MASTER

New Media and Audiovisual Arts

New Media and Audiovisual Arts joint study program with RISEBA University* (Riga)

Degree to be achieved: Master’s degree of Humanitarian Sciences in Audiovisual and Media Arts
Duration of studies: 2 years 
Type of studies: Full time
European Qualifications Framework (EQF) level: Level 7
International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) level: Level 7
Language of instruction: English

Study programme director: Maija Demitere, maija.demitere@liepu.lv 

Fee per year: 4700 EUR

The specialisation areas Audiovisual Media and Multimedia Performing Arts are held in Riga and administered by RISEBA, while the specialisation areas Digital Arts and Sound Art and Electronic Music are held in Liepāja and administered by LiepU.

Admission requirements:

- Bachelor's degree in Humanities / second level professional higher education in humanities and arts;

- the English language proficiency at least on B2 level;

- entrance examination

or

- Bachelor's degree/second level professional higher education in social sciences, educational sciences, engineering, computer science or other discipline;

- work experience in professional artistic creation as an author or self-employed person/work experience in the creative industries, culture, art or music (at least 6 months) or study courses in the humanities and arts of at least 4 credits:

  1. Art History or Art Theory of at least 2 credits,
  2. philosophy, cultural history or cultural theory of at least 2 credits;

- the English language proficiency at least on B2 level;

- entrance examination.

Admission/entrance examination criteria:

Entrance examination - master's thesis application and portfolio of creative work (to be attached at the time of application):

  1. Master thesis application: creative research project in one of the specialisations offered by the programme: audiovisual media, multimedia performances, digital art, sound art/electronic music. The project must be developed in the context of the Master's thesis. Applicants are required to develop their application in one of the chosen fields of specialisation.*
  2. Creative portfolio: 3 - 5 works, projects, prototypes, commissions or research projects in new media art, audiovisual art, sound art, of your choice.

In the event of a tie in the admission requirements, the average mark in all subjects will be taken into account.  Proficiency in English B2 may be replaced by a positive IELTS (with a score of at least 6) or TOEFL (with a score of at least 500) certificate, or an equivalent certificate in another international foreign language.

About the programme

Master's study program NEW MEDIA AND AUDIOVISUAL 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/

Goal of the study programme:

The main goal of the programme is, by means of combining resources and experience, to implement a high-quality, innovative academic Master's study programme of national and international significance - “New Media and Audiovisual Arts” in the field of humanities. The specific objective of the programme is to train competitive, research-oriented professionals - artists who have a comprehensive knowledge of new technologies, audio-visual arts and digital cultural processes, as well as specific skills in the creation of works of art and innovative media products, scientific research and the implementation of creative projects, and who are competitive in the art, innovation technology and creative industries labour market. Digital technologies will be used in the creation of more traditional audiovisual art forms (documentary films, video scenography, multimedia performances, digital art installations) and in work within mass media (television, cinema, radio, post-production, and special effects), as well as in the search for new art forms (augmented/virtual reality, 360-degree video, interactive narratology, immersive environments and game design) and in the development of practice-based research and digitisation of cultural processes (cultural analytics, data visualisation, archiving, etc.).

Career opportunities

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.

Assessment

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.

Assessment is made by a ten-point scale or with the help of a credit test.

Language of the programme

Programme is conducted in English.

Programme structure

The size of Master study programme is 132 ECTS (80 CP), and the duration of the programme is 2 years. The programme consists of three parts:

  • A part (79,5 ECTS / 45 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)

Compulsory subjects

Audio Culture, New Media Art Research, Culture Based Economy, Interactive Media, Photographic Media, New Media (Art) in Cultural Environment, Acoustic Arts / Electronic Music, Digital Network Media, Thesis Project.

Methods of teaching and learning

Acquisition of the study programme is organized in the form of lectures, seminars, practice in workshops, documentation of process, independent studies, acquiring literature and other information sources, working on art project, discussions, self-appraisal, participating in New Media festivals, independent assignment (individual or group work). Implementation of each course envisages integration of knowledge, skills and abilities, succession of the courses in their relation to writing the students’ research project.

Individual planning

During the course students fulfill tasks of the practice, set up and present term paper (first academic year) and Master’s paper (second academic year).

Duration of the programme

The size of the Academic Master’s study programme is 120 ECTS (80 CP) and the programme is implemented during two study years.