You can find course descriptions in Sisu. In your study plan, choose the course and click the course code or search courses by code or name. Learning environments are found in MyCourses through search or after registration in "My own courses".
Student Guide
Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education
Programme main page
Loading table of contents
Curriculum 2024–2026
About the programme
Code: ARTS214
Scope: 120 ECTS
Programme director: professor Juuso Tervo
Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education (NM NoVA) is a double degree programme between Aalto University (Finland) and Aalborg University (Denmark) in which students achieve a comprehensive understanding of Nordic p,ractices and traditions in art education, visual culture, and cultural work. Through NM NoVA education, you will acquire relevant practical and theoretical competencies in art, education, and culture for working in cross-cultural and international environments. NM NoVA graduates will be able to respond to the demands of the changing world, where cultural, artistic, and pedagogical practices and professions are finding new ways and methods for meaning-making, interaction and creative solutions.
All courses are organized and co-taught between Aalto University and Aalborg University.
- Apply and assess theories and practices of contemporary art education, communication studies, visual design, and digital visual culture when working with different audiences and stakeholders.
- Initiate, plan, carry out, and critically evaluate artistic, educational, and entrepreneurial projects in cross-cultural, international, and transdisciplinary environments.
- Lead and support cultural, artistic, and educational development work with different institutions, stakeholders, and partners.
- Identify, analyse, and suggest solutions for complex issues through practices of creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and arts-based methods.
- Reflect and reevaluate past and present practices in Nordic ecosystems of art, education, and visual culture.
- Recognize and cultivate socially, culturally, and environmentally responsible practices in art, education, entrepreneurship, and digital culture.
- Partake in developing, evaluating, and expanding the professional domains of art, education, and visual culture in contemporary societies.
Degree structure
| Advanced studies (including Master's Thesis 30 ECTS) | 120 ECTS |
Programme studies
| Code | Course name | ECTS | Period / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXM-E9002 | Art and Problem-Based Research Methodology | 10 | I / 1. year |
| AXM-E9003 | Art Pedagogical Practices and Theories | 10 | I-II / 1. year |
| AXM-E9004 | Aesthetics, Visual Culture and Visual Communication | 10 | I-II / 1. year |
| AXM-E9005 | Critical Issues in Art, Education, and Visual Culture | 5 | III / 1. year |
| AXM-E9006 | Project Management, Administration an Entrepreneurship | 5 | III / 1. year |
| AXM-E9007 | Interventions for Change in Communication and Art Pedagogical Practices | 20 | IV-V / 1. year |
Optional studiesThe students chooses one of the three tracks (each track 30 ECTS). |
|||
| Track I: Internship consists of 5 credits of research methodology seminar and 25 credits of research work done in a partnering company/institution/ stakeholder | |||
| AXM-E9008 | NoVA Research Seminar | 5 | I-II / 2. year |
| AXM-E9009 | NoVA Field Work | 25 | I-II / 2. year |
| Track II: Visual Project consists of 5 credits of research methodology seminar, 15 credits of independent project done with a partnering company/ institution/stakeholder, and 10 credits of elective courses | |||
| AXM-E9008 | NoVA Research Seminar | 5 | I-II / 2. year |
| AXM-E9010 | NoVA Project Work | 15 | I-II / 2. year |
| Elective courses | 10 | I-II / 2. year | |
| Track III: Theoretical Project consists of 5 credits of research methodology seminar and 25 credits of working in an academic research environment. | |||
| AXM-E9008 | NoVA Research Seminar | 5 | I-II / 2. year |
| AXM-E9011 | NoVA Theoretical Work | 25 | I-II / 2. year |
Master's thesis |
|||
| AXM.thes | Master's Thesis | 30 | 2. year |
| ARTSa.matr | Maturity Test | 0 | 2. year |
Language study requirements
Students educated in Finnish or Swedish
For students educated in Finnish or Swedish language studies are designed to be completed as part of the Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design) or another Bachelor’s degree. Students who have not completed the required language studies before starting to pursue the master’s degrees specified above must complete them either as elective studies or in addition to the studies required for the degree. In such cases, the language requirements are as follows:
Master of Arts (Art and Design):
-
9 credits: 3 cr in written and oral communication, 3 cr in the second national language of Finland, and 3 cr in one foreign language.
Students whose language of primary and secondary education is other than Finnish or Swedish
Students who have received their primary and secondary education abroad or whose language of primary and secondary education is other than Finnish or Swedish must demonstrate their foreign language proficiency either by completing three (3) credits of language and communication studies corresponding to the degree requirements in one foreign language, or by completing three (3) credits of language and communication studies in Finnish or Swedish.
Note: Students who have begun their studies on or after 1 August 2022 must fulfil the foreign language requirement of the degree in one of the following ways: by taking English courses at the CEFR starting level B2; by taking Chinese, French, German, Russian or Spanish courses at the CEFR starting level B1; or by taking Finnish or Swedish courses at the CEFR starting level corresponding to their skills.
Courses fulfilling the foreign language requirement of the degree are marked (o) for oral skills, (w) for written skills, or (o,w) for both.
- Published:
- Updated: