| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-19 | - |
| 2024-01-09 | 2023-11-04 |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
The Photographic History MA program at DMU equips students with the knowledge and skills to explore photographic materials, practices, and critical field scholarship. Delivered online and part-time, the program offers flexible study options and culminates in an independent project completed for an external photography organization, providing valuable professional experience. The program focuses on both social and cultural photographic practices, expanding students' knowledge of the cultural and social significance of photography throughout its history.
Program Outline
Photographic History MA
Degree Overview:
Objective:
To equip students with the skills and knowledge to explore photographic materials, practices, processes, and critical field scholarship. To provide students with real-world professional expertise through fieldwork experience at well-known photography organizations.
Description:
This program is delivered online and part-time, allowing students to study around their existing commitments. It offers flexible study options, including full-time, part-time, and per-module, allowing students to progress at their own pace. The program culminates in an independent project completed for an external photography organization, providing students with valuable professional experience. The program focuses on both social and cultural photographic practices, expanding students' knowledge of the cultural and social significance of photography throughout its history. This program also examines the changing socio-political role of photography and its cultural conception, considering both digital and analogue photography.
Outline:
Content:
The program covers a wide range of topics related to the history of photography, including:
- Material Histories
- Photography, Ethics and Emotions
- Producing and Consuming Photographs
- Photographic Historiography
- Photography and Politics
- Photography, Science and Technology
- Fieldwork Experience
- Dissertation or Heritage Project
Structure:
The program is divided into two terms, with each term consisting of four modules. The modules are delivered through a blend of asynchronous lectures, activities, research, and reflection accessed through DMU's learning platform. Tutorials are arranged by appointment to facilitate individual learning.
Course Schedule:
The program is offered online and delivered part-time. The course schedule for each term is as follows:
Term 1:
- Learning Photographic History Online (Zero credits)
- Material Histories (15 credits)
- Photography, Ethics and Emotions (15 credits)
- Producing and Consuming Photographs (15 credits)
- Photographic Historiography (15 credits)
Term 2:
- Photography and Politics (15 credits)
- Photography, Science and Technology (15 credits)
- Fieldwork Experience (30 credits)
- Dissertation or Heritage Project (60 credits)
Individual Modules:
Learning Photographic History Online (Zero credits):
This introductory module provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the online learning platform and engage with the program's resources.
Material Histories (15 credits):
This module explores photographic images as objects, encouraging students to analyze and interpret primary source material.
Photography, Ethics and Emotions (15 credits):
This module examines the ethical considerations surrounding photography, including issues of representation, sensitivity, and responsibility.
Producing and Consuming Photographs (15 credits):
This module investigates the economic and social contexts of photography, exploring the production, circulation, and consumption of photographic images.
Photographic Historiography (15 credits):
This module delves into the history of photographic scholarship, examining key theoretical frameworks and their influence on the field.
Photography and Politics (15 credits):
This module analyzes the role of photography in political contexts, exploring its use in shaping state narratives, social movements, and individual experiences.
Photography, Science and Technology (15 credits):
This module examines the relationship between photography and science, exploring the role of photography in scientific research, communication, and knowledge production.
Fieldwork Experience (30 credits):
This module provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in a relevant organization, allowing them to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting.
Dissertation or Heritage Project (60 credits):
This module allows students to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice, culminating in either a traditional written dissertation or an embedded project.
Assessment:
The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:
- Essays
- Presentations
- Projects
- Portfolios
- Examinations Assessment criteria are designed to evaluate students' knowledge, understanding, critical thinking, and research skills.
Teaching:
The program is taught by a team of experienced academics with expertise in photographic history. The teaching methods employed include:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Online discussions
- Independent study The program also utilizes a variety of technologies to enhance the learning experience, including:
- Learning Zone
- Collaborate Ultra
- DMU Replay
- MS Teams
- Turnitin
- LinkedIn Learning
- Microsoft 365
Careers:
The Photographic History MA prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in the culture sector, including:
- Research
- Archives
- Museums
- Galleries
- Curating
- Museum and gallery administration
- Digital cataloguing
- Publishing Many graduates have also pursued further academic studies, including PhDs in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and the USA.
Other:
The program also offers students the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including:
- Research seminars
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Networking events These activities provide students with valuable opportunities to further develop their knowledge, skills, and professional connections.
UK 2024/25 fees:
£9,435 (full-time) per year. 2024/25 full-time DL tuition fees for international students: £15,800.
