Interdisciplinary Programs in MAP

Graduate Co-ordinator: Christine Ramsay, PhD

Faculty Listing

Handbook

Program Description

The graduate programs in Interdisciplinary Programs in MAP include a studies-based Master of Arts (MA); a practice-based Master of Fine Arts (MFA); and an Interdisciplinary PhD in Media and Artistic Research with three possible paths: Path A: Research on the Arts; Path B: Research in the Arts; and Path C: Research Through the Arts. In all cases, students are required to complete projects which integrate knowledge from two or three distinct traditional disciplines, one of which must be a MAP discipline (i.e.: film, media production, media studies, music, theatre, visual arts) or area (i.e.: creative technologies).

It is the philosophy of our program that traditional skills and specializations are usefully augmented and contextualized by a more traditional fine arts perspective and a contemporary cross-disciplinary approach. As society moves towards information economies, cultural and entertainment sectors are rapidly emerging as driving forces in change. In this environment, there is an opportunity to expand beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries to the areas of creative technologies and science; social history; pedagogy; and consciousness and identity. The graduate program in Interdisciplinary Studies in MAP is designed to accommodate students who are motivated to pursue innovative projects in a rigorous intellectual environment that is supported by a flexible framework of coursework and an expansive network of research links to the university community.

Faculty Description

The Faculty of MAP consists of the Departments of Film, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts, and the Creative Technologies area. It is affiliated with the Department of Interdisciplinary Programs at the First Nations University of Canada. MAP offers a variety of undergraduate degrees as well as MA degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies, Media Studies, Musicology, and Music Theory; MFA degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies, Media Production, and Visual Arts; MMus degrees in Performance, Composition, and Conducting; and an Interdisciplinary PhD in Media and Artistic Research.

MAP explores contemporary media, art and performance practices, their histories and theories, in innovative and imaginative ways. Graduate programs offer core theoretical seminars, intensive hands on practices, and diverse courses taught by experienced faculty to facilitate individualized study programs. Research projects led by instructors provide training opportunities and funding. Support is also available through Graduate Studies Scholarships, Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Student Assistantships. Our funded research initiatives include the Interactive Media and Performance (IMP) Labs, Regina Improvisation Studies Centre (RISC) and the Voice Lab. We host the program Artists-in-Residence in Socially Engaged Practice, in which visiting artists interact with students to develop professional skills and networks. Our Creative Technology Makerspace is a vibrant lab for community interaction. Regina is home to several public galleries, artist run centres, private galleries, screening facilities and exhibition and performance spaces—many of which can provide graduate level professional placements.

Facilities and Resources

The Faculty of MAP is located in the state-of-the art Riddell Centre (Interdisciplinary Studies, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts), and in the Education Building (Film).

Film: The Department of Film teaches film and digital media in an interdisciplinary environment, preparing students to realize their paths as film and media artists, critics, historians, educators, curators and craftspeople. At the graduate level we offer the MFA in Media Production and the MA in Media Studies, taught by faculty actively engaged in scholarly and creative projects. Graduates have gone on to award winning careers across Canada and internationally. They work as independent filmmakers and producers, directors, screenwriters, editors and cinematographers in series television and on national and international fiction, documentary and animation productions. Our graduates have careers as festival programmers, researchers, archivists and educators. Film has 4K and HD video cameras, 16mm film cameras, a production studio, digital editing suites, audio post-production facilities, a photography darkroom, and a 3-D scanner and Maya animation workstations. Resources in the City of Regina include the Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative and the annual Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards (SIFA).

Interdisciplinary Programs: New technologies, markets and research methodologies require inventive approaches that respond to individual circumstances. Combining community and social engagement with diverse arts practices, Indigenous arts with curatorial theory, media studies with electronic music, performance-based practice with visual arts, bringing together creative technologies or exploring new directions in culture and display in institutional settings—these are some of the ways our Interdisciplinary Studies graduates have formulated thesis-based or practice-based graduate projects into new careers. Interdisciplinary Studies collaborates with other faculty members from across the University in our Interdisciplinary Studies PhD, MFA and MA programs, and students have access to shared studio space and the full range of MAP facilities.

Music: Opportunities for master's-level study in music include: 1) Traditionally oriented programs: the MMus with concentration in one of Performance, Conducting or Composition and the MA in the areas of Musicology or Music Theory; and 2) The Interdisciplinary MFA, in which music research may combine two or more of: creative technologies; music composition for multimedia; musicology; socially engaged performance practice; improvisation; and interdisciplinary approaches to solo performance or conducting. Resources in the City of Regina include the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Darke Hall and various music series.

Theatre: The Theatre Department offers students the opportunity to work with experienced professionals in two state-of-the-art theatres, movement and rehearsal studios, design and CAD labs, and costume and carpentry shops. Students who have graduated with MFA degrees have explored directing, playwriting and dramaturgy, going on to achieve professional careers in their fields. We also participate actively in graduating students through Special Case MFAs and the Interdisciplinary Studies program where students have, for example, investigated playwriting; walking performance; critical costume and gender identity; scenography; installation and performance; queer performativity; disability theatre; theatre and business administration; and conducting and design. Resources in the City of Regina include the Globe Theatre and its Sandbox Series, and Curtain Razors.

Visual Arts: Each graduate student in the Department of Visual Arts is provided with a generous studio space, guaranteed for six semesters and use of a fully equipped wood shop, computer lab and extensive equipment in each of the studio areas: ceramics, drawing, painting, print media, photography and sculpture. Specialized equipment includes a 36" slab roller, 11" diameter hydraulic extruder, two clay mixers and 3 gas kilns (one car kiln), complete photo-etching, litho and etching areas, wordpress, photomechanical and digital area, ortho camera and photo litho area, paper making and bronze casting facilities, welding and wood shop areas, digital video cameras, Mac computers, still cameras, monitors and other electronic media. The Dr. John Archer Library houses more than 30,000 Visual Arts volumes and numerous periodicals. The Visual Resource Centre has approximately 100,000 slides plus videotapes, video/disks, other audio-visual materials and a growing digital database. The City of Regina has public galleries: the MacKenzie Art Gallery, the Dunlop Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Regina, Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre, and Sâkêwêwak First Nations Artists’ Collective, as well as commercial galleries.

Library: The Dr. John Archer Library houses the University of Regina’s entire collections of books, journals, government documents and microforms, comprising 832,000 monographs, pamphlets and periodicals, 585,000 government publications and 913,000 other items in microform. The Archer provides seating for 760 readers and there are 170 computer workstations with printing access and full office productivity software for student use on its main floor. It contains listening facilities, recordings, microfilms, and a broad spectrum of scores, collected works and music texts. Library services and collections support the research and information needs of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, faculty and the community-at-large. The library's collection is comprised of resources in traditional and electronic formats, including print micro format, audio-visual and multimedia, CD-ROM and electronic full-text. Electronic resources are accessible at networked workstations across campus. The Library provides course reserve services, on-site listening facilities, photocopiers, microreaders/printers, laser disk players and other specialized equipment required to use audio-visual and multimedia resources.

City of Regina: Other resources available in the City of Regina include the Saskatchewan Legislative Library, which holds unique photo-archives and historical sub-collections; the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Metis Studies and Applied Research; La Cité Universitaire Francophone; as well as other research centres and public archives.

Entrance Requirements and Application

Students entering the Master of Arts program must hold a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited university or a similar recognized qualification from a comparable institution. Students entering the Master of Fine Arts program should in most cases hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts or a Bachelor of Music. Qualified applicants will be considered for admission to the program on the basis of academic standing and a proposal leading to an MA thesis or an MFA project. This proposal must clearly demonstrate the need for supervision in more than one area of knowledge and must indicate the availability of resources and supervision in these areas. In addition to the proposed program, applicants should submit appropriate supporting material (portfolio, sample of scholarly writing, etc.) and a proposed format for their graduation project. An audition and/or interview may be required. Once students have begun course work a more detailed, formal proposal will be submitted to the supervisors and IDS Graduate Committee for approval.

Courses

Course catalogue and current course offerings

Interdisciplinary MA or MFA in Media and Artistic Research

Nature and Proposed Title of the Research Program and/or Thesis Project

1. State clearly what degree you wish to obtain (MA or MFA).

2. Proposed Areas of Research. Outline the areas of research and investigation (and proposed subject areas) you wish to address in your program of study and what your goals are. What questions do you wish your program of study to address? If you have determined a thesis or project topic, briefly outline it here.

3. Background/Rationale. Situate your proposed program of study in relation to Fine Arts practices/concepts/theories. If you have begun research, indicate its extent.

4. Statement on Interdisciplinarity. State clearly the interdisciplinary nature of your program of study and justify the need to be supervised in more than one department. State succinctly why you wish to do an MA or MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies. Define what aspects of your training and background make you a suitable candidate for this program.

5. Departments from which Supervision will be required. Most projects will require supervision from two departments or one department and an area. Occasionally supervision from a third department might be considered.

6. Supervisors. List proposed supervisors as well as their department affiliation. Note their academic strengths and what expertise they will bring to the thesis or project. State if you have contacted these faculty members.

7. Examples of your work in support of the application.

MFA: Requires a proposal, writing sample and portfolio of creative work.

MA: Requires a proposal and writing sample.

Proposals for the MA and MFA should be approximately five pages, excluding bibliography. Writing samples will demonstrate critical thinking at the upper undergraduate level. For the MFA, portfolios of creative work can include all forms of digital and analog materials, as well as written and published materials (curatorial statements, artist statements). All proposals and examples of written work in support of the application should be uploaded as indicated on the application website. All portfolios of creative work should be accessible through a live link to a website or streaming site in your CV and/or proposal, as well as emailed to the IDS program. DVDs and CDs are not acceptable.

Residence Requirements

The student must be in residence for at least two consecutive semesters for the MA, and four consecutive semesters for the MFA, and all work toward the degree must be completed within five years. The workload of interdisciplinary degrees is typically heavier than in other graduate programs, and such programs frequently take longer than two years.