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PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Final
PART 1: COURSE SUMMARY INFORMATION
Course summary
Final award
MA History of Design and Material Culture
Intermediate award
PG Dip / PG Cert
Course status
Validated
Awarding body
University of Brighton
College
Arts and Humanities
School
Humanities
Location of study/ campus
Pavilion Parade
Partner institution(s)
Name of institution
Host department
1.
Course status
SELECT
2.
3.
Admissions
Admissions agency
Direct to School
Entry requirements
Successful applicants will normally
(i) have a BA Hons degree or its international equivalent at a level of
2i or 1st or its international equivalent
(ii) professional experience in fields related to design, museum and
gallery, etc work are also taken into consideration
(iii) have a documented standard of English to the level of IELTS 7.5
overall or its equivalent
(iv) all consideration of applications is undertaken by the Programme
Organiser. Where minimum requirements for entry are met,
applicants will normally be called for interview with the Programme
Organiser. An email interview process can be established for
overseas students.
(v) students must produce evidence of their qualifications in the form
of certificates
Include any progression opportunities
into the course.
This course has been validated to accept the English for Academic
Purposes 'EMA' Extended Masters route. Details of this route need to
be read in conjunction with this programme specification and can be
found at: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/international/study-withus/courses-and-qualifications/brighton-languageinstitute/courses/extended-masters-route/index.aspx
Applicable for 2015 entry. Check the University’s website for 2016
entry requirements.
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Start date (mmm-yy)
September 2015
Normally September
Mode of study
Mode of study
Duration of study (standard)
Maximum registration period
Full-time
1 year
6 years
Part-time
2 years
6 years
Sandwich
Select
Select
Distance
Select
Select
Course codes/categories
UCAS code
N/A
Contacts
Course Leader (or Course
Development Leader)
Dr Paul Jobling
Admissions Tutor
Dr Paul Jobling
Examination and Assessment
External Examiner(s)
Examination Board(s)
(AEB/CEB)
Name
Place of work
Date tenure expires
Dr Christine
Boydell
De Montfort
University
1st December 2016
MA History of Design & Material Culture Exam Board
Approval and review
Approval date
Review date
Validation
19981
2005/20122
Programme Specification
July 20153
July 20164
5
Professional, Statutory and
Regulatory Body 1 (if
applicable):
Professional, Statutory and
Regulatory Body 2 (if
applicable):
Professional, Statutory and
Regulatory Body 3 (if
applicable):
1
Date of original validation.
Date of most recent periodic review (normally academic year of validation + 5 years).
3
Month and year this version of the programme specification was approved (normally September).
4
Date programme specification will be reviewed (normally approval date + 1 year). If programme specification is
applicable to a particular cohort, please state here.
5
Date of most recent review by accrediting/ approving external body.
2
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PART 2: COURSE DETAILS
AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Aims
The aims of the course are:
To provide a coherent and integrated programme of study which will foster the individual students
imaginative, creative, intellectual and professional development. It will also facilitate students ability to
organise and develop independent and group working patterns and primary and secondary research
skills. Further it will stimulate fresh and innovative approaches to the international study of the history of
design and material culture in the context of the relationship between object- and text-based analysis
and advanced theory. This course will develop students’ ability to critically interrogate a range of primary
and secondary resources as well as concepts and methodologies.
The final aim is to develop students’ abilities to successfully achieve the assessment tasks of this
programme – the writing of 5000 word essays, the presentation of group and individual research projects
and the completion of a 20,000 word dissertation.
Learning outcomes
The outcomes of the main award provide information about how the primary aims are demonstrated by
students following the course. These are mapped to external reference points where appropriate 6.
Knowledge and theory
By the end of the programme students are:
1) competent in a range of research skills both generally and in the
context of their individual research projects.
2) able to interrogate in depth specific historical sources and differing
historical approaches to design history and material culture
3) skilled in presenting the outcomes of their research in written and
verbal form
4) familiar with fresh and innovative approaches to interdisciplinary
study within the fields of material culture, design and dress history,
museology and cultural studies
5) confident in their use of methodological skills and techniques, with
the historiographical awareness necessary to support individual
research
6) equipped with the requisite background knowledge and skills for the
development of doctoral level research, should they wish to pursue
this
Skills
List here the intellectual skills (ie those generic skills relating to
academic study, problem solving, analysis, evaluation, research and
so forth); professional/practical skills.
1) By the end of HDM11 ‘Exploring Objects’ students have:
(i) Gained confidence in dealing with the relationship of theory to
practice in key texts that analyze the production and consumption of
objects of design and things in the everyday world from different
methodological perspectives.
(ii) Applied these methods and approaches to their own analysis and
research of objects.
(ii) Tested how they can critically and independently deploy a range of
methods, methodologies and theoretical standpoints in seminar
discussions and their own individual and group research projects,
whether written and oral.
Includes intellectual skills (i.e.
generic skills relating to
academic study, problem
solving, evaluation, research
etc.) and professional/
practical skills.
6
Please refer to Course Development and Review Handbook or QAA website for details.
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2) By the end of HDM12 ‘Mediating Objects’ students have:
(i) Been introduced to, and debated, the complexities of decoding the
rhetorical and ideological meanings that objects accrue in texts and
images, and museum and private collections.
(ii) Examined the pros and cons of using oral testimony and memory
as a research method for understanding and analysing the
relationship of people to things.
(iii) Tested how they can critically and independently deploy a range of
methods, methodologies and theoretical standpoints in seminar
discussions and their own individual and group research projects,
whether written and oral.
3) By the end of HDM13 students have developed their individual
critical, textual, observational and presentation skills through the
enhancement of their abilities to fuse personal observation and
analysis in the context of critical debate, presentation and written texts
about museum and gallery collections and policies.
4) By the end of HDM14 and HDM15 students have defined and
utilized a research methodology appropriate to the subject of their
research. Drawing upon primary materials, such as exhibition
catalogues, contemporary periodicals, archival material, museum
objects and private collections, they have acquired a detailed and
thorough understanding of their subject , presented an in-depth
seminar paper on their research findings, contributed to the final
degree show, and completed a 20,000 word dissertation
QAA subject benchmark
statement (where
applicable)7
PROFESSIONAL, STATUTORY AND REGULATORY BODIES (where applicable)
Where a course is accredited by a PSRB, full details of how the course meets external requirements,
and what students are required to undertake, are included.
LEARNING AND TEACHING
Learning and teaching methods
This section sets out the primary learning and teaching methods, including total learning hours and any
specific requirements in terms of practical/ clinical-based learning. The indicative list of learning and
teaching methods includes information on the proportion of the course delivered by each method and
details where a particular method relates to a particular element of the course.
The overall learning and teaching methods are designed to fulfil the general and specific aims of this MA.
A range of methods of learning, teaching and assessment are appropriate for each specific module.
The learning and teaching approaches for the course as a whole are informed by the development of
course related knowledge and subject understanding of design history and material culture, and related
critical theory, through teaching and learning through:
- group seminars
- museum and heritage site visits
- individual library research and other personal archive research
7
Please refer to the QAA website for details.
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- group projects
- individual student work via progress seminars
- class introduction to specific skills in researching, writing and referencing written work
The programme enhances through its learning and teaching methods students’ ability to organise and
develop their own independent research and also group working patterns and research skills in essay,
seminar and dissertation development writing and presentation and use of the internet for research and
seminar presentation work. All of this is set in place through individual tutorials for all assessed work,
written and verbal assessment feedback and related seminar introductions and discussions.
Learning and Teaching Method
% of Student Effort
Tutor led seminars
25%
Independent and group research, writing up of essays and
dissertation and group presentations
70%
Tutorials
5%
ASSESSMENT
Assessment methods
This section sets out the summative assessment methods on the course and includes details on where
to find further information on the criteria used in assessing coursework. It also provides an assessment
matrix which reflects the variety of modes of assessment, and the volume of assessment in the course.
All modules are assessed using the assessment criteria detailed on individual module descriptions which
are linked to the learning outcomes for the specific module. Additionally, the criteria for award of
particular marks is provided by the Grading Criteria/Grading Descriptors which are provided in the course
handbook. By the end of the programme, students are:
Learning Outcome
Assessment method
Module
Number of
credits
1. Competent in a range of
primary and secondary
research skills generally and in
the context of their group and
individual research projects
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
HDM16
40
40
20
20
60
20
2. Able to interrogate in-depth
specific historical sources and
differing historical approaches
to design history and material
culture
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
HDM16
40
40
20
20
60
20
3. Skilled in presenting the
outcomes of their research in
written and verbal form
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
Final degree exhibition poster
and catalogue entry
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
HDM16
40
40
20
20
60
20
4. Familiar with fresh and
innovative approaches to interdisciplinary study within the
fields of material culture, design
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
40
40
20
20
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and dress history, museology
and cultural studies
HDM15
HDM16
60
20
5. Confident in their use of
methodological skills and
techniques with a
historiographical awareness
necessary to support individual
research
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
HDM16
40
40
20
20
60
20
6. Equipped with the requisite
background knowledge and
skills for the development of
doctorial level research should
they wish to pursue this
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
40
40
20
20
60
7. Gained confidence in dealing
with the relationship of theory to
practice through key texts that
analyse the production and
consumption of objects of
design and things in the
everyday world and decoding
the rhetorical and ideological
meaings that objects accrue in
text, images, museums and
private collections.
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
HDM11
HDM12
HDM15
40
40
60
8. Applied such methods and
approaches to their own
analysis and research of
objects and collections
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
40
40
20
20
60
9. Tested how they can critically
and independently deploy a
range of methods,
methodologies and theorectical
standpoints in seminar
discussions and in their own
individual and group research
projects whether written and
oral
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
HDM16
40
40
20
20
60
20
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
HDM16
40
40
20
20
60
20
HDM11
HDM12
HDM13
HDM14
HDM15
HDM16
40
40
20
20
60
20
10. Examine the pros and cons
of using oral testimony and
memory research as a tool for
understanding and analysing
the relationship of people to
things
11. Have defined and utilised a
research methology appropriate
to the subject of their specific
essay and dissertation research
drawing upon primary materials,
and have acquired a detailed
and thorough understanding of
their specific topics
Essays of 5000 words
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
Essays of 5000 words
Seminar presentations both
individually and in groups
Dissertation of 20,000 words
Essays of 5000 words
Seminar presentations
(individual)
Dissertation of 20,000 words
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SUPPORT AND INFORMATION
Institutional/ University
All students benefit from:
University induction week
Student Handbook: the University and you
Course Handbook
Extensive library facilities
Computer pool rooms (indicate number of workstations by site)
E-mail address
Welfare service
Personal tutor for advice and guidance
Course-specific
In addition, students on this course benefit from:
A learning environment within Grand Parade campus which facilitates
observation of contemporary design processes and products. Access to
specialist design history and film archives (the College Design History
Archives and the Screen Archive and Screen Archive South East) and the
School of Humanities Design & Dress History Teaching Collection.
Longstanding professional links with local and national museums and their
curators including the V&A through a UoB sponsored Senior Research
Fellowship, access to the galleries and study collections at the Royal
Pavilion, Brighton and Hove Museums and Art Galleries, the Mass
Observation Archives at the Keep, Dress Collections at Worthing Museum
and the Rare Books collections at Brighton’s Jubilee Library and at the
University of Sussex.
Additional support, specifically
where courses have nontraditional patterns of delivery
(e.g. distance learning and
work-based learning) include:
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PART 3: COURSE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS
COURSE STRUCTURE
This section includes an outline of the structure of the programme, including stages of study and
progression points. Course Leaders may choose to include a structure diagram here.
All modules must be taken.
Modules HDM11, HDM12, HDM14, HDM15 are compulsory.
HDM13 is optional.
Modules HDM11, HDM12, HDM14, HDM15 are taught modules which aim to develop and deepen the
students knowledge and skills in fresh and innovative approaches to the study of the History of Design &
Material Culture and to develop their independent and group working patterns and research skills.
Further the course aims to develop student’s ability to critically interrogate a range of sources, concepts
and methodologies, building whenever possible on primary research.
HDM13: students are free to choose from any MA level College option units. HM13, which is the option
unit offered by this MA, aims to involve students on an individual basis with current national and
international design history debate through presentation of analysis of one current museum or gallery
exhibition or conference related to material culture and cultural theory. Students attend introductory
seminars and finally present a seminar paper supported by research notes amounting to about 3000
words and a seminar hand-out.
Modules
Status:
M = Mandatory (modules which must be taken and passed to be eligible for the award)
C = Compulsory (modules which must be taken to be eligible for the award)
O = Optional (optional modules)
A = Additional (modules which must be taken to be eligible for an award accredited by a professional,
statutory or regulatory body, including any non-credit bearing modules)
Level8
Module
code
Status
Module title
Credit
7
HDM11
C
Exploring Objects
40
7
HDM12
C
Mediating Objects
40
7
HDM13
O
Critical Reflection
20
7
HDM14
C
Dissertation work in progress presentation
20
7
HDM15
M
Dissertation
60
7
HDM16
C
PG Dip STUDENTS ONLY completion essay
20
Status:
M = Mandatory (modules which must be taken and passed to be eligible for the award)
C = Compulsory (modules which must be taken to be eligible for the award)
O = Optional (optional modules)
A = Additional (modules which must be taken to be eligible for an award accredited by a professional,
statutory or regulatory body, including any non-credit bearing modules)
8
All modules have learning outcomes commensurate with the FHEQ levels 0, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. List the level which
corresponds with the learning outcomes of each module.
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AWARD AND CLASSIFICATION
Award type
Award* Title
Level
Eligibility for award
Total credits9
Minimum credits10
Classification of award
Ratio of marks11:
Class of award
Final
MA
History of Design & Material
Culture
7
Total credit 180
Minimum credit at level of Level 7 marks
award Select
Postgraduate degree
Final
PG Dip
History of Design & Material
Culture
7
Total credit 120
Minimum credit at level of Level 7 marks
award 120
Postgraduate (taught) degree
Final
PG Cert History of Design & Material
Culture
7
Total credit 60
Minimum credit at level of Level 7 marks
award 60
Postgraduate (taught) degree
Select
Select Total credit Select
Minimum credit at level of Select
award Select
Select
Select
Select Total credit Select
Minimum credit at level of Select
award Select
Select
*Foundation degrees only
Progression routes from award:
Award classifications
Mark/ band %
Foundation degree
Honours degree
Postgraduate12 degree (excludes
PGCE and BM BS)
70% - 100%
Distinction
First (1)
Distinction
60% - 69.99%
Merit
Upper second (2:1)
Merit
Lower second (2:2)
Pass
50% - 59.99%
40% - 49.99%
Pass
Third (3)
9
Total number of credits required to be eligible for the award.
Minimum number of credits required, at level of award, to be eligible for the award.
11
Algorithm used to determine the classification of the final award (all marks are credit-weighted). For a Masters degree, the mark for the final element (e.g, dissertation) must be in the corresponding
class of award.
12
Refers to taught provision: PG Cert, PG Dip, Masters.
10
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EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS
Please refer to the Course Approval and Review Handbook when completing this section.
The examination and assessment regulations for the course should be in accordance with the
University’s General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses (available
from staffcentral or studentcentral).
Specific regulations
which materially affect
assessment,
progression and award
on the course
e.g. Where referrals or repeat
of modules are not permitted
in line with the University’s
General Examination and
Assessment Regulations for
Taught Courses.
Examination and Assessment Regulations for this course are in
accordance with GEAR, the University’s General Examination and
Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses. A copy of GEAR can be
downloaded
from: http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/xpedio/groups/Public/document
s/staffcentral/doc012262.pdf
Exceptions required by
PSRB
These require the approval of
the Chair of the Academic
Board
Document template revised: 2010
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