Our pioneering MA Arts and Education was the first of its kind in the UK, and has an outstanding reputation worldwide. It is now complemented by the MA Arts Practice and Education and the Artist Teacher Scheme. The three courses together mean that the School of Art has a growing and  supportive network of artists and teachers who are engaged in education practice in schools, colleges, galleries and community settings. Our aim is to facilitate your desire to pursue advanced level study by enabling you to question your current art education practice and experience in light of contemporary debates in art, design and art and design education. We are confident that the course will benefit you personally and professionally.

Uniquely, although the course is education oriented, it is taught within the faculty of Art and Design and allows you to follow option modules from the broader Art Based Masters Programme. In educational institutions teaching and learning theory can often be applied arbitrarily across faculties without attention given to the relevance of such theories or strategies to art and design as a subject. We understand that whilst you want access to education focussed elements that will develop you professionally, you also need to know what is going on in the art world at large and therefore the course connects you with artists and theorists currently working in the field as well as exploring educational themes. We partner with the Ikon Gallery and The New Art Gallery Walsall to run sessions in galleries ensuring that your experience as a student is a varied one.  The opportunity to study in a setting where the concerns of the artist are central and where research into how people learn about and through art has taken place for over a century is a rare one.The draw of studying art education in an art school at the centre of an art and design faculty cannot be understated and a visit to Margaret Street to see our facilities is highly recommended.

This course is designed for anyone working or hoping to work in a context where art and education are important concerns. We welcome educators from formal and informal settings, schools, colleges, galleries, hospitals, prisons, community projects, artists, teachers, and curators. We are experienced in helping students develop pathways through the course that relate to their own particular needs. Whether you are at the beginning of your career or an experienced educator, our broad programme of study enables you to choose the elements that are right for you. 

"As a former student of the MA Arts and Education I know from experience the personal and professional benefits of the course. When I began studying I had a demanding job and a young family and had to travel from Oxfordshire after work to attend lectures. My initial fears that I wouldn’t be able to cope with the demands of the course were unnecessary. It was always refreshing to come to Margaret Street at the end of the day, however tired I was. I found staff were extremely supportive and enabling and whilst the course was challenging it was incredibly rewarding. I have no doubt that I benefitted professionally as a result, my career has taken a very different path since completing the course. It gave me confidence in my workplace that I didn’t have before and introduced me to art educators from different contexts and countries that I am still in touch with. After 12 years teaching in secondary, primary and community settings, it is now a privilege be responsible for taking the course forward and to support the curious, enthusiastic and ambitious students that find a home here".

Course Director, Carol Wild
Please contact me for more information about the course
Carol.Wild@bcu.ac.uk

Further Studies

For further information on courses Tel: +44(0)121 331 5595 or go direct to the courses section of the website.

Employment Opportunities

While the course is not strictly a vocational one, it satisfies the need for Continued Professional Development and students have found it greatly enhances their job prospects. The majority of ex-students have gained promotion within their existing teaching career, others have progressed to PhD study and some have used the course to provide access to new career opportunities. The course aims to satisfy both personal and professional needs.

Course Structure

We offer you a flexible and manageable learning experience, with core art education modules and option modules chosen from the wider Art Based Masters programme. We encourage you to choose a distinctive and individual learning experience, reflecting your previous qualifications and/or professional experience . All students on the Arts Based Masters Programme undertake independently led research in the final stages of their courses. These research modules are referred to as common modules, and are supported by our common programme of lectures which explore research approaches from a variety of standpoints.

Full or Part-time Study?

The course is designed to appeal to working educators and teaching takes place in the evening and at the weekend (approximately four Saturdays throughout the year), please see the individual module descriptions for more details. As a part-time student, it is possible to complete the course over two years by attending one evening a week. In 2012/13 teaching will take place on a Thursday evening from 5pm.  For full-time students this means that, alongside the demands of studying for the course, you have more time during the day to develop your research  through activities such as visits, internships, archival exploration and so on. Whilst it is your responsibility to organise these, we are happy to advise you.

If you are unsure how the course might fit in with your existing roles and responsibilities please contact us to discuss the various options available to students.

To achieve the Masters Award you must accrue 180 credits. The course is divided into three stages, and students earn 60 credits per stage. If for any reason you decide not to progress through to the Masters Stage of the course, providing you have completed enough credits, you can exit the course with a staged award. 60 credits = Postgraduate Certificate, 120 Credits = Postgraduate Diploma. If you are unsure about Masters Study, it can be reassuring to know that the course is broken down into stages in this way. For Full-time students each stage is equivalent to one full term. For Part-time students each stage is equivalent to two full terms. The outline below presents a simplified progression through the course, please contact us to discuss how the particular stages might relate to your own professional situation.

Shared Option Modules (15 credits)

Term 1:

Advanced Practice

Art in the Public Realm

Arts Policy and Cultural Planning

Discourses in Art and Design

Perspectives on Art as a Global Human Experience

Subjectivity, Arts and Culture

Term 2:

Art and New Media

Models and Methods of Curatorial Practice

Mythologies of Madness

Photography as Research

Project Planning

Queer Strategies in Practice

Small Arts Business Set Up

Unconscious to Conscious Theories

For more information please contact Carol.Wild@bcu.ac.uk

Entry Requirements

Either a first degree in a relevant subject or equivalent qualifications and experience. Alternatively, a teaching qualification and/or previous or concurrent teaching experience is also appropriate.

Application Details

Please apply direct to BIAD Admissions.Tel: 0121 331 5150. Email: biad.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

Fees Notes

For information on fees please contact BIAD Admissions: Tel: +44 (0)121 331 5150. Email: biad.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

Enquiries

For information on the course or to discuss your application please contact Carol Wild (MA Arts and Education Course Director) directly:
Tel: +44 (0)121 331 5970
Email: carol.wild@bcu.ac.uk