The ViCCA study programme can be characterized as having a strong transdisciplinary approach across art, science and technology. The programme offers students access to emerging knowledges and practices at the intersections of visual cultures, curating and contemporary art through an engagement with societal, political, economic, ecological and philosophical concerns. ViCCA encourages experimentation with diverse artistic practices, contexts and forms of research.

Aims of the Master of Arts degree

The aim of the degree is to provide students with:

1. Wide theoretical and general knowledge of; as well as artistic and practical expertise in the field of visual cultures.
2. Knowledge and skills needed for independent artistic work and transdisciplinary practices, as well as formation of competencies in relation to scientific methods, tools and thinking.
3. Tools for developing independent and collaborative projects as well as the expertise that enables graduates to operate, lead or establish cultural initiatives.
4. A good foundation for further education in the field, such as a Doctor of Arts degree or lifelong learning studies. 

Learning outcomes of Master's Programme in Visual Cultures, Curating and Contemporary Art

Student learning outcomes are as follows:

• Students develop a solid understanding of how to research across disciplines to enrich and diversify contemporary and emerging artistic practices and thinking.
• Students will update on relevant theory and international discourses within the expanded field of visual cultures.
• Students will learn to contextualize and reflect on their work in relation to professional fields and social and cultural phenomena.
• Students will be able to engage in research processes, learning to fuse theoretical knowledge with artistic and curatorial practices.
• Students will acquire concrete tools, methods and production skills beneficial in the field of visual cultures.
• Students will develop comprehensive research and writing skills, preparing them for future studies (e.g. Doctoral degree)

Education content

Visual Cultures, Curating and Contemporary Art is a hybrid programme consisting of the fields of visual culture, curatorial practice and contemporary art. The educational aim of the programme is to intertwine these fields in innovative ways and support the emergence of possibilities and practices. The program offers an opportunity to develop, deepen and re-contextualise one’s prior skills and knowledge.

Each student has their own tailored study plan, which helps them to chart a pathway through a  combination of theoretical studies, experimental artistic workshops, concrete projects and excursions, in addition to thesis work. Theoretical and artistic studies are seen as responding critically and engaging with the current practices of artistic research, practice and curating in the field of visual cultures.

The programme’s pedagogical models are based on shared expertise and exploratory learning and are applied in order to create an open conversational and dialogic space for participatory interaction.

The School of Arts, Design and Architecture  alongside Aalto University as a whole, provides ViCCA students a broad variety of possible minor studies. These include studies in the fields of design, media, business, technology among many others.

Major studies 90 cr

Aims of the master's thesis

To graduate, students must meet the aims set for the thesis. The aim of the master's thesis is that:

• Students demonstrate command of the field of the master's programme and ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the programme independently;
• Students demonstrate ability for research-oriented work on an artistic, theoretical or applied research topic and demonstrate ability to use data and source material for research purposes;
• Students demonstrate good communication skills for work in the field of study.

The thesis may be a piece of theoretical, artistic or applied research, a work of art or a combination of these; it may also include a production component. The production component may be, depending on the field, for instance, a design, a work of art, an exhibition, or project. Theses always include a written component. If the thesis consists of a design or other production component and a written component, the student must specify the emphasis to be given to the different components in the evaluation. However, the thesis is always evalu-ated as a whole, with all the components of the thesis included in the evaluation.

The recommended extent of the written component of the thesis is 25–70 pages (approx. 50 000–140 000 characters) depending on the extent of the possible production component.

For more information on completing your thesis see: Completing your master's thesis

Students choose 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete minor studies and/or take individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University or other Finnish universities, participate in an international student exchange programme, do an internship in Finland or abroad, or take elective courses offered by student’s own programme/major.

Elective courses in ViCCA