Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Prerequisites

Prerequisite knowledge is required within the visual arts equivalent to master’s level in one or several of the following subject areas: art and/or design and/or visual cultural theory; art and/or design and/or visual cultural history; art and design didactics. The candidates with a master’s degree in cross-aesthetic study programmes (aesthetics, arts subjects or similar) must be able to document relevant specialist knowledge within the visual arts (perhaps in relation to relevant contexts) equivalent to at least 30 credits at master’s level.

Recommended previous knowledge

A mixed educational background with academic, performing/creative and didactic components will be an advantage, but this is not a formal requirement.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the candidates should be able to:

  • Apply critical, didactic, and art-theoretical knowledge perspectives in the exploration of current practices within visual and material art forms
  • Apply art-theoretical perspectives in the exploration of social situations (including learning situations)
  • Conduct research in the intersection between artistic, societal, and philosophical-aesthetic perspectives and practices

Contents

The course focuses on theoretical and methodological entry points to research in and with visual and artistic practices and phenomena, which are practiced and experienced in a broad spectrum of social and cultural contexts. Particular focus will be placed upon the arts subjects’ potential in relation to investigating and activating social and cultural processes of change which take into account the complexities of present-day society. The course will take, as its point of departure, concrete issues related to the candidates’ PhD projects combined with critical reading and discussion of central texts within present-day theories of art, design, and visual culture.

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching will be organised into two to four gatherings of seminars and/or workshops. Group work may be relevant which takes its departure point from the candidates’ individual thesis statements, and with lectures, possibly from relevant guest lecturers. Apart from the gatherings, joint study trips and/or study group work may be relevant. The course will, to as great an extent as is possible, be tailored towards the circumstances of the candidates’ PhD projects. This applies not only to content, but also to working forms.

Examination requirements

  • The candidates shall hold a prepared oral presentation of the outline at one of the gatherings.
  • The candidates shall provide a prepared commentary to another PhD candidate’s presentation during the course.

Examinations

  • The candidate gives a presentation of about 30 minutes that connects issues from teaching and the course syllabus to their own Ph.D. project. (In special cases, a shorter or longer presentation can be agreed upon.) The presentation may also take the form of a digital and/or multimodal presentation of equivalent scope. For candidates with a combined artistic-scientific dissertation, the candidate is encouraged to include performative/creative work in the presentation.
  • No later than one week before the examination presentation, the candidate must submit a synopsis of about 5 pages. Complete references and a bibliography are to be included in addition.
  • The presentation is followed by a conversation of about 15 minutes with the committee.

If the examination is assessed as a fail, a reason will be provided for this, as well as advice regarding improvements and a new date for the presentation.

Assessed with the grade: pass/fail.

Student evaluation

The person responsible for the course, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 6:33:53 PM