Description

Contents

The degree programme offers an in-depth, integrated training in the academic study of the arts and their function in culture and society (by arts is meant literature, film, drama, music, and the new digital arts) with a focus on knowledge, skills and insight.

In the first year students choose Core Modules that focus on subject-specific knowledge and skills to match their profile (literature, film, drama, music, the new digital arts), if necessary supplemented by relevant lectures outside their own discipline.

The programme also offers In-depth Modules which are compulsory for all research master students and provide a sound knowledge of the latest theories and methodologies. The choice is determined by the profile of the Research School for the Humanities, Groningen (concentrating in particular on research into the function of the arts in culture and in processes of cultural change) In the second year students will follow a specialisation programme and will write a master thesis and a research proposal in Master´s Thesis Classes.

The programme has four elements:

- In the first year of the MA programme, students follow Core Modules and In-depth Modules. In the second year of the programme, students follow a specialisation programme and write an MA thesis and research proposal in Master´s Thesis Classes.

- Students choose Core Modules that focus on subject-specific knowledge and skills to match their profile (literature, film, drama, music, the new digital arts), if necessary supplemented by relevant lectures outside the own discipline. In the first year of the Research MA programme, students choose modules totalling 40 ECTS. The core modules are research modules. They concentrate not only on imparting discipline-orientated and subject-specific knowledge and skills but also on conducting research. Every lecture will involve a targeted research assignment which will result in a paper. Students can personalise their own specialisation by choosing certain core modules.

- The In-depth Modules are compulsory for all Research MA students and provide a sound knowledge of the latest theories and methodologies. The choice is determined by the profile of the Research School for the Humanities, Groningen (concentrating in particular on research into the function of the arts in culture and in processes of cultural change) on the one hand, and on the other by cutting-edge research in the relevant academic discipline. The In-depth Modules (10 ECTS each) consist of:

(1) a series of lectures and an assignment on theory and methodology in the Arts (literature, drama, film, etc.)
(2) a theme lecture and assignment on current subjects relating to themes within the research school. In order to gain research and writing experience, an extensive paper (5 ECTS) must be written within an explicit theoretical framework and methodology.

- In the first semester of the second year, students follow a specialisation programme consisting of 3 courses/tutorials of 10 ECTS each. The aim of this part of the programme is that the students will learn how to conduct research independently. In order to guarantee that the students obtain research training in a structured way and to guarantuee the quality of the supervision this phase consists of three separate components of 10 ECTS each. A list of subjects will be compiled each year, for which students can sign up.

- The writing of the MA-thesis will be supported by a thesis class, under the supervision of a coordinator (one of the senior members of staff) and will meet once every two weeks for two hours. Parts of the theses will be discussed in this class so that students can receive feedback on their work and have the opportunity to discuss questions and problems. Half of the meetings will be reserved for comments on successful and unsuccessful research proposals. Students will also practice writing their own research proposals (study load: 8 hours) and receive feedback. Students can choose the subject of the proposal themselves. This will probably be closely related to the subject of the thesis. At this stage, the proposals are merely practice proposals.

Requirements

The programme is highly selective.

To be eligible for admission, you must have an internationally recognized Bachelor´s (or comparable) degree in language and cultural studies (with a specialization in literature, film and culture), American Studies, Arts and Culture studies (literature, film/television, theatre, music, multi- and new media), or in Art policy and management (for those with a Bachelor´s degree in (Fine) Art History, there is a separate Research Master´s programme at the Groningen Faculty of Arts; only those (Fine) Art History students who wish to specialize in sociological, management & marketing or educational angles of approach, can apply for the Research Master Literary and Cultural Studies).

The selection procedure is based on an evaluation of degree certificates, proficiency in English (min. 620 TOEFL or min. 7 IELTS), staff references and transcripts of records.

English Language Requirements