Course overview

The Art and Science pathway is part of our MA Art and Design programme. It is intended for art and design graduates who wish to develop their practice in a dialogue with scientific enquiry, and for science graduates who wish to explore how art and design theory and practice can inform the visual and aesthetic dimensions of science. It is also intended for graduates from any background who wish to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge of the nature of interdisciplinarity. Most importantly, it is designed for graduates who want to wrestle with the practical and philosophical issues which arise when subjects collide, and arrive at an understanding of what it means to fall in between.

Course content

The course is a research-preparation programme which can be taken either as a theory–practice or a purely theoretical route. It has been designed in response to the growing interest in art–science collaboration, and in order to provide an academic context in which the philosophical, historical and practical dimensions of art–science collaboration can be explained, examined and extended. It offers thorough engagement with key concepts and questions at the intersection of art and science, and critical evaluation of recent examples of art–science practice. The kind of topics we cover include:

• What is bioart’s relationship with biotechnology?
• What kind of transformations are taking place when ideas or data are visualized?
• Beauty in art v. beauty in science: what’s the difference?
• Which theories of knowledge help us to understand the insights generated through interdisciplinarity?
• Must each partner be prepared to surrender something for genuine interdisciplinarity to occur?

The programme is also a forum for arts and science graduates to find out what each other do and how they operate. Training in a series of cross-disciplinary research methods is given.

As an Art and Science MA (Art & Design) student, you will develop your own creative, theoretical and practical abilities, as well as a critical insight into your chosen area of art–science enquiry. You will work towards a certificate in academic research skills, and participate in a series of research seminars. Your period of study will culminate in the presentation of new, practice-based or theoretical work, and the writing of a dissertation. The Art and Science MA (Art & Design) will help you to develop your practical and theoretical interests in relation to a body of work that will be relevant to wider contexts of interdisciplinarity and the bringing together of different subject communities. To achieve this, you will:

• Formulate an original, professionally designed and managed project that extends your knowledge, understanding and practice within the field of art–science interaction.
• Reflect on the knowledge, skills and understanding that you need in order to develop this body of work.
• Familiarize yourself with a range of contemporary research positions within the field.
• Be involved in debate and discussion relating to the history, philosophy and contemporary practice of art–science interaction and interdisciplinarity at an advanced level.
• Toward the end of the course, produce a high-level final exhibition of practice-led or theoretically- situated outcomes and academic scholarship that synthesizes the knowledge, skills and understanding acquired on the programme.

Staff teaching on the Art and Science MA (Art & Design) programme are actively involved in conducting or writing about art–science collaboration. They bring this knowledge and experience to the programme, entering into an ongoing dialogue with you in order to develop and strengthen your professional practice and intellectual outlook. On completing the programme, you will not only have a better understanding of art–science interaction, but will also be able to contribute to the territory (or territories) as a creative facilitator, communicator, administrator, teacher or researcher.

We anticipate that some of our Art and Science MA (Art & Design) graduates may choose to pursue their research to doctoral level, enrolling for a PhD at Cardiff School of Art and Design or elsewhere.

This programme is offered in both full-time mode (one year duration) and part-time mode (two year duration). In both cases, the programme is delivered on one day per week during the first and second semesters (October to June). You will be expected to be self-directed at all other times, negotiating your own programme of learning with your personal tutor.

Career potential:

Graduates of the Art and Science MA (Art & Design) programme are well placed to pursue their career in a variety of professional or creative industries contexts, including art practice, journalism, new media, the public understanding of science, or as a facilitator of interaction between different subject communities. Others may seek to develop their careers in education and academia, for example, teaching, lecturing or further research.

Assessment

Assessment is though a combination of portfolio review, essay, viva voce examination, dissertation and a final body of theoretical–practical work.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a good BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons) degree (or equivalent) in a related field.

Email csadpostgradstudies@cardiffmet.ac.uk for more information.