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Programme description: Master’s degree programme in Visual Cultural Studies
Degree
The Master’s degree programme in Visual Cultural Studies leads to a Master of Philosophy in Visual Cultural Studies. Duration of the programme is 2 years (120 ECTS credits).
Programme coordinator
Responsibility for the international master's degree programme in Visual Cultural Studies (VCS) is located at the programme board for Visual Cultural Studies which will be appointed by the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Contact persons:
Trond Waage (academic program)
Ane-Marie Hektoen (general inquiries)
Language
English.
Admission requirements
Bachelor (b.a.) in social sciences with a focus in qualitative research. 8 students will be admitted into the program every year. Among these these 4 students will have a b.a. from a Norwegian university, and 4 students will be admitted from universities abroad. Among the applicants from abroad, students from UiTø's cooperation universities will be given priority. If applicants have similar qualifications, priority will be given to students experienced in working with visual tools.
Aims for the study
The master study in visual cultural studies is an interdisciplinary study based in qualitative social science and film. The study aims at educating candidates with a competence in conducting ethnographic social research. This demands both a focus on social scientific analytical perspectives, and skills in conducting social scientific research. Candidates will have knowledge in research processes which include use of visual tools. They will have skills in using camera as a tool in the research process, and in producing ethnographic insights as films and as texts. Candidates will have skills in conducting research as part of intercultural teams, and in participatory approaches in research processes.
Aims for the first year
Experience with participatory learning and cooperation in an intercultural space; working together throughout a research process
Basic training in use of technical equipment.
Basic training and understanding of a fieldwork based research process, with use of camera in the field.
Basic training in interpretation of footage, and in editing an ethnographic film
Basic training in writing analytical texts which includes theory and ethnographic material
Write individual project description for the master project
Start conducting individual fieldwork for the master project.
Aims for the second year
Edit the master ethnographic film
Write the master ethnographic text
Experience with individual conducted research within a space of sharing and developing understanding together with others
Organizing of the programme
The study is organised as a continuous participatory learning process: Lectures, exercises, seminars, tutoring will go together into the different steps of the cumulative learning processes intended by the programme. Students are obliged to collaborate in developing skills and understandings throughout the study.
The master's degree programme in VCS has a condensed programme. All courses in the programme are obligatory, and will demand active part taking from the students. The students will work together interculturally in conducting exercises, give and receive feedback. Learning strategies in the programme demands that most of the workload has to be taken care of by students themselves, under supervision and in cooperation with others.
Syllabus/recommended reading
Total of 3000 pages, see Readings
Evaluation
Evaluation of students will be given as
1) formative evaluation and
2) summative evaluation.
Formative evaluation is aimed at giving students feedback while in their learning processes. Learning exercises will be given formative evaluations by teachers and co-students, based in aims and criteria in each course. Summative evaluation is aimed at evaluating the students competence at a given time.
The final exam will consist of a master ethnographic film, a master ethnographic text and an oral examination.
Courses in the international master programme
1.semester:
| SVF-3101 |
Approaching social realities: The understanding of people¿s living conditions |
| SVF-3102 |
Conveying social realities: Trying out audiovisual narrative strategies |
2. semester:
SVF-3103 Processing field experiences and acquiring analytical perspectives
SVF-3104 Project description for doing qualitative research with Camera(10 ECTS)
3. semester:
| SVF-3903 |
From fieldwork experience to ethnographic film and text |
4. semester:
| SVF-3903 |
From fieldwork experience to ethnographic film and text |
(60 ECTS)
Exercises and evaluations
Each course will have different parts with specific exercises and formative evaluations within the headlines given. Each course will progressively build upon former courses. The exercises and exam paper have to be written in English.
SVF-3101:
Working through the exercises and formative evaluations will secure passing the courses. Two exercises (with camera) shall be included in the student's portfolio.
SVF-3102 and SVF-3103:
Formative evaluations connected to obligatory exercises, and summative evaluations.
Summative evaluation in SVF-3102:
Essay of 15-20 pages. Frames for the essay is a theoretical discussion and reflection on the qualitative research process from the mini fieldwork experience within the course. Students will make their own title for the essay within these frames. 4 hours tutoring will be offered. Evaluation by one teacher and one external censor.
Summative evaluation in SVF-3103:
Ethnographic film of 15 min. Students will work on editing the film in pairs, from footage shot in the first semester. 8 hours tutoring will be offered for each team within the frame of group supervision (total student group of 8 students) and team supervision. The Film and two written exercises will be evaluated by one teacher and one external sensor.
SVF-3104:
An essay comparing the two monographs will be given formative evaluation. Approved project description for the master exam project.
SVF-3903:
Formative evaluations connected to the working process. Summative evaluation of the master film (30 minutes film) and master text (50 pages). Film and text will count 50% each in the evaluation. Oral examination connected to film and text. Evaluation by two internal and one external censors.
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