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Education (Artist Teacher Practice)

MA

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Learning and assessment
Research
After you graduate

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Key facts

Start dates

September 2024

Location

Harcourt Hill

Distance learning

Course length

Part time: 3 years

Department

School of Education, Humanities and Languages

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Overview

Transform your practice - and grow as an artist, professional and art educator. 

On this course you’ll develop your artistic practice. You’ll push boundaries and take creative risks. You’ll create, exhibit, interpret and reflect on art. And you’ll witness your growth as an artist. 

You’ll learn as part of a vibrant and supportive community of art educators and professional artists who are passionate about art. You’ll have the freedom to take your learning and your practice in any direction you choose. And you can focus on any medium - like:

  • painting
  • ceramics
  • textiles
  • video
  • sound
  • performance

As you develop artistically, you’ll also broaden your art teaching skill set. You’ll spark new ideas and create new teaching approaches. You’ll emerge equipped to break into art teaching or ready to take your teaching to the next level. And you’ll have a professional practice that stands up to artistic scrutiny.

Three female students talking on the way to a lecture

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Applicants need to be working in art education in some capacity. It is preferable that candidates have a first degree in education or an art-related practice, although this can be negotiated according to individual circumstance. Applicants do not need Qualified Teacher Status.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

IELTS level 6.5 or above with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in speaking and listening.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

All UK and International applications for this course; please make your application direct to the university.

Apply Now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) part time
£935 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£935 per single module
International distance learning
£1,760 per single module
Home (UK) part time
£980 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£980 per single module
International distance learning
£1,850 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2023 / 24
Home (UK) part time
£935 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£935 per single module
International distance learning
£1,760 per single module
2024 / 25
Home (UK) part time
£980 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£980 per single module
International distance learning
£1,850 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Dean's Postgraduate Scholarship Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Learning and assessment

On the course, you’ll develop a practice that authentically represents your own ideas and inspirations. Our teaching structure is open-ended. You’ll be guided to make, exhibit, interpret and reflect - but you can take your learning in any direction. 

You’ll also examine contemporary themes in art. And you’ll consider works through lenses like anti-racism, decolonisation, gender and queer culture.

You’ll work with a community of practitioners who are passionate about art - and from all different contexts - including:

  • art and design teachers
  • community art instructors
  • artists in residence
  • gallery or museum educators

You’ll share ideas, challenge perspectives and learn from each other. And you’ll develop a lasting network of art education professionals.

You’ll be supported to exhibit artworks locally, regionally and nationally. For example, the Settlement Virtual Exhibition was developed with students and alumni, in partnership with the Pitt Rivers Museum and Henge21 - a local community arts project.

Male student taking notes

Study modules

You’ll need to achieve 180 credits over the course of your studies. This includes 140 credits of compulsory modules, and 40 credits from optional modules.

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

Research Methods (20 credits)

You’ll develop your knowledge of research approaches, methods and techniques for the study of children and childhood, education and language. You’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of work in and across these areas. After taking this module, you’ll be well prepared for the methodological aspects of your dissertation.

Integrating Artist Teacher Pedagogies in the Classroom (20 credits)

You’ll explore your initial artist teacher practice in your professional setting with a focus on interpretation and meaning making. To achieve this, you’ll work with gallery and education specialists to improve both your practical skills and your visual art subject knowledge.

You’ll take part in lectures, seminars and practical classes which focus on visual culture in galleries and museums and debates around decolonisation of the art curriculum. You’ll consider how this links both to teaching practical art activities and helping learners develop their interpretation skills.

In a three-day workshop at the Pitt Rivers Museum and Oxford Brookes University, you’ll learn from art and education specialists. You’ll plan, deliver and assess a project which explores interpretation and/or meaning-making in art, craft or design. Through your research and reflection on Art and Design education, you’ll identify potential methods for enhancing your personal and professional artist teacher practice.

 

Developing Personal Artistic Practice (40 credits)

This is a chance to develop as a skilled, reflective artist practitioner and professional. We want to take you back into the studio, where you can extend your knowledge, skills and understanding of contemporary art practice through a personal, practical investigation.

You’ll work to a deadline to develop a portfolio of contemporary art practice. You’ll also keep a reflective journal, blog or sketchbook to demonstrate your progression in making and thinking. 

During the module you’ll have access to seminars and workshops in specialist settings, which will help you to extend your subject knowledge. You’ll reflect on your personal practice and link this to theory and contextual studies. Finally you’ll evaluate how this has impacted your professional practice through a presentation of ideas.

 

Optional modules

Investigating Professional Practice (40 credits)

You’ll undertake an action research project of your choice, with the ultimate aim of improving your own practice. First, you’ll learn about a range of action research approaches and methods. You’ll be supported throughout the project, from establishing a viable focus to planning, designing and carrying out your action research, and writing up your report. You’ll strengthen your research skills, and also make a contribution in your practice area – as we intend your research results to feed into a wider network of good practice.

The Inclusive Curriculum (20 credits)

You’ll explore key aspects of curriculum design and delivery, in relation to access, equality of learning opportunity and inclusion. You’ll look at how cultural values influence curriculum content and organisation, and explore theories of decolonising the curriculum. The module content is relevant whether you’re a primary, secondary, FE or HE practitioner.

Children’s Imaginative Worlds (20 credits)

You’ll explore the ways in which children and young people appear to use their imaginations to do two distinct things – to create alternative worlds to occupy, and to make sense of their experiences. In doing this, you’ll explore the developmental and psychological purposes of imagination. You’ll have the chance to study one particular domain of imaginative experience in depth, working together with others in a choice of reading groups.

Final project

Compulsory modules

Dissertation (60 credits)

In your dissertation or project, you’ll carry out a sustained piece of educational research. You’ll analyse and report your findings at a high critical level, justifying and supporting them with detailed reference to relevant theories and concepts. This work will comprise one third of the work for your degree.  

If you’re writing a dissertation, you'll focus on a research problem of particular interest. If you’re enrolled on a named route of the MA Education, your topic will be relevant to your route (e.g. childhood and youth, L&M, SEND, TESOL, higher education). 

If you’re working on a project, you’ll undertake a shorter piece of independent investigative or literature-based research. You’ll also produce a creative piece or artefact.

 

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

If you choose the on-campus mode of study, you’ll learn at Harcourt Hill, our Education campus. Your learning will combine whole-day intensive sessions, plus online and independent learning. On-campus sessions are on intermittent Saturdays, supported by regular online twilight seminars. You’ll be able to balance your learning with other commitments. 

If you choose to do the course via distance learning, you’ll learn via interactive and high quality online resources. And you’ll participate in live online seminars.

Your learning will be visual, written and verbal - with equal emphasis on written and visual work. Each module builds upon the last, helping you meaningfully deepen your practice. And you’ll be closely supported by your tutors as you transition to build your research skills and deepen your academic abilities.

Field trips

We are partnered with the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, and work with other Oxford University museums as well. You’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with teams and practitioners across the Pitt Rivers, like:

  • curators
  • researchers
  • artists, designers and craftspeople
  • the Learning and Community Team

The Pitt Rivers has a diverse and dynamic collection - including temporary exhibitions and community projects. You’ll have opportunities to work directly with the many professionals involved in the museum’s work, and participate in innovative projects.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

You’ll be assessed in different ways - you’ll have the opportunity to develop and showcase your strengths. All your assessments will incorporate your professional practice.

Your assessments will include methods like:

  • portfolios
  • exhibitions
  • presentations
  • reflective journals
  • essays
  • criticals

Research

The School of Education, Humanities and Languages is a thriving centre for educational research and teacher professional development. Students on master's level programmes therefore join a large research community comprising researchers at all levels of higher education study.

We hold two major research conferences each year - the School of Education Research Conference and the EdD Colloquium. All students are invited to attend our annual Research Seminar Series (which attracts both internal and external speakers). We also organise a number of conferences, lectures, seminars and debates, some of which have an international reach.

The School’s six research groups exist to encourage engagement in research, publication, conference presentations, seminars and workshops:

  • Inclusion and Wellbeing
  • Policy, Partnership and Leadership
  • STEAM pedagogy and learning
  • Humanistic Perspectives on Education
  • Early Years
  • Applied Linguistics

View all staff profiles for the School of Education, Humanities and Languages

Girl working on laptop

After you graduate

Career prospects

You’ll graduate ready to take the next step in your career. You’ll have developed a strong skill set in art education. And you’ll graduate ready to:

  • take your art teaching to the next level
  • land your first art teaching role
  • progress to more senior roles in your school
  • launch your career as a professional artist
  • proceed into academic research

You’ll be able to confidently advocate for art in all different settings. You’ll be able to influence school leadership and manage Ofsteds - decisively making the case for art education.

You’ll also emerge with an established artistic practice, that you can continue developing for years to come. And you’ll be well prepared to step into the professional art scene as well.

Previous graduates have progressed into roles like:

  • Head of Department in schools
  • Primary Art Coordinator
  • university teaching and research
  • artist in residence opportunities

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Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.