Chapter 1: Introduction

1.4 Art, Design and Architecture

1.4.1 Master of Arts

This is a two-year full-time equivalent program, offered in the principal research area of the theory of art and design. The program requires candidates to develop a comprehensive written proposal that outlines their proposed project, places the research within the context of the scholarly literature and outlines the proposed methodology.
Candidates will be examined entirely on the basis of the thesis which should be between 30,000 and 40,000 words. This degree is offered at Monash University’s Caulfield campus.

1.4.2 Master of Fine Arts

This is a unique, studio-based degree where candidates can undertake this degree in the fields of drawing, painting, photomedia, printmedia or sculpture. The program requires candidates to develop a research project that results in a new body of creative or visual work with accompanying written and visual documentation. The documentation is a commentary that outlines the development of the project and its conclusion, and provides a critical context within which the work may be viewed and assessed. The written commentary will be between 10,000 and 20,000 words, with a photographic record of the visual or creative work being bound into the document. Written work is not examined separately but considered together with an exhibition of new visual works, which demonstrate a conclusion to the research proposal at the master’s level. Candidates must also complete a sequence of two units (research methods, and theory workshop), which will guide them through the documentary dimensions of their project. This degree is offered at Monash University’s Caulfield and Gippsland campuses.

1.4.3 Master of Design (Research)

This is a degree focusing on innovation. Candidates can undertake this degree in the fields of industrial design, interior architecture or visual communication. The course requires candidates to develop a research project that results in a new body of design work with an accompanying written and visual critical essay. The critical essay is a written and visual commentary that outlines the development of the project and its conclusion, and provides a critical context within which the work may be viewed and assessed. The essay will be between 10,000 and 20,000 words, with a photographic record of the design work being bound into the document. Written work is not examined separately but considered together with an exhibition of new design works, which demonstrate a conclusion to the research proposal at the master’s level. Candidates must also complete a sequence of two units (research methods in design, and design theory workshop), which will guide them through the documentary dimensions of their project. This degree is offered at Monash University’s Caulfield campus.

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