MA History of Art

Year 1

(Award available for year: Master of Arts)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme students should have shown evidence of being able:

- to reflect on one or more of the following:
- the history of the discipline of art history;
- the contexts of its development;
- the debates that shaped, transformed and expanded the purview of art-historical enquiry;
- the strengths and limitations of art history and its engagements with other disciplinary models;
- to demonstrate awareness of the methodologies, concepts and interpretive strategies used by art historians

- to demonstrate knowledge of the histories and theories of art, architecture and/or material culture pertaining to three area of art-historical or art-theoretical specialism

- to use advanced library skills and employ relevant citation systems for art-historical research

- to conceptualise and undertake postgraduate research in art history.
- to evaluate critically existing art-historical writings, their values and concepts
- to use visual- or, as appropriate, aural-conceptual skills to describe, analyse and reflect on the interpretation of aesthetic or cultural artefacts, objects, events, processes or situations
- to formulate and structure cogent arguments, analyses and reasoned hypotheses based on appropriate evidence (visual, textual or other)

- to conceive, develop, manage, and devise research strategies for, a sustained, independent project of art-historical or art-theoretical research.
- to prepare and deliver oral presentation relating to their dissertation project.

Transferable (key) skills

Masters (Taught), Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of professional practice;
- evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
- self direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
- critical engagement in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms.

Assessment

Achievement for the degree of Master (taught programme) will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will involve the achievement of the students in:

- evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within the discipline;
- demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;
- drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;
- evaluating and criticising received opinion;
- making reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.