Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To develop in students a knowledge and understanding of visualisation to an advanced (masters) degree level.
• To enable students to develop a range of conceptual, practical and professional visualisation skills.
• To promote innovation in visualisation through drawing.
• To enable and support students in research through a synthesis of understanding and application.
• To enable students to develop key transferable skills in the areas of information technology, problem-solving, communication, management, team work and professionalism.
• To promote an understanding of, and examine the opportunities for, professional practice.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Interpret current methodological approaches to 2D and 3D visualisation for academic and professional needs.
• Demonstrate interrelationship between personal visual language and relevant cultural, social and theoretical contexts.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Convey a broad and comparative awareness of 2D and 3D visualisation related to problem solving.
• Initiate, manage, reflect, critique and evaluate their practice appropriate to specific project briefings and the nature of their enquiry.
• Identify with, respond to, and critically reflect upon the opportunities and dynamics for learning with their peers and other external contexts.
• Develop ideas, concepts, theories, and arguments for different audiences through a range of cognitive methods and methodologies.
• Identify the opportunities in visual experimentation, innovation and further research.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Develop a broad ability and innovative implementation of 2D and 3D visualisation techniques through a range of practical methods and outcomes including visual, tactile, written and oral.
• Integrate 2D and 3D representations in investigative and creative work.
• Evidence their practice appropriate to specific project briefings and the nature of their enquiry.
• Demonstrate the relationships and contexts of their research into practice incorporating ethical awareness and application.
• Demonstrate team working and organisational ability to realise goals.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Reflect on and adapt own actions to connect and improve known and unknown situations.
• Maintain and refine effective visual, verbal and written communication in 2D and 3D Visualisation - including clarification of questions, consideration of alternative solutions and evaluation of outcomes.
• Exploit relevant research literature and other sources of primary and secondary information.
• Management - including self-learning and project and time management.
• Teamwork - including shared responsibilities, the agreement of common goals and methods, and co-ordination of resources.
• Professionalism - including acting professionally in accordance with ethical propriety, and the observation of safe working practices.
• Communicate ideas, concepts, theories, and arguments with different audiences.

4. Programme structure

4.1.  The programme consists of the following compulsory modules: 

  4.2.  All modules listed above are only offered on a full time basis.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI and additional requirements stated within these regulations.

5.2.  All taught modules provided by the School of the Arts and the Design School will be assessed on the basis of coursework.

5.3.  A candidate will be permitted to proceed to the Final Project after studying taught modules with a total modular weight of 120.

5.4.  In accordance with Regulation XXI, candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module will be offered an opportunity to be re-assessed in a special assessment period.

5.5.  Any student failing to meet the requirements for achieving credit in a module has the automatic right of reassessment on one occasion only. Candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module can opt for reassessment at an earlier date than that of the next routine assessment of the module with the agreement of the programme leader.

5.6.  The decision to award an M.A. or an M.Sc. will be made by examining the focus of the route taken by the candidate within the Final Project modules.  DSP703 Final Project: Rehearsal and approaches to Professional Practice will be used to develop a student learning agreement, the content of which will constitute a final project proposal and will inform the nature of the degree award i.e. M.A. or M.Sc.  It is expected that the Final Project (SAP009) that contribute to the award of M.Sc. will embody significant use of established scientific methods / methodologies.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To develop in students a range of advanced conceptual, practical and professional skills that will enable them to realise their creative aspirations.
• To extend students’ conceptual thinking and research skills in order to consolidate their individual practice.
• To enhance the  practice of art and design, through increased acquaintance with  historical precedents, contemporary  practice, and  emerging technologies
• To enable a critical  synthesis between intellectual understanding and technical skill.
• To instill in students the ability to articulate sophisticated ideas visually, verbally and in writing.
• To enable students to identify their own personal direction and understand their role within the industry and the community.
• To develop students awareness and knowledge of the professional and ethical context within their discipline.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• The QAA Policy Statement on a structured and supported process for personal development

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Deploy current theorectical and methodological approaches.
• Engaging the major concepts, values and debates in art and design practice.
• Interpret ideas in specialised fields of study, both verbally and in writing.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to :

• Conceptualise and critically develop abstract ideas in response to existing theorectical, methodoligical or practical concerns.
• Systematically use advanced problem solving, research and enquiry to address significant issues within their practice.
• Synthesise ideas and apply knowledge in unfamiliar contexts to generate innovative and transformative solutions.
• Analyse and evaluate complex, incomplete or contradictory data as part of a creative process.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to :

• Adapt analogue and digital approaches to produce advanced quality art and/or design outputs.
• Perform autonomously to improve personal practice against sectoral best practice.
• Demonstrate team working and organisational ability to realise goals.
• Consider and incorporate an ethical dimension to practice through negotiation.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to :

• Reflect on and adapt own actions to connect and improve known and unknown situations.
• Maintain and refine effective visual, verbal and written communication.
• Exploit relevant research literature and other sources of primary and secondary information.

4. Programme structure

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI and additional requirements stated within these regulations.

5.2 With the approval of the School of the Arts, candidates may obtain not more than 60 credits, either from postgraduate programmes of the University, or, with the approval of Senate, from advanced degree studies or their equivalent at another higher education institution in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

5.3 For the award of M.A. candidates must obtain 180 module credits

5.4 All taught modules will be assessed on the basis of coursework

5.5 A candidate will normally be permitted to proceed to the Final Project after studying taught modules with a total modular weight of 120.

5.6 In accordance with the Regulation XXI, candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module will be offered an opportunity to be re-assessed in a special assessment period.

5.7 Any student failing to meet the requirements for achieving credit in a module has the automatic right of reassessment on one occasion only. Candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module can opt for reassessment at an earlier date than that of the next routine assessment of the module with the agreement of the programme coordinator.

5.8 Subject to the approval of the Head of the School of the Arts, module SAP009  may be undertaken either at Loughborough University or at Nanyang Academy of Fine Art (NAFA) in Singapore. Students who undertake this module in Singapore will be jointly supervised by staff from LoughboroughUniversity and NAFA.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To develop in students a range of advanced conceptual, practical and professional skills that will enable them to realise their creative aspirations.
• To extend students’ conceptual thinking and research skills in order to consolidate their individual practice.
• To enhance the  practice of art and design, through increased acquaintance with  historical precedents, contemporary  practice, and  emerging technologies.
• To enable a critical  synthesis between intellectual understanding and technical skill.
• To instill in students the ability to articulate sophisticated ideas visually, verbally and in writing.
• To enable students to identify their own personal direction and understand their role within the industry and the community.
• To develop student's awareness and knowledge of the professional and ethical context within their discipline.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• The QAA Policy Statement on a structured and supported process for personal development

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Deploy current theoretical and methodological approaches.
• Engaging the major concepts, values and debates in art and design practice.
• Interprete ideas in specialised fields of study both verbally and in writing.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Conceptualise and critically develop abstract ideas in response to existing theoretical, methodological or practical concerns.
• Systematically use advanced problem solving, research and enquiry to address signifcant issues within their practice.
• Synthesise ideas and apply knowledge in unfamiliar contexts to generate innovative and transformative solutions.
• Anaylse and evaluate complex, incomplete or contradictory data as part of the creative process.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to :

• Adapt analogue and digital approaches to produce advanced quality art and/or design work.
• Perform autonomously to improve personal practice against sectoral best practice.
• Demonstrate team working and organisational ability to realise goals.
• Consider and incorporate an ethical dimension to practice through negotiation.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to :

• Reflect on and adapt own actions to connect and improve known and unknown situations.
• Maintain and refine effective visual, verbal and written communication.
• Exploit relevant research literature and other sources of primary and secondary information.

4. Programme structure

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI and additional requirements stated within these regulations.

5.2 With the approval of the School of the Arts, candidates may obtain not more than 60 credits, either from postgraduate programmes of the University, or, with the approval of Senate, from advanced degree studies or their equivalent at another higher education institution in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

5.3 For the award of M.A. candidates must obtain 180 module credits

5.4 All taught modules will be assessed on the basis of coursework

5.5 A candidate will normally be permitted to proceed to the Final Project after studying taught modules with a total modular weight of 120.

5.6 In accordance with the Regulation XXI, candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module will be offered an opportunity to be re-assessed in a special assessment period. 

5.7 Any student failing to meet the requirements for achieving credit in a module has the automatic right of reassessment on one occasion only. Candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module can opt for reassessment at an earlier date than that of the next routine assessment of the module with the agreement of the programme coordinator.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To enable students to gain advanced knowledge and understanding of the key debates, concepts and approaches appropriate to art and the public sphere.
• To provide knowledge to enable integration of art practice, art criticism and curatorial practices through an exploration of the theories, histories and practices associated with the art and the public sphere.
• To introduce ideas of collaborative and collective modes of cultural production and to develop an understanding of art as a hybridised set of practices.
• To enable students to develop a body of work appropriate for postgraduate level and in relation to key debates, concepts and approaches appropriate to art and the public sphere.
• To equip students with the range of critical, practical and transferable skills in order to function as artists, curators and writers.
• To enhance students’ career and employment opportunities on graduating.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• Research Council Research Training Guidelines.
• QAA level descriptors for Programmes at M Level.
• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Deploy current theoretical and methodological approaches engaging the major concepts, values and debates in are and the public sphere.
• Interpret the practical and theoretical inter-relationship between art, writing, curation and other relevant disciplines.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Use relevant theories, histories and practices to develop new approaches in unfamiliar contexts.
• Analyse personal practice in relation to ideas of collaborative and collective modes of cultural production.
• Evaluate the problems and possibilities created by art, curating, and writing practices to stimulate research.
• Dissect and manipulate complex, incomplete or contradictory data as part of the creative process.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Adapt analogue and digital approaches to produce advanced quality outputs.
• Perform autonomously to improve personal practice against sectoral best practice.
• Demonstrate team working and organisational ability to realise goals.
• Consider and incorporate an ethical dimension to practice through negotiation.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Reflect on and adapt own actions to connect and improve known and unknown situations.
• Maintain and refine effective visual, verbal and written communication.
• Exploit relevant research literature and other sources of primary and secondary information.

4. Programme structure

The programme consists of the following compulsory modules:

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1. In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI and additional requirements stated within these regulations.

5.2.  All taught modules provided by the School of the Arts will be assessed on the basis of coursework.

5.3.  A candidate will be permitted to proceed to the Final Project after studying taught modules with a total modular weight of 120.

5.4.  In accordance with the Regulation XXI, candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module will be offered an opportunity to be re-assessed in a special assessment period.

5.5.  Any student failing to meet the requirements for achieving credit in a module has the automatic right of reassessment on one occasion only. Candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module can opt for reassessment at an earlier date than that of the next routine assessment of the module with the agreement of the programme leader.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To create a specialist environment for the creative use and in-depth knowledge of ceramic materials and processes.
• To foster a higher creative ethos for the investigation of ceramic form, material, and process.
• To encourage critical and reflective analysis of materials-based creative practice, and awareness of the need for a balance between intellectual understanding and technical knowledge and skills.
• To foster knowledge and understanding of the critical and historical context of individual creative practice and develop students' awareness of the professional and ethical context for their practice and enable students to identify their own personal creative and career pathways.
• To develop in students the ability to articulate ideas visually  (through a variety of media) verbally, and in writing.
• To develop students’ research skills in relation to the theory and chemistry of materials used in studio ceramics.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The framework for Higher education Qualifications
  (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/FHEQ/default.asp)
• The QAA Policy Statement on a structured and supported process for personal development

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Grasp the creative uses of ceramics materials and process at an advanced level.
• Innovate with the physical characteristics and properties of ceramic materials and their use in clay bodies and glazes.
• Use theoretical and methodological approaches to critically analyse studio ceramics production.
• Achieve high level personal creative practice in a professional context.
• Advance their articulation of creative concepts and outcomes.
• Integrate visual, practical, and research methodologies required progressive professional outputs.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Conceptualise, evaluate and synthesise, and the creative, critical and professional issues raised by their work and that of their peer group, and develop strategies for implementation.
• Build a framework of understanding to create a body of creative work and implement strategies to realize aims and objectives in an appropriate professional environment.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Adapt analogue and digital approaches to produce advanced quality studio ceramics.
• Perform autonomously to improve personal practice against sectoral best practice.
• Demonstrate team working and organisational ability by engaging with clients, suppliers and peers to realise goals.
• Consider and incorporate an ethical dimension to their practice through negotiation.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge, understanding, and practical experience in the use of workshops, materials and process creatively, practically and with due regard to all issues of health and safety.
• Be self-motivated, independent, manage time efficiently.
• Maintain and refine effective visual, verbal and written communication about complex and specialized contexts in studio ceramics.
• Exploit relevant research literature and other sources of primary and secondary information.

4. Programme structure

Each of the above modules are offered on a) full time or b) part time basis, by negotiation.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI and additional requirements stated within these regulations.

5.2 With the approval of the School of the Arts, candidates may obtain not more than 60 credits, either from postgraduate programmes of the University, or, with the approval of Senate, from advanced degree studies or their equivalent at another higher education institution in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

5.3 All taught modules will be assessed on the basis of coursework

5.4 A candidate will be permitted to proceed to the Final Project  after studying taught modules with a total modular weight of 120.

5.5 In accordance with the Regulation XXI, candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module will be offered an opportunity to be re-assessed in a special assessment period.

5.6 Any student failing to meet the requirements for achieving credit in a module has the automatic right of reassessment on one occasion only. Candidates who have a right of reassessment in a module can opt for reassessment at an earlier date than that of the next routine assessment of the module with the agreement of the programme leader.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification