Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information

Master of Creative Arts

(MCA)

Program of Study

INTRODUCTION

The Master of Creative Arts is a 72-unit program comprising coursework, project and thesis components in creative writing, drama or screen production. The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology on a fee-paying basis.

Credit of up to 36 units may be granted on the basis of an approved honours degree in the areas of creative writing, drama performance or screen production.

COURSE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to:

• provide a high quality postgraduate program in which actors, directors, producers and writers can enhance their creative and practical skills within a framework of academic study; and
• fulfil the need for professional studies in creative writing, drama performance, and screen production at postgraduate level.

Learning outcomes

Upon graduating successfully, students will have:

• refined the creative skills required by professional practitioners in the creative industries and have shown evidence of creativity by producing original work;
• demonstrated that they can produce original work to a high professional standard by completing practical and/or creative and/or research projects in their chosen art form;
• developed the conceptual and interpretive skills necessary for producing and promoting original work;
• understood the processes involved in producing creative work;
• developed skills to analyse and critically evaluate ideas and solve problems;
• demonstrated that they can participate effectively in a creative team environment;
• understood employment structures and identified some of the employment opportunities available in the creative industries.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution with major studies in creative writing, drama performance or screen production. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

In addition, the following requirements apply:

Creative Writing: Applicants for the Master of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) must submit a portfolio of writing of approximately 20 pages. Work (published or unpublished) can be in more than one genre. It can be work previously assessed in university or TAFE writing topics. Candidates must also submit a statement of no more than 300 words explaining what they hope to achieve in the degree as well as a CV of no more than three pages detailing publications, work and educational background, plus any relevant professional or community experience.

Drama Performance: Applicants for the Master of Creative Arts (Drama), who reside in Australia, must attend an audition/interview and present a portfolio of work. Applicants who reside outside of Australia must submit a video or DVD of their work to the Drama Centre and be available for a telephone interview.

Screen Production: Applicants for the Master of Creative Arts (Screen Production) must submit a portfolio of work and be available for an interview (which can be conducted over the telephone if necessary). The portfolio can include: a VHS or DVD show-reel; examples of written work that applies to screen production; a statement of no more than two pages outlining what they hope to achieve in the degree; and a CV of no more than three pages detailing industry experience, publications, educational background, plus any relevant professional or community experience.

CREDIT

Applicants who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts or who hold an approved honours degree or equivalent may be granted up to 36 units of credit. Applicants may be granted up to 36 units of credit for approved, relevant work experience and/or approved, relevant creative products. The maximum credit that will be granted for any combination of the Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts or an approved honours degree or equivalent, and approved relevant work experience, and approved relevant creative products will be 36 units.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]

To qualify for the Master of Creative Arts a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, comprising 36 units of coursework in:

CREATIVE WRITING

ENGL7171	Theory and Practice of Writing A	6
ENGL7172	Theory and Practice of Writing B	6
ENGL7221	Special Topic: Two Extra English Honours Segments	6
CREA8001	Approved Special Project in Creative Arts	6
CREA8002	Special Topic in Creative Arts: One English or English Approved 2/3 topic #	6

# Note: Depending upon the year of study, students can select from these topics:

DRAM2510	Comedy and Satire	6
ENGL2101	Private Parts: Sex, Love and Marriage in 19th Century British Literature	6
ENGL2104	Shakespeare	6
ENGL2109	Dethroning the Gods: Literary Modernism and its Enemies, 1925-1956	6
ENGL2111	Adaptations: Reading Texts and Film	6
ENGL2112	Past Reading: Contemporary Historical Fictions	6
ENGL2210	Chaucer and Middle English Literature	6
ENGL2220	Scottish and Irish Literature	6
ENGL2240	Traditional Literatures	6
ENGL2260	Twenty-First Century Literature: Texts and Contexts	6
ENGL2261	Post-colonial Literature and Cultures	6
ENGL2300	Writing for Children	6
ENGL2301	The Craft of Poetry	6
ENGL2302	Fiction for Young Readers	6
ENGL2410	Life Writing: Reading and Writing the Self	6
ENGL2420	The Anglo-Saxon World	6
ENGL2500	Creative Nonfiction	6
ENGL2503	Introduction to Creative Writing	6
ENGL2505	A Festival of International Writing	6
ENGL2506	Ripping Yarns: Telling Stories of Empire	6
ENGL2507	'Wish you were here': Workshopping Travel Writing	6
ENGL2508	Crime Fiction and Film: From Poe to the Postmodern	6
ENGL2600	Publishing and Editing	6
MDIA2104	Creating Digital Texts	6
SCRN3008	Narrative and Storytelling	6

Plus 6 units from the topics list below. Students cannot choose topics already completed as part of ENGL7221 Special Topic: Two Extra English Honours Segments.

CREA7075	Creative Writing: Industry Placement	6
ENGL7208	Postmodern Literature in English	3
ENGL7213	Epic Transformations	3
ENGL7214	'Look at Moyie!': The Story of Australian English	3
ENGL7215	Post-war American Literature	3
ENGL7216	The Dragon: Myth, Conflict and Intertextual Influences in English Literature	3
ENGL7217	Poetic Techniques: Romantic to Modern Poetry	3
ENGL7218	Happy Snaps: Cultural Memory, Trauma and Nostalgia	3
ENGL7219	A Passionate Feast: Food, Love and Sex in Recent Poetry	3
ENGL7220	Editing Project	3
ENGL7222	Special Topic: One English or English Approved 2/3 topic #	6
ENGL7223A	Special Topic: An Approved Short Project	6
HUMN7000	Research Skills and Professional Practice	6
LEGL8004	Business Fundamentals	3
LEGL8105	Business Applications	3
PROF8001	Grants and Sponsorship Proposals	3
PROF8004	Project Management: Developing a Business Plan	3
PROF8005	Project Management Essentials	3
PROF8007	Project Management - Budgets	3
PROF8008	Preparing Professional Presentations	3
PROF8009	Project Marketing Principles	3

OR

DRAMA PERFORMANCE

36 units to be selected from:

DRAM7000	Special Topic in Drama	12
DRAM7500	Special Half Topic in Drama (1)	6
DRAM7501	Special Half Topic in Drama (2)	6
DRAM7502	Special Half Topic in Drama (3)	6
DRAM7512	Modern Theatre: The Rise of the Director	6
DRAM7513	Modern Theatre: Directors and Directions	6
DRAM7516	Contemporary Australian Drama	6
DRAP7000	Honours Performance Project, or	12
DRAP7000A	Honours Performance Project (Part 1)*, and	6
DRAP7000B	Honours Performance Project (Part 2)*	6
DRAP7010	Performance Techniques 4, or	9
DRAP7010A	Performance Techniques 4 (Part 1)*, and	4.5
DRAP7010B	Performance Techniques 4 (Part 2)*	4.5
DRAP7020	Production 4, or	9
DRAP7020B	Production 4 (Part 1)*, and	4.5
DRAP7020C	Production 4 (Part 2)*	4.5
DRAP7500	Special Half Topic in Drama Centre (Professional Audition Package)	6
HUMN7000	Research Skills and Professional Practice	6

* Students must enrol in Part 1 and Part 2 to complete the requirements of this topic.

Note: Students should consult the honours handbook, available from the English, Drama and Screen Studies offices, for further information on these topics.

OR

SCREEN PRODUCTION

36 units to be selected from:

SCRN7001	Critical and Theoretical Screen Studies	6/24
SCRN7001C	Critical and Theoretical Screen Studies (Part 1)*, and	3
SCRN7001D	Critical and Theoretical Screen Studies (Part 2)*, or	3
SCRN7001E	Critical and Theoretical Screen Studies (Part 1)*, and	6
SCRN7001F	Critical and Theoretical Screen Studies (Part 2)*, or	6
SCRN7001H	Critical and Theoretical Screen Studies (Part 1)*, and	9
SCRN7001I	Critical and Theoretical Screen Studies (Part 2)*	9
SCRN7050	Project in Screen Production	12
SCRN7050B	Project in Screen Production (Part 1)*, and	6
SCRN7050C	Project in Screen Production (Part 2)*	6
SCRN7051	Production.com	6
SCRN7060	Honours Project in Screenwriting	6
SCRN7075	Practicum in Screen Studies and Screen Industries (Honours)	6
HUMN7000	Research Skills and Professional Practice	6

* Students must enrol in Part 1 and Part 2 to complete the requirements of this topic.

Up to 6 units may be chosen from:

LEGL8004	Business Fundamentals	3
LEGL8105	Business Applications	3
PROF8001	Grants and Sponsorship Proposals	3
PROF8004	Project Management: Developing a Business Plan	3
PROF8005	Project Management Essentials	3
PROF8007	Project Management - Budgets	3
PROF8008	Preparing Professional Presentations	3
PROF8009	Project Marketing Principles	3

Credit for an approved honours degree or equivalent or for approved, relevant work experience or for approved, relevant creative products will be granted within this component.

A further 36 units comprising:

A project in creative writing, drama or screen production:

CREA9301	Creative Arts Project	12/24
	and
	A coursework thesis on an aspect of creative writing, drama or screen production:
CREA9302	Creative Arts Thesis	12/24
	An optional component of up to 6 units of masters production coursework:
CREA9303	Creative Arts Workshops	3/6

This would be undertaken as individual participation in technical and specialist short-course workshops.