(MA) Master of Arts
Curating with Professional Placement
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time
History of Art, Architecture and Design
MA V356PP
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A 2.2 Degree or equivalent in any discipline. Your Degree must contain at least three modules relating to visual culture.
Visual Culture modules include, but are not limited to: Aesthetics, Archaeology, Architecture, Art History, Curatorial/Museum Studies, Design Studies, Digital Imaging, Fashion, Fine Art, Film Studies, Film and Literature, Graphic Design, Advertising, Landscape Design, History, Media Studies, Photography.
if you do not hold a degree which includes relevant modules, then we can still consider you. You should be able to show that you have relevant professional experience. If you do not have a relevant degree or relevant experience, then we may ask you to provide a sample of written work which demonstrates your interest in this field.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5 except for 6.0 in writing
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr H Camilla Smith
Lecturer in Art History
University of Birmingham
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
- To offer students the opportunity to combine practical and theoretical training in exhibition making with a grounding in the history and principles of display.
- To make students familiar with the basic principles of professional good practice in museum and gallery work, and to afford the opportunity to acquire technical competence in applying them.
- To develop in students the research skills appropriate to academic study of the history of exhibitions or of exhibition curating, and to provide the basis for them to develop the necessary levels of skill and knowledge required to progress to research degree level.
- To encourage both critical engagement with and enjoyment of the visual arts, particularly through first-hand observation, and to enable students to understand how to facilitate this engagement for others in an exhibition context.
- To provide the knowledge and skills (critical inquiry and argument, imaginative understanding, written, spoken and visual interpretation, communication and presentation, working in a team, basic project and financial management) that will not only stand students in good stead for more specialised museum and gallery careers, but will also enhance their opportunities for employment in a wide range of other careers.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Practical aspects of exhibition making, including concept and research, planning and programming, drawing up budgets, negotiating loans, transport and insurance, catalogue production, security and object handling
A2: The purposes of exhibition making
A3: The range of methods for the interpretation of visual objects on display
A4: The history and theory of exhibition making and of museum display
A5: The display of contemporary art as a challenge to traditional notions of the gallery or museum space
A6: The concepts, values and debates that inform study and practice in the field
A101: To provide the opportunity to apply academic learning outcomes in a work-related context
A102: To develop essential work-based skills throughout the placement.
Learning methods
1-6 are acquired through module seminars and related coursework (with regular feedback, both oral and written, from tutors), reading seminars, lectures, curatorial practice sessions and site visits.
Curatorial practice covers all practical aspects of exhibition making (A1, A3).
There are workshop sessions led by visiting speakers.
Reading seminars debate classic texts relating to curatorial practice and the history and theory of museum display (A2, A3, A4, A5, A6) The four modules provide for in-depth study of major historical/theoretical issues in the field (all outcomes).
A101 and A102 will be acquired throughout the placement/s.
Assessment methods
Assessment of students' knowledge and understanding takes place through coursework essays and a dissertation or curated exhibition and portfolio.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Analyse a complex body of material, which may be incomplete, breaking it down into component points or parts and highlighting the most significant among them
B2: Synthesise evidence, arguments or ideas from different sources productively in a self-directed manner
B3: Reason critically and offer judgements based on argument that can be communicated effectively to a specialist or non-specialist audience
B4: Think independently and with an open-mind, sometimes making connections between familiar and new ideas or material
Learning methods
Intellectual and cognitive skills are practised in module seminars, either in responding to or giving presentations on agreed topics.
The seminar work encourages critical discussion arising from the analysis and interpretation of exhibitions and other visual artefacts with an emphasis on being able to reason cogently, argue coherently, present one’‘s own viewpoint persuasively, and learn from others.
Site visits further encourage development of B2 and B4.
Assessment methods
The seminars are intended as practice sessions for cognitive skills.
Students translate the skills acquired there collectively into individually assessed essays, and in dissertation plans.
C: Practical skills
C1: Curatorial skills; including an understanding of working with a wide range of visual materials in both two and three dimensions in a gallery, museum of heritage environment
C2: Basic budget management skills
C3: Research Skills: including use of appropriate methods to locate primary and secondary sources, and works of visual art, but also forming research questions and pursuing them autonomously
C4: Critical Skills: including selection of relevant material, and appraisal of other people's arguments on the basis of familiarity with source materials and current literature
C5: Writing Skills: including use of proper academic conventions, creating logical and structured narratives, and effective use of language to convey particular and general responses of readers or viewers to works of visual art, and to articulate complex conceptual issues and create frameworks for understanding them
Learning methods
C1 and C2 are acquired through the Curatorial Practice element and is reinforced through site visits and discussions in some module seminars.
C3-C5 are developed in seminars and modules
Assessment methods
Assessment is by essays and a dissertation.
D: Key skills
D1: The ability to communicate information, arguments and ideas cogently and effectively in a range of different contexts using a range of different aids or resources; special ability to deploy visual material in a variety of media in the context of presentations or written work
D2: Students should be able to make use of IT for research purposes (including searchable databases such as library catalogues and internet sources), to present assessed work, and be able to use email.
D3: Students should be able to use basic budgeting and monitoring, invoicing and record keeping involving correct use of budget codes
D4: Management of projects and timetables. Students should be able to apply knowledge and understanding in order to make judgements and offer solutions in a range of contexts.
D5: Students should be able to work in groups on practical assignments or find solutions to set problems
D6: Students should have the ability to work to briefs and deadline, to take responsibility for their own work, and to reflect on their own learning and performance and make constructive use of feedback
D101: Ability to demonstrate an understanding of work roles through a placement
Learning methods
Communication is developed through seminar discussion and workshop in groups.
Visual media skills are developed through personal instruction to students using audio visual media in class, and through class discussion of the significance the medium through which visual object are presented to us,.
Students are expected to acquire IT skills based on some initial guidance.
Students will be given the opportunity to work constructively and productively in groups, and be able to participate effectively in seminars.
Most seminars require students to present theories or historical material to the group, and to answer questions on the topic.
Assessment methods
Essays and dissertations are assessed for qualities that incorporate most of these skills.