Master of Arts in Design

Purpose

The Master of Arts in Design educates and trains researchers who can contribute to the development of knowledge at an advanced level. This Master's Degree has a research component which is earned by completing a single advanced research project that culminates in the production and acceptance of a dissertation. The research project may take the form of textual or artefactual research but, regardless of the preferred form of research, a written dissertation is delivered as the final output of the qualification.

Rationale

The Master's Degree will offer a further study opportunity for students who graduated from the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Design. This will be of particular benefit to students who foresee careers as lecturers or researchers. It will also offer the opportunity for students to further develop advanced conceptual thinking skills with which to solve complex problems innovatively within an area of design, thereby enhancing their employability in the design industry. Students from various private and public Higher Education institutions which offer four-year Degrees in the design disciplines may elect to complete their Master's with this Institution. These public institutions include the Universities of Pretoria, Witwatersrand, North-West, Stellenbosch and Cape Town and a number of Universities of Technology, including those of the Cape Peninsula, Tshwane and Durban.

Any relevant Bachelor Honours Degree, "professional" Bachelor's Degree, or Postgraduate Diploma, with sufficient preparation to conduct research and with a recommended minimum of 60% for all final-year modules.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Faculty accepts RPL as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value, and the Institution accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credits, as aligned to Institutional qualifications to promote lifelong learning.

Recognition of Prior Learning may

• Grant access to students who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission.
• Grant students credits towards the achievement of the qualification.

The learner must be in possession of

• A relevant Bachelor's Honours Degree with a minimum of 60% average at NQF Level 8.
• An appropriate Postgraduate Diploma (with a research component).
• Any appropriate Honours Degree for which Recognition of Prior Learning may be applied.

The qualification comprises a Research Dissertation at NQF Level 9, worth 180 credits.

1. Apply specialist knowledge of design.
2. Demonstrate a command of design and research methods and procedures to address complex problems.
3. Access, process and manage information effectively.
4. Produce information for, and communicate it to a range of audiences.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in the qualification.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

1.1 Specialist knowledge is applied to engage with and critique current and historical design research.

1.2 Advanced scholarship and research in design are demonstrated.

1.3 Current processes of knowledge production are evaluated and appropriate processes of enquiry for design are selected.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

2.1 Appropriate and creative methods, techniques, processes or technologies are designed, selected and applied to complex practical and theoretical problems.

2.2 A wide range of specialised skills are used to identify, conceptualise, design and implement methods of enquiry to address complex and challenging problems within design.

2.3 Understanding of the consequences of any solutions or insights generated within a design context is demonstrated.

2.4 Ethical decisions which affect knowledge production are made autonomously.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

3.1 A strategy for the processing and management of information is designed.

3.2 The strategy is used to conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in design in order to produce significant insights.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

4.1 Substantial ideas are conceptualised through research in an area of design specialisation.

4.2 Academic discourses are used to communicate and defend substantial ideas.

4.3 A range of advanced and specialised skills and discourses are included in the communication.

Integrated Assessment

An external examiner is appointed to ensure the quality of the qualification dissertation and also ensure procedures are externally verified.

External examiners are expected to complete a standardised form to assist the institution in compiling an examination report.