Master of Arts (Interpretive Writing)

What is this course about?

This course enables students to complete a major piece of writing relating to art curation, exhibition, biography or publication. Students work with a supervisor to devise a writing project in a form appropriate to the medium of intended publication.

The Master of Arts (Interpretive Writing) recognises the many forms that art writing may take outside of the traditional thesis, such as biography, catalogue articles, reviews, encyclopedia and dictionary entries, and documentary. Students will have the opportunity to carry out their research on gallery and museum collections, or exhibition planning.

The course is a two-year part-time degree by coursework. The degree will enable students to develop their skills and complete a substantial project, in particular in the areas of curatorial projects, writing for exhibitions, and museology.  Diverse forms of descriptive, analytical, critical and reflective writing for the arts are engaged. 

The three subjects undertaken offer a methodology of theories of criticism, a critical reading and research subject, and a writing for the arts project that utilises the research, critiquing and analytical writing skills gained.

The course is offered by distance education, and is taught on-line utilising a forum.

Your course is recognised by industry

The course has been developed in liaison with the art gallery and museum sector to prepare students for professional industry practices.

Hands-on experience

The writing project provides hands-on experience and skills in initiating, crafting, honing and editing art writing.

Practical experience

Depending on the project proposals, there are possibilities of internships and working in conjunction with the art gallery and museum sector, or wider performing arts professions.

Academic staff

The teaching staff includes members of the Art History and Visual Culture disciplines who have wide experience in areas of art writing from extensive careers writing reviews for newspapers and magazines, and experience in biography writing.  In addition, they have professional curatorial experience at local, state and national level. Their backgrounds include journalism and art gallery curatorship, and staff have acted as consulting editors and contributors for encyclopedia entries, and worked on the development of art documentaries for ABC TV. 

Depending on project proposals, there will be the opportunity to undertake internship experience liaising with industry professionals in the art gallery and museum sector, or wider visual and performing arts sectors where appropriate.

Admission requirements

An applicant for admission to candidature shall have an appropriate Bachelor degree, with or without Honours, from an Australian university or equivalent overseas tertiary institution, taken over a minimum of three years (full-time equivalent).

An applicant for admission may be accepted without the qualifications specified above. An applicant who does not possess the qualifications listed above, but has some other appropriate combination of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications (such as relevant graduate diplomas) and/or professional performance which demonstrate to the course coordinator that he/she is capable of successfully undertaking the program, may be accepted into the course.

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

• have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
• were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
• have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
  or
• have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

• an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
• a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
• a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
• a TOEFL internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
• a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
• a C pass in English at the GCE 'A' level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
• completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
• a C pass in 'Use of English' in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
• completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in 'Use of English';
• completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
• successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
• a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
• a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
• IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University's requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

fee-paying

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This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2