The MA in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts is a full-time programme running for 12 months or a part-time programme running for 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme.

In order to be admitted to the MA programme in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts a candidate should have a Second Class Honours, Grade I, Primary Degree (or equivalent) in Philosophy, History of Art, Literature, Sociology, or other relevant subject (including, for example, fine art, music, architecture, design, social science, psychology), or equivalent qualifications. Successful applicants must demonstrate evidence of having taken undergraduate or post-graduate modules in art history and/or philosophy and/or practical/professional expertise or qualification in an area that involves aesthetics.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I

Core Modules
Students take 40 credits as follows:
HA6006 Theory for Art History (10 credits)
PH6021 East Asian Aesthetics (10 credits) (not on offer for 2017/18)
PH6023 Western Aesthetics (10 credits)

Elective Modules
Students select 20 credits from the following:
EN6000 Modern Aesthetics in English Literature and Culture (10 credits)
FR6204 Contemporary French Philosophy: Theory as Vision (10 credits)
FR6601 Philosophies of Noise, Sound and Music (10 credits)
GE6003 Ut Pictura Poiesis. Literature and the Visual Arts (10 credits)
SC6624 Modernity and Globalisation (10 credits)

Part II
Students select 30 credits from the following:
EN6002 Dissertation in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (30 credits)
FR6699 Dissertation in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (30 credits)
GE6001 Dissertation in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (30 credits)
PH6020 Dissertation in Philosophy (30 credits)
SC6632 Minor Dissertation (30 credits) (not on offer for 2017/18)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2018 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2017/2018.

Postgraduate Diploma in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Students who pass taught modules to the value of at least 60 credits may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts.

Postgraduate Certificate in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
Students who pass taught modules to the value of at least 30 credits (but less than 60 credits) may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Certificate in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MA in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

• Identify, analyse, contrast and critique art historical, literary and philosophical models of aesthetics;
• Use and create theoretical concepts relevant to the field of aesthetics and to the visual, literary and musical arts;
• Effectively perform visual and literary analysis;
• Perform problem solving in academic and other professional settings;
• Work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multi-disciplinary settings together with the capacity to undertake lifelong learning;
• Prepare and present research reports to a professional standard;
• Conceptualize and execute a substantial independent project and deliver a minor thesis to a professional standard.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Identify, analyse, contrast and critique art historical, literary, and philosophical models of aesthetics;
• Use and create theoretical concepts relevant to the field of aesthetics and to the visual, literary and musical arts;
• Effectively perform visual/literary analysis;
• Identify, formulate, analyse and critique art historical, literary, musical and philosophical models of aesthetics;
• Describe, assess and critique the positions of central theorists;
• Effectively perform visual and literary analysis;
• Argue and defend positions in short critical essays and in in-class debate in a multi-disciplinary setting to a professional standard.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Comparative Aesthetics and the Arts (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate some familiarity with the most important art historical, literary, musical and philosophical models of aesthetics;
• Perform visual and literary analysis at a postgraduate level;
• Write short essays to a professional standard;
• Interact with other students in a multi-disciplinary setting.