VA300 Contemporary Art Expression II
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
Syllabus Quick Jump
Search and navigate to any syllabus instantly
Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Nejira Mulahmetović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
" The aims of this course are to: • Identify the works of major artists from the modern and contemporary periods as well as the major stylistic characteristics of these periods • Discuss the specific properties of various media (oil painting, photography, film, video, installation) • Analyze the formal elements of a work of art using the proper vocabulary of the discipline • Translate the formal and conceptual features of a given style or period into images of their own making "
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
Writen assignment
Midterm paper
Final assingment
Self-evaluation.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, policies and course material | FAQ, Course manual |
| 2 | Discusion: Who are we as artists? | presentations / discussions |
| 3 | Utilising Medium in communicating content | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 4 | Visual Persuasion | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler |
| 5 | Persuasion vs Propaganda | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte |
| 6 | Stereotypes in art | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 7 | Discusion: Exhibition | presentations / discussions |
| 8 | MIDTERM SUBMITION | |
| 9 | Digital Technology as a Medium | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte |
| 10 | Contempoary aesthetics | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 11 | Contemporary issues in Art | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler |
| 12 | Future of Media | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 |
| 13 | Art, web and beyond | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler |
| 14 | Dissemination and discussion of artwork | presentations / discussions |
| 15 | Final Assignment / Final Exam / Final review of the course | presentations / discussions |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA300.1 | Course | - | - | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam / Final Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 4
Attendance / Activity / Critique
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4 5
Assingnments / Presentations
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 5
Student Disseminations and Reviews
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 5
Midterm Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 4 5
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 Disseminations and Reviews
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
Midterm Paper
45 hours ⏳ (3 week × 15 h)
Final Assignment / Final Exam
27 hours ⏳ (3 week × 9 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 [VA300] 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 | |||||||||
| VA300 | Contemporary Art Expression II | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nejira Mulahmetović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| nmulahmetovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | " The aims of this course are to: • Identify the works of major artists from the modern and contemporary periods as well as the major stylistic characteristics of these periods • Discuss the specific properties of various media (oil painting, photography, film, video, installation) • Analyze the formal elements of a work of art using the proper vocabulary of the discipline • Translate the formal and conceptual features of a given style or period into images of their own making " |
|||||||||
| 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, writen assignment, midterm paper, final assingment, 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 | Discusion: Who are we as artists? | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Utilising Medium in communicating content | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Visual Persuasion | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Persuasion vs Propaganda | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Stereotypes in art | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Discusion: Exhibition | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM SUBMITION | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Digital Technology as a Medium | Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Contempoary aesthetics | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Contemporary issues in Art | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Future of Media | Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Third Edition, Thames & Hudson, New York, 2015 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Art, web and beyond | Universal Principles of Design, by Lidwell, Holden, and Butler | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Dissemination and discussion of artwork | presentations / discussions | ||||||||
| 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 | 1,2,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Attendance / Activity / Critique | 2 | 10 | 3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Assingnments / Presentations | 2 | 20 | 2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Student Disseminations and Reviews | 2 | 20 | 1,2,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm Paper | 2 | 20 | 1,4,5 | 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 Disseminations and Reviews | 1 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Midterm Paper | 15 | 3 | 45 | Final Assignment / Final Exam | 9 | 3 | 27 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 147 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||