Postgraduate - CourseMaster of Cultural Economy

The Master of Cultural Economy is for students working at the crossroads of culture, economy and government. The cultural economy is a highly diverse sector, characterised by a complex ecosystem in which cultural and economic goals and dynamics combine in ways that transgress traditional disciplinary and policy boundaries.

This degree provides an overall guide to this cultural economy and the individual roadmaps needed to achieve different career ambitions within it. This might be work in the independent arts and creative/cultural industries; working in cultural policy, urban regeneration and branding, and community development; and/or seeking to place cultural economies in an historical context, and understand its implications for contemporary practice. The course includes approaches to cultural economy, the structures and dynamics of creative industries, creative cities, contemporary arts practices, and culture and sustainable development and an optional study trip to Shanghai. Students will have various opportunities to meet local practitioners and experts as well as undertake in-depth analysis of individual cultural industries, cultural projects and international case studies. A further option exists for domestic and international internships.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• construct a broad overview of contemporary issues in cultural economy
• display an appreciation of the specific and practical challenges and opportunities for cultural economies in a range of areas, from individual businesses to large scale cultural projects
• apply independent research skills to a range of problems in the field, using case studies and fieldwork to identify and investigate concrete challenges and issues in creative businesses and policy development and implementation
• display a high level of written and oral communication skills to a variety of (academic, policy, industry, community) audiences
• situate research and practice in a wider international context
• demonstrate a thorough understanding of research methodology and ethics, and ability to undertake an independent research project.

Students may be eligible for credit to a maximum of 50 per cent of the course requirements for previous graduate-level studies.

Credit or exemptions up to a maximum of 24 points is available for a bachelor degree level qualification in a related discipline, and a further 24 points is available for honours degree level qualification in a related discipline.

Therefore, students who have completed an:

• undergraduate degree and a graduate certificate (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline* must complete 72 points as outlined in Structure 2 under 'Requirements'.
• honours degree with a major in a relevant discipline* must complete 48 points as outlined in Structure 3 under 'Requirements'.

* Relevant disciplines include humanities or social sciences.

48 credit points

This course consists of core and elective units, including capstone units which allow the student to demonstrate their understanding of the course and the skills they have acquired.

Students complete one of the following structures as determined by any credit granted for prior studies:

• Structure 1: 96 points over two years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 2: 72 points over one and a half years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 3: 48 points over one year full-time, or part-time equivalent.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options if they choose.

All students must complete a minimum of 48 credit points at level 5, and so should take care when choosing between units offered at level 4 and 5 (where this option is offered).

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Structure 1 - 96 credit points

Students must complete:

(a.) in their first year of study 12 points from the following preparatory units* (12 points):

• APG5050 Communication research methods (12 points)
• ATS2436 New media: From the Telegraph to Twitter
• ATS2439/ATS3439 Youth media: Understanding media research
• ATS2440 The public sphere
• ATS2490 Advanced professional writing
• ATS2633 Global cities: Past, present and future
• ATS2784 News and power
• ATS3539 Asian cinema and television
• ATS3732 Communications and media studies: Contemporary debates
• ATS3781 English as an international language: Writing across cultures

* These preparatory units are 6 points unless indicated.

(b.) the following core units (48 points):

• APG5662 Cultural and creative industries
• APG5848 Research thesis (24 points) or APG5849 Research thesis part A and APG5850 Research thesis part B
• APG5900 Cultural Economy

(c.) Electives (36 points)

Electives

• APG5044 Professional internship
• APG5050 Communication research methods
• APG5066 Shanghai city lab
• APG5067 Culture economy and sustainable development
• APG5068 Creative cities
• APG5072 Art worlds
• APG5660 Creativity
• APG5720 Cultural tourism and events management
• APG5856 Research project

Structure 2: 72 points

Students must complete from the requirements listed in structure 1:

• units in (b.) and two electives

Structure 3: 48 points

Students must complete from the requirements listed in structure 1:

• units in (b.)

Students who have completed studies in this course to the value of:

• 24 points may apply to exit with a Graduate Certificate in Cultural Economy.
• 48 points may apply to exit with a Graduate Diploma in Cultural Economy.

Master of Cultural Economy