Programme Specification for the 2020/1 academic year
MA Theatre Practice
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MA Theatre Practice | Programme code | PTA1SPASPA01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Full Time Part Time |
Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
Our exciting and diverse Masters degree offers students the opportunity to pursue practice-based and research interests through a structured and flexible programme. It is taught by leading academics in one of the largest and best equipped Drama departments in the country.
The MA programme nurtures the theatre practitioners of the future; practitioners who are able to collaborate across a range of performance and other arts disciplines. The programme is ideal for anyone wishing to further practical and theoretical knowledge along with advanced research skills.
The programme appeals to those who have experience or interest in either performer training, socially engaged practice, Shakespeare or theatre and performance research.
The programme is suitable for students with a range of backgrounds and provides excellent skills and training for professional careers and PhD study.
Advice and guidance on your programme can be sought from your personal tutor and programme director. All staff offer regular office hours that you can drop into without a prior appointment for this purpose.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
Our unique MA Theatre Practice programme focuses on practice-based work in theatre and performance and can be taken either full-time over 1 year or part-time over 2 years.
The MA Theatre Practice offers a dynamic framework of studio and seminar-based modules that address a range of practical and research interests.
The two core practice modules focus on Exeter’s specialist areas of performer training, applied theatre, inter- and transcultural theatre, Shakespeare and theatre and performance research. The programme appeals to a range of prospective students: practitioners who want to develop, deepen and contextualise their practice; graduates who are planning a career in arts education (schools, colleges, universities and non-formal education); and those who want to extend their research into aspects of drama they have enjoyed and benefited from through undergraduate studies.
As a student enrolled on the programme, you will develop skills and techniques to further your vocational career, theoretical knowledge which will enrich and enhance your creative work, as well as the ability to critically interrogate your performance practice.
The programme aims to:
- Enable you to deal with the issues of contemporary performance in practice in acting, directing, or performance art/sit/autobiography
- Demonstrate self-direction and originality in performance, and act autonomously in planning and implementing performance practice
- Develop new skills in performance and to bring those skills to the creative practice of one’s choice
- Provide opportunities to exercise initiative, personal responsibility and decision-making in the complex and unpredictable situations of performance
- Enable you to acquire the skills and facility in independent practice required for work
- Enable you to acquire the skills for the teaching of practice in an educational environment
4. Programme Structure
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/humanities/studying/postgraduatetaught/modules/
Stage 1
180 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAM080 | Dissertation | 60 | Yes |
| DRAM102 | Research Preparation and Writing Skills | 15 | No |
| DRAM103 | Cultural Adaptation | 30 | No |
| DRAM136 | Contemporary Performance Practices | 30 | No |
| DRAM096 | Performance Practice Project | 45 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
| Academic staff assess the following outputs: | |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
| Assessment is via a combination of seminar presentations, essays, continuous assessment, presentations of practice (only for practice options) and a written research project and dissertation (maximum 15,000 words). | |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
| Assessment is via a combination of seminar presentations, essays, continuous assessment, presentations of practice (only for practice options) and a written research project and dissertation (maximum 15,000 words). | |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
All students have a personal tutor for their entire programme of study and who are available for at least two hours a week at advertised ‘office hours’. There are induction sessions to orientate students at the start of their programme. A personal tutoring system will operate with regular communication throughout the programme. Academic support will be also be provided by module leaders. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
In addition to the standard supporting documents required, for applications to the Masters programmes in Drama applicants must also submit the following:
A statement of intent: describing your motivation for studying a Masters in Theatre Practice at Exeter. In the statement you should discuss the pathway you have chosen to follow, and what understandings and expectations you have about this area. If applying to the Open pathway, please outline which areas of theatre you are particularly interested in studying.
Evidence of previous experience in your chosen pathway: in the form of either audio-visual documents (photographs/video) in the form of a DVD* or a web link to a piece of performance work; a short script or extract from a longer script (3000 to 4000 words in length) or evidence of dramaturgical practice; for the Research pathway a theatre review or short essay (3000 to 4000 words in length).
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
(http://as.exeter.ac.uk/support/admin/staff/qualityassuranceandmonitoring/tqamanual/fullcontents/)
12. Indicators of Quality and Standards
The programme is not subject to accreditation and/ or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).
13. Methods for Evaluating and Improving Quality and Standards
The University and its constituent Colleges draw on a range of data to review the quality of educational provision. The College documents the performance in each of its taught programmes, against a range of criteria on an annual basis through the Annual Programme Monitoring cycle:
- Admissions, progression and completion data
- In Year Analysis data
- Previous monitoring report
- Monitoring of core (and optional) modules
- External examiner's reports and University and College responses (reported to SSLC)
- Any Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body/accrediting body or other external reports
- Consultation with employers and former students
- Staff evaluation
- Student evaluation
- Programme aims
Subject areas are reviewed every four years through a periodic subject review scheme that includes external contributions. (http://admin.exeter.ac.uk/academic/tls/tqa/Part%209/9JREVISEDPSRSCHEME.pdf)
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MA Theatre Practice
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | Date of last revision | 18/09/2020 |
|---|