Msc creative arts and mental health wolfson institute of preventive medicine|english and drama

Structure

Creative Arts and Mental Health is available to study to MSc or PGDip levels.

The MSc programme consists of five modules. Completion of the first four modules is accredited for exit with a PGDip in Creative Arts and Mental Health. Completion of all five modules leads to the MSc award.

In term 1 students take Module 1- Critical Mental Health Sciences and Module 2- Performing Mental Health. In term 2 students take a choice of two existing Module 3 options offered by the Department of Drama (Cultural Industries or Independent Practical Project) and Module 4- Critical Encounters in Arts and Mental Health. In term 3, students completing the MSc award also take Module 5 and undertake a dissertation on an original topic in the field.

FULL TIME: PGDip and MSc options are available full-time and students complete all study components within one academic year.

PART TIME: Part-time MSc students participate in the first four modules in the same way as the full-time students but for part-time students, module five (i.e. the research and dissertation module) can be completed over the second year instead of finishing in the first year, allowing additional time and flexibility for conducting research that needs a longer time-frame and for flexibility to pursue other work or commitments.

At the discretion of the programme organiser and the examination board, those not completing the programme of study for the Masters may exit with a PG Diploma or a PG Certificate.

We offer a variety of modes of study including full-time and part-time options, giving students many choices to suit their existing workloads and lifestyles. Part-time study is ideal for those with work or other commitments.

This module sets out the existing state of mental health care and practice, taking account of the historical legacy and the place of power and identity in contemporary practice. Students hear about assessment and diagnostic practices, their strengths and limitations, and about traditions of evaluation and research methods ranging from medical to social sciences. The module is based on seminal readings and textbooks that investigate the philosophy, social and anthropological perspectives on mental health practice, and the place of representation and stigma in modern policy and practice. The scientific method and research methods found in psychiatric and medical practice is critiqued. The taught component of this module consists of lectures delivered by specialists and intercalating workshops, running for 12 weeks.

This module explores the performance of mental health and mental illness as they have been defined across history, and in the contemporary moment. In particular the module asks how the social construction of mental health is reflected in and produced by performance. Special attention is given to representations of ‘madness’ and ‘mental illness’ produced in historical performance, as well as to how these representations have since been reinterpreted and adapted to reflect current constructions and concerns. The taught component of this module consists of a total of 30-33 hours of lectures and workshops.

This module explores cultural industries – both their practices, and the issues (ethical, practical, political, economic, etc.) they raise. It examines the political and economic contexts and practices that give rise to and affect them. It evaluates their aims as well as the practices they do and might employ to achieve those aims. Module convenor(s) facilitate students’ placement with an appropriate industry partner and students develop industry-based projects to complete within the context of the industry partner’s work. Students’ work on this module is partly seminar-based, and partly based on work with the industry partner. The taught component of this module consists in 2 hours seminars for 8 weeks.

This module requires students to devise an individual project that focuses on a chosen area of performance practice. The aim of the module is for you to raise a series of research questions that are addressed as a result of and through their practical work. This could encompass playwriting, applied drama, directing, dramaturgy, acting, new technologies, site-specific performance and live art. Working under the supervision of the module convenor and a mentor, each student crafts a professional project that also provides an opportunity for critical reflection on the processes of performance practice. Students take part in 11 weekly workshop classes at 4 hours per class.

The two assessments (presentation and portfolio) are designed to provide public platforms for the dissemination of rigorous practice-based research while maintaining an emphasis on high standards of professional performance making.

Module 4: Critical Encounters in Arts and Mental Health

This module investigates the use of arts-based practices as research, education, health intervention, advocacy and activism in mental health. Students will learn about contemporary art practice which interrogates, critiques and/or contributes to mental health theory and practice. The module is based on lecture-seminars delivered by artists, art-historians and clinicians who engage with art within their practice. Students will be encouraged to develop a specialist area of interest that will be furthered developed during their dissertation project (Module 5). The taught component of this module is delivered in 3 hours lecture-seminars for 12 weeks.

Term 3

Module 5 includes lectures/workshops on research methodologies as further preparation for your independent dissertation work. Research workshops are offered during Term 1 and 2. Additionally, in Term 3 you will have access to a Research Methods module made available to all MSc students at the Centre for Psychiatry. Module 5 is assessed by a dissertation that includes original research using an art-based or science-based methodology or an original and comprehensive systematic literature review. Where applicable, you are required to obtain ethics applications for your research. Each student is matched with at least one dissertation supervisor from either Drama or Psychiatry, based on their topic and methods of research, who will offer individual tutorials.