Master of Fine Art - Course Outline

Semester 1

Practice-research-writing; appropriate tools and methods, project development, strategy

Enhancing Practice
20 credit module led by Professor Tracy Mackenna
This module assists students with initiating and developing a personal course of study. It enhances their conceptual and technical skills, relevant to their practice-based research in relation to previously acquired understanding and knowledge. It is taught through a combination of one-to-one tutorials, personal supervision, group critiques, seminars and engagement with internal and external projects.

Practice Context
20 credit module led by Professor Murdo Macdonald
This module gives students the opportunity to explore their work in written form (or equivalent) from the perspective of history and theory, and other relevant perspectives. Students will develop skills in reviewing, and critical thinking skills relevant to their practice.

Research Skills and Methods
20 credit module led by Jeanette Paul
Designed to develop the student’s understanding, knowledge and skill in research skills and methods. It assists students in interrogating a body of work and deriving new understanding: integrating practice, theory and context; understanding a range of methods applicable to their own practice; communicating research interests and complex ideas in visual and text based formats and managing their own academic investigation.

Semester 2

Practice-research-writing; methodologies and project refinement

Advanced Practice
20 credit module led by Graham Fagen
This will advance the student’s conceptual and technical skills and strengthen ability to gain deeper insight into practice-based research; it will develop the ability to engage in contemporary art discourse and critical debate; advance the critical relationship between the developing practice and the broader forum of contemporary art, and the context of the student’s practice within modes of presentation.

Writing and Reflection
20 credit module led by Professor Murdo Macdonald
Building on Semester 1’s work this will equip students with a variety of extended strategies and skills to enable them to articulate their practice through options of formal academic writing, informal writing such as blog and interview, for a variety of platforms. Students will understand and articulate critical thinking and convey this using appropriate communication styles and media.

‘Futures’ modules
A suite of 20 credit elective modules from which students choose one:

Going Public / Placement / Learning, Teaching & Assessment

Going Public led by Edwin Janssen
Students explore a wide range of approaches to presentation, publication, curatorial practice, exhibition making and public engagement. Going Public provides a context within which to investigate platforms, technologies and strategies relevant to students’ practices and research activities to communicate visual and textual information. Group work is an important feature of the module. On completion, students will have developed an informed and critical position regarding the context and presentation of their work in the public sphere.

Placement led by Jackie Malcolm
Students contextualise and practice their specific skills within a professional environment, and experience how these can be applied in either traditional or non-traditional fields. Students gain experience of dealing with complex issues and managing relationships with a range of stakeholders, whilst developing transferrable professional skills. The module outcomes include the attainment of social and negotiation skills required to deal with a range of stakeholders in a professional environment.

Students have undertaken placements with the National Health Service, Discovery Centre Dundee, and with artists Tracy Mackenna and Edwin Janssen for StAnza Poetry Festival, amongst others.

Learning, Teaching in Higher Education led by Dr Angela Roger
An opportunity to apply theory and practice through teaching practice at DJCAD under the guidance of the School of Education at the University of Dundee. This module is offered to students who may aspire to progress into teaching in their future career and aims to support aspiring teachers in higher education in the construction and maintenance of appropriate learning environments; the planning, preparation, delivery and evaluation of teaching sessions, courses and programmes; and the planning and implementation of appropriate assessment methods. It is grounded in experiential learning and reflective practice.

Semester 3

Practice-research-writing; definition and realisation of project + public presentation

Realisation for Creative Practice
A 60 credit module led by Edwin Janssen
This module forms the final stage of the MFA course and focuses students on the development of their practice and research interests, culminating in an informed and advanced mode of practice. On completion students will have realized an advanced mode of practice, and the outcomes will be presented publicly in the Dundee Masters Show. They will be able to apply the appropriate skills to produce art and to communicate the outcomes of their practice and research, and will have developed an informed position regarding presentation and the broader critical context for their practice.