Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Course

This coursework masters degree provides critical guidance in contemporary visual arts philosophies and is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in fine or visual arts looking to further develop their studio practice. It offers the flexibility of both on-campus and off-campus study, and attracts artists wishing to work from their own studio.

The program asks students to relate their own practice to historical and contemporary discourse. It encourages a relationship between technical excellence in the studio and the conceptual aspirations of the discipline. Students are exposed to a critical review of their work in a supportive environment.

The aim of the course is the cultivation of methodologies for independent work. All studio units commence with an outline of the opportunities for artistic integrity and the means for achieving this. Students' studio work is then exposed to critical reflection and testing. The theoretical units support the student in carrying out this work with a level of methodological sophistication.

Upon completion of the Master of Visual Arts, student can expect to have acquired a capacity for advanced work in an area of the visual arts, together with a critical understanding of visual arts theory and practice. Graduates also acquire a capacity to undertake research in the visual arts.

Up to 24 points of credit may be granted for successful completion of a further year of art or design studies beyond the pass degree.

Assessment

Several assessment methods are used during the course, including written assignments, submission of studio work and seminar presentations. Some units will be assessed by a panel.

The course consists of three studio units and two units of contextual, critical or theoretical studies to complement and support their studio work, with a total of 72 points.

Disciplines offered*

• ceramics (Caulfield)
• drawing (Caulfield, Gippsland)
• glass (Caulfield)
• metals and jewellery (Caulfield)
• painting (Caulfield, Gippsland)
• photomedia (Caulfield, Gippsland)
• printmedia (Caulfield, Gippsland)
• sculpture (Caulfield, Gippsland)
• visual Arts (Caulfield, Gippsland).

Interdisciplinary studio projects will be considered on a case by case basis.

* Disciplines offered at Caulfield are available for on-campus mode only; disciplines offered at Gippsland are available for both on-campus and off-campus mode.

Full-time mode: three semesters

First year

Semester one

• MVA4001 Studio discipline A
• MVA4021 Philosophies of the studio A

Semester two

• MVA4002 Studio discipline B
• MVA4022 Philosophies of the studio B

Second year

Semester one

• MVA5001 Studio project

Part-time mode: six semesters

First year

Semester one

• MVA4001 Studio discipline A

Semester two

• MVA4021 Philosophies of the studio A

Second year

Semester one

• MVA4002 Studio discipline B

Semester two

• MVA4022 Philosophies of the studio B

Third year

• MVA5001 Studio project

The program can be exited after one or two semesters of full-time study or the equivalent:

• students exiting after successfully completing one semester of study (24 points) take out the Graduate Certificate in Visual Arts
• students exiting after successfully completing two semesters of study (48 points) take out the Graduate Diploma of Visual Arts.

Master of Visual Arts