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PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

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PART 1: COURSE SUMMARY INFORMATION

Course summary

Final award Creative Writing MA

Intermediate award PG Diploma in Literature & PG Certificate

Course status Validation

Awarding body University of Brighton

School Humanities

Location of study/ campus Falmer, Grand Parade, Pavilion Parade

Partner institution(s)

Name of institution Host department Course status

1. SELECT

2.

3.

Admissions

Admissions agency Apply direct to course leader

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Entry requirements Include any progression opportunities into the course.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could

receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our

assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and

experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this

may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows

if your application is successful.

Degree and/or experience

An upper second-class undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant

arts and humanities discipline or professional experience in a relevant

field. Applicants with non-standard entry requirements will be asked to

provide written evidence of their creative and reflective skills.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall, 6.5 in writing

This programme has been validated to combine either a 12 or 8 week Extended Masters (EMA) English Language pathway route. Programme specifications for the English Language component of the Extended Masters route can be found at: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/international/study-with-us/courses-and-qualifications/brighton-language-institute/eap-programmes/extended-masters/index.aspx

Start date (mmm-yy) Normally September

Sept 2018

Mode of study

Mode of study Duration of study (standard) Maximum registration period

Full-time MA 1 year

6 years

Part-time MA Two Years

PgDip One Year

PgCert Six Months

MA Six Years

PgDip Four Years

PgCert Three Years

Sandwich N/A Select

Distance N/A Select

Course codes/categories

UCAS code TBC

Contacts

Course Leader (or Course Development Leader)

Jess Moriarty

jsm@brighton.ac.uk

Admissions Tutor Jess Moriarty

jsm@brighton.ac.uk

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Examination and Assessment

External Examiner(s) Name Place of work Date tenure expires

Professor Alison Baverstock

Kingston University 2021

Examination Board(s) (AEB/CEB)

Literature and Screen Studies

Approval and review

Approval date Review date

Validation June 20131 June 20182

Programme Specification June 20163

‘Q&S Published August 2016’

20184

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body 1 (if applicable):

5

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body 2 (if applicable):

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body 3 (if applicable):

1 Date of original validation. 2 Date of most recent periodic review (normally academic year of validation + 5 years). 3 Month and year this version of the programme specification was approved (normally September). 4 Date programme specification will be reviewed (normally approval date + 1 year). If programme specification is applicable to a particular cohort, please state here. 5 Date of most recent review by accrediting/ approving external body.

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PART 2: COURSE DETAILS

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aims

The aims of the course are:

The Creative Writing MA aims to enable students to:

1. acquire in-depth subject knowledge in the practice and craft of writings;

2. extend and enhance their creative processes;

3. work as part of a creative group and engage in a sensitive and critical feedback process whilst developing their critical and creative community;

4. develop a range of creative and critical skills, including creative, critical and

theoretical vocabulary;

5. interrogate innovative approaches to the writing practices and apply them to their own

processes;

6. investigate and practice a variety of modes of writing across a range of

styles and genres;

7. make reflections on their own writing based on the conclusions they

arrive at through in-depth research and practice;

8. develop the skills necessary to devise, conduct and conclude research

at a postgraduate level.

Learning outcomes

The outcomes of the main award provide information about how the primary aims are demonstrated by students following the course. These are mapped to external reference points where appropriate6.

Knowledge and theory By the end of the course students will have:

1. creative and critical insight into key intellectual and scholarly

issues in practices and processes of writing;

2. independence of thought and intellectual rigour in the analysis of problems, hypotheses and practice of writing;

3. ability to construct, develop and successfully complete an

independent creative study on an agreed topic;

Skills Includes intellectual skills (i.e. generic skills relating to academic study, problem

6 Please refer to Course Development and Review Handbook or QAA website for details.

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solving, evaluation, research etc.) and professional/ practical skills.

4. a high level of craftsmanship and technical command in a variety of writing practices with a view to writing for publication and/or work based-scenarios;

5. passionate engagement in the professional craft of creative writing through the practice of writing;

6. high level skills in constructing oral and written arguments, practising writing as craft and engaging in dialogue with relevant literary and creative communities.

QAA subject benchmark statement (where applicable)7

The MA responds to the UK QAA benchmark statements for the subject of English. It is to be noted that these benchmark statements apply to undergraduate English studies. As is currently the case with many subjects the QAA has yet to formulate national benchmark statements for English at postgraduate level. The MA fulfils many of the guideline of best practice as outlined in the HEA document http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/disciplines/English/HEA_Beyond_the_Benchmark.pdf

PROFESSIONAL, STATUTORY AND REGULATORY BODIES (where applicable)

Where a course is accredited by a PSRB, full details of how the course meets external requirements, and what students are required to undertake, are included.

N/A

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Learning and teaching methods

This section sets out the primary learning and teaching methods, including total learning hours and any specific requirements in terms of practical/ clinical-based learning. The indicative list of learning and teaching methods includes information on the proportion of the course delivered by each method and details where a particular method relates to a particular element of the course.

The Creative Writing MA offers a mixture of modes of delivery and a variety of assessment tasks. Students will benefit from dynamic workshops, master-classes, retreats and the more traditional lecture and seminar sessions. Independent study will lead to presentations in seminars and group discussions.

Clear guidelines on expected workloads, assessment deadlines, contact time will be provided for students through a module outline and a student handbook, as well as additional support from individual tutors and the Course Leader.

The learning and teaching strategy for the course is underpinned by students’ commitment to the course and their engagement with relevant subject areas.

Teaching and learning methods used to reflect a diversity of approaches include:

Tutor-led workshops which introduce ideas relating to practice, underpinned with a range of materials in class and electronically;

7 Please refer to the QAA website for details.

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Seminar and workshop sessions that give students an opportunity to engage with the subject matter in greater depth, analyse aspects of writing by combing theory and practice and engage in discussions that may be facilitated by the students themselves or the tutor;

Cross disciplinary groups and creative collaboration;

Action learning sets, learning diaries and formative assessments to enable students to develop skills in reflection, editing and redrafting;

Archive work and appropriate training in utilising primary resources (e.g., Performing Gender);

Individual tutorials that will give further opportunities for students to seek information, clarify issues, discuss in detail any controversial areas of study within their subject discipline;

Virtual Learning Environment studentcentral to provide students with additional materials that can be used for further individual study, or during seminar sessions (e.g. discussion boards, blogs and online journals);

Reading materials, particularly journal articles, that will enable students to engage with the wider literary communities and equip them with tools of how to present their own ideas, research questions and arguments;

Intensive and extended retreat scenarios.

E-learning and Blended Learning

The course will mobilise blended learning across modules as appropriate to offer greater choice and a more effective learning experience. Utilising multiple delivery media, the course will combine face to face classroom contact with self paced asynchronous learning formats. This delivery will foreground communication and time management as well as the needs of learners.

The MA will use blended learning to facilitate formative assessment, collaborative learning and digital content across modules as embedded delivery methods. These include, but are not limited to: • ePDP – electronic personal development planning; • Instructional media – podcasts, YouTube, iplayers, digital catalogues as enrichment activity (e.g. C21 Literature, Performing Gender) • Online assessment of portfolio work and drafts and peer comment and assessment (e.g. Creative Writing, Practising Rhetoric) • Online resources (e.g. jstor, Athens, electronic archives, twitter feeds) • Online office hours and e-tutorials and emails • Blackboard – social software and collaborative tools including discussions, journal, blogs, groups, buddy systems • E-submission – Turnitin and draft feedback • Interactive evaluation – surveymonkey

In time, the teaching team aim to develop online content and delivery and to explore existing models of this within the university in order that this MA can be delivered on-line.

Learning and Teaching Method % of Student Effort

Lectures, workshops, seminars, tutorials, retreats, master-classes, symposium (Stories for Screen)

25%

Independent study 75%

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ASSESSMENT

Assessment methods

This section sets out the summative assessment methods on the course and includes details on where to find further information on the criteria used in assessing coursework. It also provides an assessment matrix which reflects the variety of modes of assessment, and the volume of assessment in the course.

Learning Outcome Assessment method Module title Number of credits

1. creative and critical

insight into key intellectual and scholarly issues in practise and processes of writing;

Critical essay that supports and inspires extended creative piece Anthology and critical essay Extended creative piece and critical commentary Oral presentation and example of writing Work produced to a publishable standard

Dissertation Poetry: Theory and Practice Practising Rhetoric Screenwriting The Process of Publishing

60 20 20 20 20

2. independence of thought and intellectual rigour in the analysis of problems, hypotheses and practice of writing

Extended creative piece and critical commentary Reflections on work-based practice, seminar presentation and relevant creative product Critical study of a publishing company

Practising Rhetoric Communities of Practice The Process of Publishing

20 20 20

3. ability to construct, develop and successfully complete an independent study project on an agreed topic;

Critical essay that supports and inspires extended creative Piece Independent study and presentation Reflections on work-based practice, symposium presentation and relevant creative product

Dissertation and Communities of Practice

Narrative: The art and design of story-telling The Process of Publishing And Rhetoric

60 20 20 20 20

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4. a high level of

craftsmanship and technical command in a variety of writing practices;

Creative portfolio Reflections on experience of working as part of an editorial team and creative work (to be published in the collaborative anthology) Creative portfolio, presentation and commentary Opening to a novel or short story

Narrative: The art and design of story-telling The Process of Publishing Screenwriting Prose Fiction

20 20 20 20

5. passionate engagement in the professional craft of creative writing through the practice of writing;

Oral presentation and example of writing Presentation to invited audience (publishing panel) and extended creative piece Reflections on experience of working as part of an editorial team and creative work (to be published in the collaborative anthology) Portfolio of creative and self-reflective work Extended creative piece/anthology that demonstrates innovative research process linked to craft

Practising Rhetoric Prose Fiction The Process of Publishing Narrative: The art and design of story-telling and Poetry Theory and Practice and Screenwriting Dissertation

20 20 20 20 60

6- high level skills in constructing oral and written arguments, practising writing as craft and engaging in dialogue with relevant literary communities.

Reflections on work-based practice, seminar presentation and relevant creative product Oral presentation and example of writing Critical essay that supports and inspires extended creative piece

Communities of Practice Practising Rhetoric Dissertation and The Process of Publishing

20 20 60 20

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SUPPORT AND INFORMATION

Institutional/ University All students benefit from:

University induction week

Student Handbook: the University and you

Course Handbook

Extensive library facilities

Computer pool rooms (indicate number of workstations by site)

E-mail address

Welfare service

Personal tutor for advice and guidance

Course-specific Additional support, specifically where courses have non-traditional patterns of delivery (e.g. distance learning and work-based learning) include:

In addition, students on this course benefit from:

Please refer to information held in studentcentral.

Creative writing anthology

Open Mic Nights

On-line journal

Opportunities for work based learning and community practice

Masterclass sessions from professional writers

Tutorials from subject tutors

Language support through the University English Language Support Programme and

Writing Advisory Service

Support from the Course Administrator

The School of Humanities has a well-established student support and guidance tutor

mechanism, in addition to the personal tutoring support

Guidance on information retrieval

Collection of past dissertations and research projects

A number of research arenas from the School: - English Literature seminar series - Politics, Philosophy, Aesthetics seminar series - Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics - Student Philosophy Society - Centre for Study of Memory, Narrative and History - Contempo - Drama and Performance

Subject relationships with Brighton Pavilion and Museum, Charleston House, Brighton Festival, Brighton Festival Fringe, Brighton Library, Queenspark Books, and Myriad Editions

Formative feedback on every module

The University’s collections (Screen Archive South-East; Design Archives); the QueenSpark archive housed in the School of Humanities at Pavilion Parade; and local libraries, archives etc.

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PART 3: COURSE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

COURSE STRUCTURE

This section includes an outline of the structure of the programme, including stages of study and progression points. Course Leaders may choose to include a structure diagram here.

FULL TIME ROUTE

Oct-Jan Feb-May March-Sept

Dissertation (seminar series only)

Dissertation

The Process of Publishing Option 1

Practicing Rhetoric Communities of Practice

Narrative: The art and design of story-telling

Option 2

60 credits 60 credits 60 credits = 180 credits

Modules

Status:

M = Mandatory (modules which must be taken and passed to be eligible for the award)

C = Compulsory (modules which must be taken to be eligible for the award)

O = Optional (optional modules)

A = Additional (modules which must be taken to be eligible for an award accredited by a professional, statutory or regulatory body, including any non-credit bearing modules)

Level8

Module code

Status Module title Credit

7 LL701 C Practising Rhetoric 20

7 Ll714 C Narrative: The art and design of story-telling 20

7 Ll715 C Communities of Practice 20

7 LL703 C Dissertation 60

7 LLTBC C The Process of Publishing 20

7 Ll716 O Prose Fiction 20

7 Ll717 O Poetry: Theory and Practice 20

7 LL709 O Screenwriting 20

7 AGM68 O Auto/Biographical Narrative 20

7 AGM32 O Cultures of Multi-Media Authoring and Web Design 20

7 LTM19 O Writing for Academic Publication 20

78 All modules have learning outcomes commensurate with the FHEQ levels 0, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. List the level which corresponds with

the learning outcomes of each module.

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AWARD AND CLASSIFICATION

Award type Award* Title Level Eligibility for award Classification of award

Total credits9 Minimum credits10 Ratio of marks11: Class of award

Select PgCert Creative Writing Select Total credit Select 60 Minimum credit at level of award Select 60

Select7 Select Postgraduate Degree

Select PGDip Creative Writing Select Total credit Select 120 Minimum credit at level of award Select 120

Select7 Select Postgraduate Degree

Select MA Creative Writing Select Total credit Select 180 Minimum credit at level of award Select 180

Select7 Select Postgraduate Degree

Select Select Total credit Select Minimum credit at level of award Select

Select Select

Select Select Total credit Select Minimum credit at level of award Select

Select Select

*Foundation degrees only

Progression routes from award:

Award classifications Mark/ band % Foundation degree Honours degree Postgraduate12 degree (excludes PGCE and BM BS)

70% - 100% Distinction First (1) Distinction

60% - 69.99% Merit Upper second (2:1) Merit

50% - 59.99% Pass

Lower second (2:2) Pass

40% - 49.99% Third (3)

9 Total number of credits required to be eligible for the award. 10 Minimum number of credits required, at level of award, to be eligible for the award. 11 Algorithm used to determine the classification of the final award (all marks are credit-weighted). For a Masters degree, the mark for the final element (e.g, dissertation) must be in the corresponding class of award. 12 Refers to taught provision: PG Cert, PG Dip, Masters.

Document template revised: 2010 Page 12 of 12

EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS

Please refer to the Course Approval and Review Handbook when completing this section.

The examination and assessment regulations for the course should be in accordance with the University’s General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses (available from staffcentral or studentcentral).

Specific regulations which materially affect assessment, progression and award on the course e.g. Where referrals or repeat of modules are not permitted in line with the University’s General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses.

In order to achieve the award of Master of Arts in Creative writing, a student must normally: (i) have completed successfully sufficient elements of study to gain 180 credits necessary for an MA; (ii) have completed successfully the four Core Creative writing modules and two of the designated Option modules and Dissertation modules; (iii) have achieved an overall average, weighted mark of at least 50% in coursework; and (iv) have achieved an overall mark of at least 50% in the Dissertation.

In order to achieve the award of PgDip in Creative writing, a student must normally: (i) have completed successfully sufficient elements of study to gain 120 credits necessary for a PgDip; (ii) have completed successfully the four Core Creative writing modules and two of the designated Option modules; (iii) have achieved an overall average, weighted mark of at least 50% in coursework.

In order to achieve the award of PgCert in Creative writing, a student must normally: (i) have completed successfully sufficient elements of study to gain 60 credits necessary for an PgCert; (ii) have completed successfully at least two Core Creative writing modules and/or one of the designated Option modules; (iii) have achieved an overall average, weighted mark of at least 50% in coursework.

Exceptions required by PSRB These require the approval of the Chair of the Academic Board

N/A