About MA in Public Culture Studies

The MA in Public Culture Studies offers a radical, interdisciplinary and engaged coverage of public cultures in Ireland and internationally. The MA will be offered in a part-time mode, on Fridays and on evenings/Saturdays in order to facilitate study/life balance among students.

The term ‘Public Culture’ refers to public policies, ideas, communication and behaviour in society, the relationship between individuals and the state. Key areas of interest include public/private, culture and public life, citizenship, the mechanisms of governments, the media, the arts and the public realm.

Although a relatively new field of studies in the Irish and UK context, Public Culture has inspired a number of MA programmes in Tertiary Education Institutions internationally and has become a primary focus of key thinkers in the humanities, notably those concerned with issues of globalisation and contemporary state contexts. Public Culture Studies is an emerging field in the context of the arts, notably in the area of arts activism, arts and critiques, cultural policy and the arts.

Aims and Objectives

The MA in Public Culture Studies offers:

• a coherent educational programme for recent graduates from a range of disciplines who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of public culture and who are interested in engaging in research and evaluation into
• public culturepublic cultural workers in media, new media, the Public sector, and arts advocacy an opportunity to acquire a post-graduate qualification
• a response to the evolving challenges of contemporary and future public culture by proposing to develop a unique education programme that is underpinned by an interdisciplinary approach throughout the duration of the programme.

You will:

• be able to construct your own intellectual pathways from a range of specialised courses featuring different fields of study within the context of public culture
• have the advanced skills to develop the research dimension of vocational and practice-based specialised research project proposals and to complete the text element of postgraduate research
• master rigorous and systematic analytical work and be able to produce well-researched essays, assignments and theses, at the forefront of their field of learning and to deadline
• be able to explore and critically evaluate the impact of state policy on cultural practices in the context of public culturebe able to read, interpret and critically evaluate public documentsbe aware of techniques of interviewing for research and dealing with press conferences
• master writing as public action and modes of professional writing in contextbe able to engage with the complex and unpredictable issues and problems arising within the field of public culture and reflect on and develop responsible solutions.

What subjects will I study?

Critical Theory of Public Culture, Research Methodologies, Modes of Professional Writing, Critical Approaches to Cultural Texts, Public Cultures and Critiques, Cultural Policies and Practices.

What will I be able to do when I graduate?

An appreciation of the public nature of writing, speech, knowledge production, policy formation and decision making opens the door to a wide array of possible pursuits through which students can develop the specific knowledge and skills needed to make a positive contribution in the world within their chosen areas of interest.

• You will acquire essential foundation knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue careers as community arts leaders, cultural planners, public art administrators, public policy advisors and developers, arts advocates, researchers and public activists dedicated to strengthening communities, furthering civic identity, and advancing the field of public culture
• You will acquire skills relevant to the development of research projects (team and individual), and to the evaluation of research in the public sphere
• The MA will enable you to obtain posts at third level and at PLC level
• The MA is widely recognised as the entry level standard for research based PhD programs which are providing increasingly important pathways for professionals in the public sphere and in the arts.

What are the Entry Requirements?

You must possess an undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree Level in a cognate discipline. In exceptional cases, applicants will be considered provided they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence which can be verified through APEL process.

What are the Fees?

For the academic year 2006/07, the fee is €3,990. The fee includes examination, registration and student services fees.

Tax relief for Fees Paid

This is an ‘approved post-graduate course’ for tax relief under section 21 of the finance Bill, 2000, and students may be eligible for tax relief for fees paid.

What is the closing date?

Applications must be made directly to the Institute by 16.00 hours on Friday, 11th May 2007.  Please contact the Admissions Office for an application form or log into www.iadt.ie.

*Please note: This programme is subject to reaching a minimum number of participants in order to proceed.