Program Name
New Media Arts
Qualification Awarded
ACADEMIC MASTER Degree of Humanities, in the sub-sector – new media art
Level of Qualification
Second Cycle (Master’s Degree)
Specific Admission Requirements
The university’s General Admission Requirements, as specified in Part I: Information on the Institution, apply to this Programme.
Admission requirements:
Portfolio of recent woks.
Bachelor degree of Humanitarian sciences or Professional higher education in Humanitarian, Social, Art or Educational sciences.
Specific Arrangements for Recognition of Prior Learning
General arrangements, as specified in Part I: Information on the Institution apply.
Qualification Requirements and Regulations
Even though there is no National Qualifications Framework in Latvia, Liepaja University implements the Qualifications Framework as established within the framework of the Bologna process. Accumulation of credits is documented in the official institutional transcript of record and in the Diploma Supplement.
Profile of the Programme
Master's study program NEW MEDIA ART is multi-disciplinary, dynamic, real practice led, research-based, oriented towards cooperation and communication.
Two pathways are offered:
- ACOUSTIC ARTS / DIGITAL MUSIC
- DIGITAL NETWORKED MEDIA
Study programme was launched in September 2010. Students acquire various new media (interactive, multimedia, sound, network etc.) instruments and skills in creating art works. Key of this programme is research - including researching art processes. Emphasis is on art as research - within new media art it means that the artist is not only the creator of art work, but also researcher and practitioner of new instruments, media, technology, social process, scientific discoveries.
More information about the programme: http://mplab.lv/en/izglitiba/1/
Key Learning Outcomes
The aim: to carry out high quality academic Master study programme in the field of Humanities and Arts, in the subfield of New Media Art, prepare competitive, high level professionals - new media artists with specialisation in acoustic arts and digital networked media. Objectives of the study programme:
1. To provide focused and good quality study process, offer students the necessary support in improving knowledge and skills as well as in doing research, attract new media professionals to the study programme and research and initiate professional development of LiepU teaching staff.
2. To develop creative study and research environment that is suitable for new media artists and researchers and offer diverse, interdisciplinary academic education, supplement material and technical basis regularly, and develop cooperation with New media culture centre „RIXC".
3. To stimulate students' creative potential in producing innovative ideas, to improve skills necessary for professional and research work, and offer wide range of possibilities for presenting research projects.
4. To provide students with various possibilities to participate in the national and international network activities of partners and the projects initiated by the network, to stimulate international recognition of art research projects.
5. To strengthen the understanding of culture, creativity and innovation based economy, provide students with specific production and managemenet skills in the field if new media art.
Expected results of studies:
As a result of completing the study programme a diploma of higher education is obtained - Master's diploma, academic degree - master of Humanities in the subfield of Arts.
As a result of studies, graduates have become professional new media artists, who have obtained high quality new media art education with specialisation in one of the pathways - acoustic arts of digital networked media.
After completion of mandatory (Part A) modules students have obtained:
1. Theoretical knowledge and understanding in art sciences (in history and theory of visual and media arts, musicology and audio culture, cultural theory);
2. Skills in art-based research work;
3. Skills in creating new media art works (in sound arts, interactive technologies, photographic and digital networked media);
4. Practical know-how in carrying out art and culture based projects, as well as management and creative economy.
After completion of limited choice (Part B) modules students have obtained:
1. Creative thinking, necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills in developing creative ideas and art projects related to new media - in one of the chosen pathways:
a) acoustic arts - obtained theoretical knowledge in: music history and theory, audio culture, digital audio theory, as well as practical skills in: carrying out composition ideas, sound programming, electronic music, performances.
b) digital networked media - obtained art creating process and specific features to internet and other digital network environments (wireless networks, mobile devices, radio, satellite technologies etc.), acquired the newest theories related to networked media art, digital networked technologies in culture and social contexts.
2. The graduates of the study programme have the opportunity to continue with doctoral level studies, work individually as independent artists and/or choose from various creative industry fields in the labour market. As the study programme emphasizes acquiring experience in working in an international context and interdisciplinary working groups, the graduates are competitive in both - local and international - labour markets due to acquired skills and competences in working with various new media technologies, developed creative thinking, obtained knowledge in management and marketing, as well as diverse skills to fulfill creative and research projects related to new media and creative industries.
Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples
After obtaining academic Master’s degree graduates have an opportunity to work at the Art Research institution or other institution in creative industries (Advertisement Company, culture institutions or create their own institutions) and IT institutions. They also are entitled to continue their studies as PhD students in New Media Art field in Liepaja University or in other HEI’s of Latvia or EU.
Access to Further Studies
Graduates of the programme can continue studies in Third Cycle (Doctoral Degree).
Course structure diagram with credits
The size of Master study programme is 132 ECTS (88 CP), and the duration of the programme is 2 years. The programme consists of three parts:
A part (79,5 ECTS / 53 CP) – compulsory courses of Research within the New Media Art and Culture environment ;
B part (22,5 ECTS / 15 CP) – compulsory courses, which expect deeper education of students and development of their professional skills and abilities within two branches – Acoustic Arts / Digital Music and Digital Networked Media
MA Thesis (30 ECTS / 20 CP)
Studies take place in modular system. Each module offers both - theoretical part and practical skills that are necessary to create an art work in each module. Each module involves several lecturers and a variety of smaller tasks are given, as well as one larger - final project that is presented and evaluated in the form of an exam.
The programme has 2 specialisation pathways - 1. Acoustic Arts 2. Digital Networked Media that are chosen as part B modules.
1. The pathway of DIGITAL NETWORKED MEDIA aims to deeply acquire art creation processes and specifics in the internet and other electronic media networks, as well as to have a good knowledge of cultural, historical and social contexts, get introduced to current networked media art theories.
2. The pathway of ACOUSTIC ARTS aims to acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are needed to create art works in the fields of sound art and/or electronic music.
The study programme is held in 4 semesters:
During the 1st semester three A part modules are carried out: 1) NEW MEDIA ART RESEARCH, within which the basis of Master's thesis is developed, 2) CULTURE BASED ECONOMY, within which new media art is viewed in the context of creative industries, and 3) AUDIO CULTURE, within which a broad insight into one of the specialisation areas - acoustic arts is given, as well as deepens the knowledge and skills in music theory and sound art practice.
During the 2nd semester two part A modules are carried out: 1) PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA 2) INTERACTIVE MEDIA and as a choice one of the part B modules: ACOUSTIC ARTS or DIGITAL NETWORKED MEDIA.
During the 3rd semester one large part A module is carried out: NEW MEDIA ART IN CULTURAL CONTEXTS, and as a choice one of the part B modules: ACOUSTIC ARTS or DIGITAL NETWORKED MEDIA.
During the 4th semester Master's thesis is carried out - both as a theoretical written part and a practical part (art project) realisation.
Latvian language study course (12 ECTS) have to be included in the full degree english study programme in accordance with the Higher Education Law of Latvia (Section 56, 3.1. point).
COMPULSORY PART (A):
Course code(s) |
Course title |
ECTS credits |
Assessment form |
|||
1 ac.year |
2 ac.year |
|||||
New Media Art Research |
7,5
Autumn |
|
|
|
Exam |
|
Audio Culture |
15
Autumn |
|
|
|
Exam |
|
Culture Based Economy |
7,5
Autumn |
|
|
|
Exam |
|
Latvian I, Latvian II |
6 Autumn
|
6 Spring |
|
|
Exam / Exam |
|
Interactive Media |
|
15 Spring |
|
|
Exam |
|
Photografic Media |
|
7,5 Spring |
|
|
Exam |
|
New Media (art) in Cultural Environments |
|
|
15 Autumn |
|
Exam |
RESTRICTED OPTION (B)
Professional specialization field modules
Course code(s) |
Course title |
ECTS credits |
Assessment form |
|||
1 ac.year |
2 ac.year |
|||||
Part B1 * |
||||||
Acoustic arts I |
|
7,5
Spring |
|
|
Exam |
|
Acoustic arts II |
|
|
15
Autumn |
|
Exam |
|
Part B2 * |
||||||
Digital Networked Media I |
|
7,5 Spring |
|
|
Exam |
|
Digital Networked Media II |
|
|
15
Autumn |
|
Exam |
* students choose either B1 or B2
FINAL / STATE EXAMINATION
Course code(s) |
Course title |
ECTS credits |
Assessment form |
|||
1 ac.year |
2 ac.year |
|||||
Master Thesis |
|
|
|
30
Spring |
Exam |
Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading
Assessment System:
Assessment of students’ knowledge is a continuous process, which lasts during the whole semester and it is done on the basis of independent assignments and tests, as well as passing credit tests and examinations twice a year. During the semester each module envisages several independent assignments – individual and group works, tests and reports. At the end of each module, the module assignments and final project is presented (presentations are open to public) and evaluated (participants include students, lecturers, programme director and Art Research lab employees, audience).
In addition to that, each study programme in Liepaja University is evaluated on a regular basis according to Quality Control System.
Evaluation system:
In testing students knowledge the given 10 grade system of Ministry of Education and Science is used. The evaluation is based on LiepU Senate regulating documents:
Regulations on studies and higher level studies (approved in Senate 20.12.2010.);
Regulations on study course examinations (approved in Senate 20.12.2010.);
Regulations on final tests and state tests (approved in Senate 20.12.2010.);
Regulations on the responsibilities and rights of teaching staff and students (approved in Senate 20.02.2011.).
Tests and exams students do in the end of each module. Tests have cumulative evaluation system that motivates students to work during the whole semester.
The evaluation description is included in the module descriptions. Students are introduced to the evaluation system and requirements in the beginning of each module
Requirements of the study programme:
Requirements for getting the professional degree and qualification (has to be described in compliance with point 4.2. - diploma's supplement).
Professional Master’s degree is awarded to the student, who has successfully completed the study courses in the study programme and passed the Master’s examination with a grade not lower than 5 – “satisfactory”.
Graduation Requirements
For 2 years programme student must complete 132 ECTS and all programme requirements.
Mode of Study
Full-time study is available
Programme Director
Name: RASA ŠMITE
Department: Faculty of Humanities and Arts
E-mail: rasa.smite@liepu.lv
Liepaja University