Module: AR7100-60 Masters Project: Curatorial Practice

Level: 7

Credit Value: 60

Module Tutor: Dr Graham McLaren

Module Tutor Contact Details: g.mclaren@bathspa.ac.uk

1.Brief description and aims of module

This final Masters 60-credit module represents the culmination of your programme of study and aims for you to demonstrate your independence and intellectual progress in establishing your professional practice through a major-self initiated project.

For this module you will establish a line of enquiry, working to a project brief and study plan of your devising, which communicates a positioning of your work appropriate to the Masters level.

The outcome (text, exhibition, video, a learning project or resource, a live evaluative project or similar activities) should demonstrate your ability to apply understanding of your profession and the research methods, design process, critical thinking, high-level techniques and/or products required to achieve planned outcomes. The approach chosen should effectively communicate your concept, enquiries and outcomes to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Students should note that the University has accepted research ethics guidelines which must be followed; and that all research-related work involving human participants must be approved.

Further information will be provided in Award Handbooks.

2. Outline syllabus

Students will work to their own project brief that demonstrates their ability to act as an independent professional in the field. The student must define the aims of the project, so that they can achieve the quality descriptors for a higher education qualification at level 7.

As appropriate to individual projects, studio space and/or seminar spaces and specialist workshop facilities will provide the environment for planning and implementing tasks autonomously, however if appropriate to the individual line of enquiry, students may be required to work externally with manufacturers or equivalents to develop work to a high professional level.

You will have opportunities to communicate your concepts and progress to tutors and peers as a process of critical evaluation. Throughout the module you will receive formative feedback through individual and/or group tutorials, peer seminar sessions and group critiques. In many cases this feedback is received both verbally and in a written format. The feedback aims to enable you to see how you may improve or develop particular aspects of your work.

The module handbook provides more specific details on schedules, assignments, formative feedback and summative assessment for this module.

3.Teaching and learning activities

• Independent project planning and implementation
• Engagement in appropriate research methods, techniques and processes
• Progress presentations
• Group and individual tutorials
• Independent study trips and museum and gallery visits
• Personal presentation, display and documentation of work

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: A major text-based body of work that meets previously agreed aims and objectives.

(12,000 – 15,000 words equivalent excluding bibliography and any additional research folder or illustrations)

• % Weighting: 90%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: Evaluative Report
• % Weighting: 10%

OR

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: Project. I.e Exhibition (8,500 words equivalent)
• % Weighting: 90%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work
• Description: A text and image-based report and reflective journal (5,500 words)
• % Weighting: 10%