195103 v.3 Master of Philosophy (Design)

MA(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 061530B
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas: 2 Years

Introduction

This course provides an opportunity for designers, educationalists and professionals in other related areas to develop research skills and knowledge and to carry out design research. Knowledge in the design field is advanced through independent investigation or the examination of hypotheses and the development and presentation of a thesis or creative design project. Design is a multidisciplinary activity which requires highly developed critical and analytical thinking and conceptual and communication skills. This course focuses on those critical faculties and the creative synthesis of independent work or experimentation in producing a contribution to knowledge that is well grounded in findings from a research activity.

Course Entry Requirements/Prerequisites

An honours degree or postgraduate diploma in design or related fields. In recognition of the comparatively recent opportunities for design practitioners to gain a bachelor degree with honours, applicants who have significant practical experience (normally a minimum of three years following the award of a bachelor degree, and a minimum of five years following a three-year diploma) will be considered for admission. Candidates without formal research experience may be required to undertake units on researchmethodologies.

Duration and Availability

The course is by research and normally requires one to two years of full-time or equivalent part-time study. Study modes are flexible and negotiable with opportunities provided for candidates to complete the program on or off campus through the electronic communications protocols established by the Department of Design and the Distance Education unit and/or to attend intensive short courses.

Course Organisation

This course is studied as a research degree. The content of the degree should be determined in consultation with the Postgraduate Coordinator of the Department of Design. Students without prior studies in research methods and statistical data analysis will be required to undertake relevant preparatory units. This will increase the course duration.

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other essential study materials.

Special Note

It is a requirement that two-thirds of this course is undertaken by research and only one-third by coursework. Students should not enrol in this research course to receive the Postgraduate Diploma in Design but rather have undertaken it as a requisite for admission. Students who wish to study this program in external mode will require computing and online facilities. Students may incur a cost for personal Internet access.

Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.

Course Structure			Hrs/Wk	Credit
Majors, Streams or Other Core Components
12814	v.3	Design Issues Seminar 591	3.0	25.0
99023	v.2	Master Thesis - Design		0.0
				25.0