UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of
the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be
expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning
opportunities that are provided.
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire, Preston
2. Teaching Institution
University of Central Lancashire, Preston
3. University School/Centre
Art, Design and Fashion
4. External Accreditation
n/a
5. Title of Final Award
MA Fine Art Site & Archive Intervention
6. Modes of Attendance offered Full & Part Time
7. UCAS Code
n/a
8. Relevant Subject
Benchmarking Group(s)
9. Other external influences
Art & Design
n/a
10. Date of production/revision
June 2010
of this form
11. Aims of the Programme:
To give students the opportunities to:

Design and realise a ‘site or archive’ related project that explores the
relationships between artists, art processes, location and audience to be
presented in the public domain or other appropriate context.

Demonstrate a significant creative and contextual ‘site or archive’ practice
related to appropriate debates in the contemporary, the social and the
historical.

Demonstrate creative ambition by the production of an advanced ‘Site or
Archive’ Project & Contextual Report in relation to contemporary debates in
Fine Art.

Develop strategies, skills and creative networks to facilitate Professional
Practice and employability.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
The Modules are taught to:
A1. Demonstrate the application of appropriate research methodologies.
A2. Devise a formal proposal to realise an advanced site or archive related project
A3. Realise a ‘Site or Archive’ Project and Contextual Report appropriate to issues
and debates in contemporary art and culture.
A4. Present and document a significant body of professional work in an appropriate
location or site demonstrating creative ambition, innovation in critical, creative and
theoretical contexts
Teaching and Learning Methods
The module is taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, student led seminars
and group presentations.
Assessment methods
1. Student seminar presentation and documentation of a research context.
2. Through a submission of a site or archive research proposal and seminar
presentation.
3. Evidence of creative ambition, application of fine art processes through a critical
and contextual study.
4. Public presentation of the finished site or archive project realising the aims of the
project proposal through experimentation, critical and contextual study.
B. Subject-specific skills
The Modules are taught to:
B1. Develop research methodologies to propose, execute and realise a site or
archive project related to in debates in contemporary art.
B2. Ability to prepare a formal proposal for an archive or site related artwork in a
professional context to contextualise and document a post graduate project to
facilitate the innovative production of contemporary art.
B3. The ability to demonstrate creative ambition and present an advanced site or
archive project in a professional context and appropriate documentation.
B4. The ability to locate, negotiate, resource and manage an archive or site related
project within the creative industries and the ability to define and address relevant
audiences.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The module is taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, student led seminars
and group presentations.
Assessment methods
1. Through documentation, analysis and synthesis of information from a range of
research sources.
2. Evidence of critical analytical, creative and contextual skills.
3. Evidence of the appropriate selection, exploitation and manipulation of media
process.
4. Presentation and documentation of a Project Proposal.
5. Evidence of critical and creative evaluation and development of technical and
contextual resources in artwork & documentation.
6. Evidence of successful negotiation, meeting deadlines and presentation of the
Project.
7. Through the Contextual Report and related studies, visual, verbal and written
presentations.
8. Professional Practice and Case Studies, evidence of interaction with audience,
public presentation and publicity.
9. Through the significant Project presentation and demonstration of site
interventions or
exhibition conventions with appropriate contextual
documentation and creative ambition.
C. Thinking Skills
The Modules are taught to:
C1. Evaluate research methodologies and processes.
C2. Contextual analysis and synthesis and the application of creative and critical
skills in developing the relationships of theory and practice.
C3. Define debate and develop strategies to evaluate approaches to professional
practice.
C4. Design and critique a ‘Site or Archive’ Project and Contextual Report
Teaching and Learning Methods
The modules are taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, student led seminars
and group presentations.
Assessment methods
1. Through the location, selection and synthesis of reference material.
2. Presentation of research, development of art works in critical, ambitious and
appropriate context.
3. Evidence of analysis and evaluation of the debates and issues of contemporary
contextual practice.
4. Demonstration in a appropriate professional context
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
The Modules are taught to:
D1. Plan and organise a personal programme of study and produce a body of
professional work within proposed and agreed deadlines and develop competencies
in information technology, word processing and image manipulation and related
technological process.
D2. The ability to critique and reflect different approaches to learning to develop
professional and employability skills and evaluate and respond to changing needs
and develop an appreciation and understanding of audience, constituency and
cultural diversity.
D3. The ability to negotiate, manage and resource a project and to locate, compile
and apply appropriate research methods in the furtherance of performance
outcomes.
D4. Create a significant body of professional work with reference to a personal
development plan and develop effective communication skills by oral, verbal or
visual means.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The module is taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, student led seminars
and group presentations.
Assessment methods
1. Evidence of student resourcefulness and time management by meeting defined
deadlines
2. Through the selection of appropriate processes, documentation and the critical
demonstration of art practice.
3. Evidence of problem solving, critical and contextual study skills and creative
production.
4. By creative ambition & project development to strategic presentation and
publication deadlines.
5. Evidence of participation in studio discourses, presentations and written
assignments.
6. Through the development of social constructs and participation and
empowerment of others. Case study and working within a team.
7. Evidence of creative and effective selection, presentation and deployment of I.T.
processes.
8. The ability to sustain an advanced post-graduate programme.
9. Evidence through Case study, Project and Contextual Report and evidence of
critical analysis and creative ambition
13. Programme Structures*
Level
Module Module Title
Code
All Level FA4001 Research Methods in Fine
7
Art
Modules FA4022 Developing strategies for
interventions
FA4003 Professional Practice
14. Awards and
Credits*
FA4044 Site & Archive: Project
Development
FA4006 Tate Gallery Module
FA4010 Student Initiated Module
Credit
rating
20
Post Graduate
Certificate
20
Requires 60 credits at
Level 7
20
Post Graduate
20
Diploma
Requires 120 credits at
20
Level 7
20
FA4008 MA Contextual Report
FA4005 MA Fine Art Degree Project
20
80
Masters Degree
Requires 180 credits at
Level 7
15. Personal Development Planning
Personal development planning is intrinsic to and embedded in this MA Programme
in Fine Art. Students make a project proposal as part of the Applications process
which is then continually developed and refined throughout the course starting in
Semester 1 through the ‘Research Methods’ and ‘Developing Strategies for
Interventions’ modules. Students make an initial presentation which includes a skills
audit and analysis to develop evaluation and self-critical skills through a reflective
synopsis of previous work and a personal reflection of achievement [strengths and
weaknesses] which they use as a critical platform for developing the ‘MA Project’.
‘Project Development’ facilitates resourcefulness, organisational ability and initiative.
The MA course develops students’ communication skills both verbally and visually
through a rigorous programme of personal and professional presentations which
include seminars, studio crits and the tutorial process. These educational discourses
focus students’ personal development planning in short term and long term
outcomes and career goals. In addition the ‘Professional Practice’ Module develops
a strategic evaluation of career possibilities within the art world, education and the
creative and cultural industries.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic
qualifications, together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to
study. These criteria may be expressed as a range rather than a specific grade.
Amendments to entry requirements may have been made after these documents
were published and you should consult the University’s website for the most up to
date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
The course is designed for graduates in fine art, artists, and arts practitioners within
the creative industries or other potential applicants from art and design who consider
they have established an area of research, which is appropriate and relevant to the
MA in Fine Art. In addition, potential students could also include, for example,
community-based professionals, activists engaged with location, geographers,
anthropologists, historians and applicants with experience of the built or rural
environment who seek to develop their social experiences in a fine art context.
These applicants will have to demonstrate the potential to develop their ideas within
a creative, critical and theoretical framework related to debates in contemporary art.
Previous academic or professional experience will be taken into account at interview
and credited for admissions to the appropriate pathway or level.
The University of Central Lancashire has a purpose and policy to practice inclusivity
and welcomes applications from students with differing educational needs.
Prospective students should have the equivalent of a good honours degree in a
recognised area of art and design or appropriate professional experience related to
the post-graduate route in Fine Art. Applicants are welcomed and will be considered
in relation to their application statement and/or visual submission. Please contact the
admissions team if you need advice on application and if you have the potential to
benefit from and complete a post-graduate award in fine art. A detailed admissions
procedure will be forwarded on application.
Students who wish to apply for AHRC Funding must make an MA application before
21 February, to submit the AHRC Application with a research proposal and two
referees to the MA Course Leader by 21 March of the given year. Please note the
AHRC Awards are based on the quality of the Research Proposal, the Referees
Reports and the level of the BA Hons Degree [ normally a good First Class Honours]
17. Key sources of information about the programme





The University of Central Lancashire Website
MA Course Fact Sheet
MA Course Brochures and Exhibition catalogues
Fine Art staff & student website – www.uclan.ac.uk/centrecontemporaryart
& www.anotherplace.org &www.uclan.ac.uk/edau EDAU [Electronic and
Digital Arts Unit ] – and links to staff individual sites
Contacts: School of Art, Design and Performance 01772 893180 or Pete
Clarke, MA Course Leader 01772 893956, Email pclarke2@uclan.ac.uk
18. Curriculum Skills Map: MA Fine Art: Site & Archive Intervention
Programme Learning Outcomes
LEVEL 7
Module
Level Code
Module Title
Research Methods in Fine Art
FA4001
Developing strategies for
FA4022 interventions
Professional Practice
FA4003
Site & Archive Intervention
FA4044 Project Development
MA Fine Art Degree Project
FA4005
MA Contextual Report
FA4008
Tate Gallery Module
FA4006
Student Initiated Module
FA4010
Core (C),
Compulsory
(COMP) or
Option (O)
Other skills relevant
to employability and
Knowledge and
personal
understanding
Subject-specific Skills
Thinking Skills
development
A1
A2
A3 A4 B1 B2 B3 B4 C1 C2 C3 C4 D1 D2 D3 D4
COMP
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