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 that addressed significant themes and practices in contemporary art and studio-based classes in key areas of practice.

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

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

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

Studio courses are available in the following areas of practice:
  • Planar Practices Studio - which engages with creative practices that are image based and exhibited primarily on the wall. It supports the developments of individual and collaborative practices in painting, drawing, printmaking and forms of photography that are experienced primarily as a still image and video as a wall based projection.
  • Temporal and Spatial Studio - which facilitates creative practices where the artist, working alone or with others, creates works of art that are experienced in time and space. It supports creative practices such as video, animation, sculpture, installation, performance, audio and experimental approaches to image capture.
  • Future Making Studio - which focuses on the making of objects, whether with new materials and digital technologies or traditional 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 courses from areas of practice offered in Program 9313 Master of Design.

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 is a 96 UOC [2 year FT] program, with options for students to complete either a 72 UOC [1.5 years FT] program, or a 48 UOC [1 year FT] program with advanced standing, depending on background of the entering student.

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

Art Core
Studio
  • 24 UOC from approved Studio areas of practice
Electives
  • 12 UOC from Art and Design postgraduate courses
Master of Art taken as a 72 UOC program [normally over 1.5 years full time or 3 years part time]

Art Core
Studio
  • 24 UOC from approved Studio areas of practice
Electives
  • 6 UOC from Art and Design postgraduate courses
Master of Art taken as a 48 UOC program [normally over 1 year full time or 2 years part time].

Art Core
Studio
  • 18 UOC from approved Studio areas of practice

Sample Program

UNSW Program 9314 - Art
UOC
Session 1
(Entry to 96 UOC program)
24
ADAD9113 Communication Skills (6)
SAHT9138 Art in the 21st Century (6) or SAHT9204 Creative Practices: Methods (6)
Art & Design Elective (6)
Session 2
(Entry to 72 UOC program)
SART9002 Process & Materiality (6) 24
ADAD9114 Research Foundations in Art & Design (6)
Area of Practice (6)
Art & Design Elective (6)
Session 3
(Entry to 48 UOC program)
SART9003 The Consolidated Studio (6) 24
SART9115 Fine Arts Professional Practice (6) or Art History / Theory course (6)
Area of Practice (6)
Area of Practice (6)
Session 4
SART9204 Capstone Project (12) 24
SART9205 Project Paper (6)
Area of Practice (6)
TOTAL: 96 UOC


Academic Rules

The Master of Art requires completion of 96 UOC (normally 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time) including:
  1. 60 units of credit in Core courses
  2. 24 units of credit in approved studio courses
  3. 12 units of credit in Art & Design postgraduate 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.

Studio Areas of Practice

Planar Practices

Temporal and Spatial Practices

Future Making
  • ADAD9216 Society, Collaboration and Practices of Making (6 UOC)

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.

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