Semester One, and Semester Two
  • BMus and BMus conjoint students cannot take this General Education course

Urban Planning

URBPLAN 101G - Introduction to Urban Planning

Urban planing is about shaping places and spaces that work for everyone to create a future that is environmentally, socially, culturally and economically sustainable. This course offers students an introduction to the evolution of urban planning ideas and practice as a context for thinking about critical planning issues facing New Zealand. 

  • Course description
  • Semester availability: Semester One
  • BUrbPlan(Hons) students cannot take this General Education course

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