Programme Specification for Dance MA
Recruitment to this programme is currently suspended. It is anticipated that recruitment will commence again for a September 2013 intake.
|
Final award |
MA |
|
Intermediate awards available |
PGCert, PGDip |
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UCAS code |
N/A |
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Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
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Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
N/A |
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Date specification last up-dated |
July 2012 |
Profile
The summary - programme advertising leaflet
Programme content
The MA Dance offers a unique postgraduate programme to combine academic study in performance with a practice-based approach to performance. Students will get the opportunity to learn cross-cultural research, ethnography and choreography. The programme is taught in the evenings and is available for both full- and part-time study.
The programme includes:
- Choreographic Methods
- Analyzing and Performing Oral History and Ethnography
- Creative and Critical Writing in Dance
- Staging Performance
- Research Methods
- Dissertation/Production
- Technique in Various Dance Forms
Dance at UEL
The Dance Master's programme benefits from the inclusion of a wide range of visiting practitioners - both dancers and choreographers. In addition to giving 'masterclasses', these practitioners deliver some of the modules on the programme. Each year, different dance companies and artists act as mentors for the Choreographic Methods module taking students through the whole process of putting a choreographing and performing work.
Admission requirements
Admission to the programme is by audition and interview. Graduates are usually expected to have gained a 2:1 in their undergraduate degree. Special provision is made for the interviewing of international students who are unable to come to the UK for an audition or interview. All international students will be required to have an IELTS score of 6.0 with an average of 6 in all sectors.
Programme structure
The MA Dance is offered both full- and part-time. Teaching is usually in the evenings.
Students take one or two modules a semester and there is a dissertation project to be taken over the final semester.
MA Dance students can work in close collaboration other MA programmes in the Performing Arts field.
Learning environment
Teaching consists of a variety of methods including skills-based classes (technique and choreography) as well as analysis, workshops, seminars and lectures.
Assessment
Each module on the MA is assessed through coursework components. These components typically consist of research work, presentations and performances.
Relevance to work/profession
Students get the chance to work with professionals in the field to build contact. All through the Dance MA students learn what is most important in the field of dance and performance theoretically, methodologically and choreographically in our current social, cultural and political climate.
Thesis/Dissertation/project work
The MA Dance combines theory, research and practice. The final dissertation module, therefore, consists of a combination of these, depending on the skills and future directions of each student.
Your future career
This programme will equip students with both the theoretical knowledge needed and the practical skills required to work as a dance researcher, dance/performance art practitioner, creative writer, teacher, leader in the dance community. Through the involvement of working professionals throughout the programme, students will be provided with the means to both produce their own work as well as find work in the wider arena. Final degree shows will act as a showcase for dancers.
How we support you
The programme leader and other staff teaching on this programme will provide academic guidance and supervision throughout the period of study. Advice will be available from administrative staff in the School and the University on accommodation, finance, etc. Pre-sessional and sessional language support may be provided where necessary. Students will have access to the University library and facilities.
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
The programme is designed to enable you to:
- Develop the dynamically interrelated skills of dance analysis, practice and research
- Develop professional networks that are wide-ranging and sustainable
- Engage in a combination of practical and theoretical work toward designing creative research
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- Core choreographic and technical skills in principal disciplines
- Cultural approaches to studying dance
- Ethnographic field work
- Writing for dance
- Exploring creative possibilities in staging work
- An appropriate vocabulary to use in written work, discussion, reflection and evaluation
Thinking skills
- The creative process
- Research and performing ethnography
- Critical reflection of evaluation of own and peers’ work
- Analysing historical developments and artistic outcomes
Subject-Based Practical skills
- Core techniques in principal disciplines
- Creative response to material both text and non-text based
- Delivering and evaluating performance
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- Research in dance and performance
- Ownership of planning, producing and evaluating work
- Ownership of technical & creative skills
- Working & problem solving in groups, group discussion
- Developing communication skills both verbal & non verbal
- Developing practice-based skills
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 180 for Masters, 60 for PGCert, 120 for PGDip.
Typical duration
The typical duration of this programme is one year full-time or two years part-time. It is possible to move from full-time to part-time study and vice-versa to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period..
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year is divided into two semesters of roughly equal length. A typical student registered in a full-time attendance mode will study two 30 credit modules per semester and a typical student registered in a part-time attendance mode will study one or two modules per semester. Teaching takes place in the evenings and on occasional Saturdays.
What you will study when
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SEM A |
SEM B |
SEM C |
|---|---|---|---|
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Part-time students - year 1 |
Writing Performance |
Cultural Dance: Practice as Research |
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Part-time students - year 2 |
Choreographic Methods |
Research Methods |
Dissertation supervision |
List all modules indicating their status. Some of the boxes below have been completed to illustrate how to complete this section but please overwrite these with your own data. .
| Year | Module title | Credit | status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Writing Performance |
30 |
Core |
|
1 |
Cultural Dance: Practice as Research |
30 |
Core |
|
1 or 2 |
Choreographic Methods |
30 |
Core |
|
1 or 2 |
Research Methods |
30 |
Core |
|
1 or 2 |
Dissertation |
60 |
Core |
Requirements for gaining an award
- In order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits at Level M.
- In order to gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level M
- In order to obtain a Masters, you will need to obtain 180 credits at Level M. These credits will include a 60 credit level M core module of advanced independent research.
Masters Award Classification
Where a student is eligible for an Masters award then the award classification is determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of all marks and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification
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70% - 100% |
Distinction |
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60% - 69% |
Merit |
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50% - 59% |
Pass |
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0% - 49% |
Not Passed |
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge is developed through
- Independent and guided reading
- Workshops
- Skills-based classes
- Seminars, discussions
- Lectures
- Mentoring
Thinking skills are developed through
- Collaborative dance-making
- Theoretically informed discussion
- Tutorial feedback
- Critical reflection
Practical skills are developed through
- Workshops
- Rehearsals
- Skills-based classes
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
- Mentoring
- Tutorial feedback
Assessment
Knowledge and thinking skills are assessed by
- Researched essays and presentations
- Performances and choreography
- Utilising appropriate terminology
- Critical reflection
Practical skills are assessed by
- Presenting an argument
- Practical process to performance
- Evaluation
- Critical reflection
Practical skills are assessed by
- Technical skills development
- Teaching & facilitation skills
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
- Essay
- Evidence of network contacts
- Critical analysis of self and peer work
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before this programme started, the following was checked:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.
Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module evaluations
- Student representation on programme committees (meeting 6 times year)
- Student/Staff consultative committee (meeting 3 times a year)
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- Circulating the minutes of the programme committee
- Providing details on the programme noticeboard
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Annual student satisfaction questionnaire
- Programme meetings
- Theatre company consultation meetings
- Advisory panel consultation meetings
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
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Where you can find further information
Further information about the MA Cultural Studies programme is available from:
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
