Program

Art - 9314

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Art & Design

Contact: www.artdesign.unsw.edu.au

Campus: Paddington

Career: Postgraduate

Typical Duration: 2 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 96

Award(s):

Master of Art

View program information for previous years

Program Description

The Master of Art is a postgraduate coursework program that provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary postgraduate experience in contemporary Fine Arts practices. The program is designed to provide a critically nurturing learning atmosphere in which experimentation and skills acquisition are encouraged. An innovative studio environment supports the development and growth of critically informed creative practices, developed in the context of contemporary ideas and alert to the continuing influence of historical precedent. The program allows students to develop a professional approach to researching, developing and fulfilling their creative aspirations, and to transition from student to self-aware practicing artist.

The Master of Art has two main components: a core of specialised art courses and studio-based classes in a number of specialisations.

In the art core you will learn about the key and evolving concepts and practices of contemporary studio fine art practice, to help you situate yourself in a world marked by interdisciplinarity, a new and innovative engagement with materials and methods, and the necessity of experimentation and innovation, as well as continuity and tradition.

The studio-based courses enable you to either focus on a specific area of practice, or to put together your own suite of courses.

The program culminates in a major project, which enables you to integrate your creative practice and develop as a creative arts professional.

Studio-based art specialisation available:
  • Planar Practices which engages with creative practice using colour, line, and surface. It works across the disciplines of painting, drawing, printmaking and the screen.
  • Temporal and Spatial Practices addresses creative practice using lens, time, space and objects, which works across the disciplines of photography, video, animation, sculpture, installation and performance.
  • Future Making focuses on the making of objects, with new materials and digital technologies and craftsmanship. It addresses the integration of technical knowledge and skills with material and contextual understanding. Future Making works with ceramics, jewellery, metal, textiles, furniture and lighting.
As well, students may take studio specialisation courses from:
  • Visualisation and Visual Effects which focuses on the practices of designing for animation, 3D, sound, film, video, illustration and computing.
  • Interaction Design and User Experience which addresses visual communication and user-experience across graphics, media and emergent inter-actives.
  • Experience Design engages with the design of products, processes, services, events and environments, with a focus on the quality of the user experience.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

The Master of Art provides for pathways for both those with backgrounds in art and those who wish to enter art from other professional backgrounds. Graduates of the Master of Art are prepared to be independent professionals, able to undertake leadership, research and innovation roles across a wide range of visual art practices. The major capstone project enables students to integrate their strong practice-based skills with their understanding of art as a contemporary, evolving and interdisciplinary practice.

Program Structure

The Master of Art can be taken as a 96 UOC [2 year FT] program, or a 72 UOC [1.5 years FT] program, or a 48 UOC [1 year FT] program, depending on background of the entering student.

Master of Art taken as a 96 UOC program [normally over 2 years full time or 4 year part time]

Art Core
Studio
  • Six courses (36 UOC) from approved Studio Specialisations
Master of Art taken as a 72 UOC program [normally over 1.5 years full time or 3 years part time]

Art Core
Studio
  • Five courses [30 UOC] from approved Studio Specialisations
Master of Art taken as a 48 UOC program [normally over 1 year full time or 2 years part time].

Art Core
Studio
  • Three courses [18 UOC] from approved Studio Specialisations
Studio Areas

Planar Practices
  • SART9209 Figure and Figuration: Mapping the Body (6 UOC)
Temporal and Spatial Practices
  • SART9108 The Laptop Atelier (6 UOC)
Future Making
  • ADAD9216 Society, Collaboration and Cultural Practices (6 UOC)
Visualisation and Visual Effects
  • SDES9350 Design and Production in Context (6 UOC)
Interaction Design and User Experience
Experience Design

Academic Rules

The Master of Art requires completion of 96 UOC (normally 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time) including:
  1. 60 UOC in Core courses
  2. 36 UOC in approved specialisation courses
SART9204 and SART9205 can only be completed after all other Core courses are completed.

Prior qualifications or prior learning allow entry with advanced standing, allowing completion of either 72 UOC made up of 48 UOC in Core courses and 24 UOC in approved specialisation courses, or 48 UOC made up of 36 UOC in Core courses and 12 UOC in approved specialisation courses.

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

Entry Requirements

Depending on the level and related nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Art makes provision for three entry points:
  1. Bachelors degree [AQF Level 7] in any field. This provides admission into the foundational disciplinary course component of the program - requiring completion of 96 UOC (2.0 years).
  2. Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts [FOE codes 1003], Media [FOE codes 1007] provides admission into the disciplinary course component of the Master of Art - requiring completion of 72 UOC (1.5 years).
  3. Honours Degree [AQF Level 8] or equivalent in Visual Arts [FOE codes 1003], Media [FOE codes 1007] , permits admission to the advanced disciplinary component of the Master of Art - requiring completion of 48 UOC (1 year).
Applicants who apply with a bachelors degree completed more than 10 years ago can be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Art where they have a history of visual arts practice since graduation. They can articulate up to the MArt if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate.

Applicants without a Bachelors degree may be admitted to the Masters, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director, on the basis of a Portfolio of work and professional experience. The student may articulate up to the Graduate Diploma and Masters if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate.

Schema


Articulation

Students who have completed the requirements for the Graduate Diploma in Art with a credit average are eligible for admission to the Master of Art with full credit for courses already completed.

Students who wish to exit the Masters program early may nominate to transfer to and graduate from the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma provided the requirements for the program have been met.

Area(s) of Specialisation