VA200 Contemporary Art Expression I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Nejira Mulahmetović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The aims of this course are to: • Develop necessary digital art and new media knowledge to understand the state of the field • Demonstrate ability to define, plan, and execute individual and collaborative digital art and new media research projects • Understand multiple forms of digital art and new media critique, be able to respond to and give critique productively • Employ professional communication practices in digital art and new media to make public contributions to the field
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015
Additional Literature
Teaching Methods
Activity in debates
Presentations
Written assignment
Midterm paper
Final assignment
Self-evaluation.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material | FAQ, Course manual |
| 2 | "my life, today" | presentations / discussions |
| 3 | Discussion: What is art? | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 4 | Technology as a tool | New Media in Art 2005 by Michael Rush |
| 5 | Capstone: part one | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte |
| 6 | Personal History / Public Experience | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 7 | Discussion: Exhibition | New Media in Art 2005 by Michael Rush |
| 8 | MIDTERM SUBMISSION | |
| 9 | A New Medium, Film video and animation | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte |
| 10 | Technologies of Seeing—Images of/and Reality | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler |
| 11 | Capstone: part two | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 12 | Media and Memory | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 13 | "Seeing is believing" | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 14 | Dissemination and discussion of artwork | New Media in Art 2005 by Michael Rush |
| 15 | Final Assignment / Final Exam / Final review of the course | presentations / discussions |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam / Final Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Attendance / Activity / Critique
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Assignments / Presentations
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Student Dissemination and Reviews
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Midterm Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Assignments / Presentations
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Attendance / Activity / Critique
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Student Dissemination and Reviews
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Midterm Paper
45 hours ⏳ (3 week × 15 h)
Final Assignment / Final Exam
30 hours ⏳ (3 week × 10 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA200] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA200 | Contemporary Art Expression I | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nejira Mulahmetović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| nmulahmetovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | None | Assistant E-mail | rsulejmanpasic@ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | The aims of this course are to: • Develop necessary digital art and new media knowledge to understand the state of the field • Demonstrate ability to define, plan, and execute individual and collaborative digital art and new media research projects • Understand multiple forms of digital art and new media critique, be able to respond to and give critique productively • Employ professional communication practices in digital art and new media to make public contributions to the field |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Activity in debates, presentations, written assignment, midterm paper, final assignment, self-evaluation. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | |||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material | FAQ, Course manual | ||||||||
| Week 2 | "my life, today" | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Discussion: What is art? | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Technology as a tool | New Media in Art 2005 by Michael Rush | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Capstone: part one | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Personal History / Public Experience | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Discussion: Exhibition | New Media in Art 2005 by Michael Rush | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM SUBMISSION | |||||||||
| Week 9 | A New Medium, Film video and animation | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Technologies of Seeing—Images of/and Reality | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Capstone: part two | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Media and Memory | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | "Seeing is believing" | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Dissemination and discussion of artwork | New Media in Art 2005 by Michael Rush | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Assignment / Final Exam / Final review of the course | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam / Final Assignment | 1 | 30 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Attendance / Activity / Critique | 2 | 10 | Not Allowed | ||
| Assignments / Presentations | 2 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Student Dissemination and Reviews | 2 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Midterm Paper | 2 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 1 | 15 | 15 | Assignments / Presentations | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||
| Attendance / Activity / Critique | 1 | 15 | 15 | Student Dissemination and Reviews | 1 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Midterm Paper | 15 | 3 | 45 | Final Assignment / Final Exam | 10 | 3 | 30 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||