SymbioticA

Master of Biological Arts

How to apply

In addition to the attachments required in the application form applicants who are not graduates of this University must submit an original transcript or certified copy of their academic record for all tertiary qualifications to date.

Key information

  • 96 credit points
  • 2 years full time
  • Course code: 53550
  • Intake period: February and July

Important dates

Application for 2010

December

Commence 2010

February

scienceIf you want an exciting career that stimulates you, challenges you, and rewards you, then a postgraduate degree in science sets you on the right path.

Completing further study beyond a Bachelor degree will enhance your chances of employment as well as advancement, as you will increase your knowledge in specific areas that interest you.

Course outline

The Master of Science (Biological Arts) is intended for people who already hold a degree in science, the humanities and the visual arts and who wish to undertake interdisciplinary studies to engage with the crossover of art and science.

The course is designed for experienced art practitioners, scientists, and humanities scholars who wish to engage with creative bioresearch. The course focuses on recent advances in the life sciences, both in theory and practice. Emphasis is placed on critical thought, ethical and cultural issues and cross-disciplinary experimentation in art and science. Students have access to scientific laboratories, techniques and expertise. Students will take both existing art and science units and a core SymbioticA units together with a major project and dissertation. Students can replace a suggested elective unit with another unit, if approved by the course co-ordinator.

Teaching in the core units of the course will draw on internationally recognised arts practitioners from the Tissue Culture and Art Project (Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr), scientists from within the School of Anatomy and Human Biology and guest lectures from international scholars and artists undertaking residencies at SymbioticA.  A diverse and wide spectrum of expertise in a number of faculties at UWA will be utilised, potentially including Life and Physical Sciences, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts.

The program is structures so that students may exit after two semesters with a Graduate Diploma of Science (Biological Arts). Students entering with first-class honours or both a Science and an Arts degrees may be able to complete the master's course in one year.

Completion may lead to a higher degree by research. 

Core units

Plus units to a total value of 36 points chosen in consultation with the course co-ordinator comprising:

  • units of any level to a value of at least six points in the human sciences (notes 1 & 2)
  • for students with prior study in arts or fine arts, units at any level to a value of at least 18 points offered in the biological, earth and physical sciences (notes 1 & 3)
  • or for students with prior study in science, units of any level to a value of at least 18 points from those offered in the fine arts, humanities and performance (notes 1 & 4)
  • and if necessary to make up the required number of points, additional units from the human sciences, biological, earth, physical sciences, fine arts, humanities and performance.

Notes

1. Some units have prerequisites or assumed knowledge.

2. Human science units include anthropology, science communications, philosophy, psychology, psychology, integrated human studies, economics or related fields.

3. Biological, earth and physical science units include biology, physics, chemistry, geology, geography, anatomy and human biology, human movement, biochemistry, botany, physiology, genetics, microbiology or related fields.

4. Fine arts, humanities and performance units include fine arts, English, history, classics, politics, performance or related fields.

Admission requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in Science, Arts or Fine Arts or equivalent as recognised by the Faculty.

Domestic students

All UWA coursework programs: English Language Competence

International students

All UWA coursework programs: English Language Competence


Course enquiries

School of Anatomy and Human Biology
Contact: Ionat Zurr, Lecturer
Telephone: (61 8) 6488 7116
Web: Symbiotica