BA Honours Professional Practice (Arts)
Course length: 15 calendar months - September and January entries
Study mode: part-time
Start date : September 2013
Course leader: Paula Nottingham
BA Honours Professional Practice (Arts) is a 15 month long extension programme (run over two academic yeas) for practitioners in the creative and cultural industries, dance, musical theatre, music, performing arts, design, fine art, media and communication. BAPP (Arts) is a unique opportunity for individuals to extend their academic or professional diploma, professional certificate, higher national diploma, foundation degree or practice-based experience to BA Honours level while carrying on their professional activities.
Career Benefits
Enhances existing professional practice and career progression through personal development and self-managed learning;
Consolidates and expands professional networks by updating existing networking and communication skills;
Builds confidence in managing professional experience to create a pathway for further study;
Converts an academic or professional diploma or certificate, foundation degree or practice-based experience into a recognised honours degree.
Special Features
Study is focused on developing professional practice by examining and exploring the issues that are important to you through professional inquiry;
Innovative programme designed to address the needs of professionals from creative and cultural industries including art, design, performing arts and media;
Student learning is developed through use of social networking web tools and supported through campus sessions;
Academic advisers facilitate learning throughout the programme.
Programme Content
Participants develop their professional practice through engagement with a range of learning activities culminating in a major practice-based project or professional inquiry. The content of the course is mainly based on the exploration and understanding of this professional practice with the introduction of relevant knowledge and skills to facilitate professional inquiry. Current practice-based experience is essential and all applicants are expected to show that they will be engaged in practice either full time, part-time, paid or voluntary, or through professional engagements.
The programme is delivered using campus sessions and online social networking tools, with individual academic advisers provided for students on the course. Students will be expected to have regular access to the web and email for the distance-learning element of the programme. This blended approach allows students to access to individual support and to interact with other students in the BAPP (Arts) network. We recommend that students attend the campus sessions in London although we acknowledge professional engagements may make this difficult on occasions.
Modules
Students are assigned tasks that involve: creating blogs and wikis; reflective reports; written reports; audio-visual resources, professional artefacts, inquiry projects, and oral presentations. Students will engage in reflection upon their practice, and be expected to communicate with other students and other professionals about their studies, work and ideas. The focus is on the establishing practice of the student rather than content ‘owned’ or ‘held’ by the University. The programme introduces higher education capabilities and skills and develops professional practice. This builds in complexity leading to a major project based upon and designed to benefit professional practice.
The programme consists of three modules:
Establishing Professional Practice (30 Credits) - Compulsory
Principles of Professional Inquiry (30 Credits) - Compulsory
Professional Inquiry (60 Credits) – Compulsory
Assessments are based on a range of stated criteria, but we value an overall commitment by the student to engage in meaningful dialogue on the issues and topics covered in the programme. The programme gives prominence to a number of core themes, which are realised through assignments and interaction between the learning community of students and tutors.
Themes in the programme include:
Establishing and developing reflexive practice
Application of communication technologies
Professional networking
Professional ethics, inquiry planning and tools
Carrying out a professional inquiry in the workplace or in practice
Fees
Please download the Fee Chart for Professional Practice course fees.
You can find a breakdown of our course fees by module over two years of study in our BAPP Arts Fee Schedule.
Guidance on Financial Support
Please note that ordinarily the BAPP (Arts) programme runs over two academic years (not calendar years).
The Student Welfare Advice team can advise students on financial matters during their course of study.
Entry Requirements
Candidates who wish to apply for BAPP (Arts) should hold one of the following qualifications:
At least two years prior successful undergraduate study in an appropriate subject, an ordinary degree or foundation degree in an appropriate subject;
A Trinity College London National Diploma or Certificate in Professional Dance, Professional Musical Theatre, Professional Acting or Professional Production Skills;
Other professional qualifications that are judged to be equivalent to 240 credits (QCF levels 4 & 5);
A number of ISTD qualifications are recognised for entry ontoBAPP (Arts). Please contact ISTD for confirmation of the credits you have gainedthrough ISTD qualifications.
Any candidate who does not hold the any of the above qualifications but has a minimum of 3 years professional experience can apply for the ‘experienced practitioner’ route.
For more information
Tel: + 44(0)208 411 5087
Email: p.nottingham@mdx.ac.uk
Application Procedure
Applications to BA Honours Professional Practice (Arts) should be made directly to Middlesex University. Please complete the BAPP application form and forward it to the Professional Practice Applications email address.
Experienced Practitioner Route
If you do not hold the entry qualifications but have four or more years professional experience, we also offer an ‘Experienced Practitioner’ route. This gives greater focus to skills and knowledge already developed within your professional practice. You are advised to discuss this route first with the Programme Leader who you can contact directly or via the WBL Administrator.
Paula Nottingham
BAPP Arts Programme Leader
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8411 5087
Email: p.nottingham@mdx.ac.uk
Avni Shah
Depertmental and Programmes Administrator, Culture and Communications
Directorate School of Media and Performing Arts
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8411 4129
Email: a.shah@mdx.ac.uk
Study Mode and Starting Dates
15 months part-time. Please note this is not a registered ‘Distance Learning’ programme but a part time programme. September start and January start available.
Careers
Career Benefits
Enhances existing professional practice and career progression through personal development and self-managed learning;
Consolidates and expands professional networks by updating existing networking and communication skills;
Builds confidence in managing professional experience to create a pathway for further study;
Converts an academic or professional diploma or certificate, foundation degree or practice-based experience into a recognised honours degree.
Student Profiles
Michelle Bank
Having obtained a Trinity College Diploma on the completion of her studies at Arts Educational Schools London, Michelle Bank worked as a vocalist on board cruise ships for the best part of six years:
‘It was a great experience but not something that you can do indefinitely. I felt it was time to establish a base and move onto the next phase of my life.’
Settling back in London, Michelle took a part time job teaching theatre skills to children with Stagecoach,
‘It made me realise that I loved working with children and wanted to pursue teaching as a career.’ In September 2010 Michelle was delighted to join the staff of a junior school where she is a classroom assistant as well as teaching drama.
Michelle commenced her BA Honours Professional Practice (Arts) in September 2010. The programme has been specifically designed for people in the creative industries who need to top up existing higher education qualifications to full Bachelor status. On completion, Michelle will be able to go on and do a postgraduate teaching qualification which will result in her gaining qualified teacher status and a class of her own.
Michelle says: ‘The best thing about the programme is that it has really helped me find myself as a person. The first part of the programme is designed to help you focus on your professional ambitions. It really forced me to take responsibility for my own learning. My tutors are always available and provide plenty of support and encouragement but they do not spoon feed us. My progress is my responsibility.’
Michelle is looking forward to a rewarding career as a qualified teacher. She knows that ‘young children enjoy learning through play.’ Her performance background will mean that she is able to create a rich and exciting environment for the children lucky enough to be in her classroom.
Chloe Horrell
Chloe Horrell trained for five years at 'The Arts Educational School, Tring' and then Laban for one year. She was then a member of Transitions Dance Company based at Laban. This year Chloe is performing with Smallpetitklein Dance Company. As part of her programme Chloe undertook a major project titled ‘Finding a Position for Events Dance Company’. This project focused on the creation of Chloe’s own dance company. Chloe graduated in 2008 with an Upper Second Class Honours, BA Professional Practice (Contemporary Dance).
Chloe says: 'Undertaking BAPP has given me a greater understanding of my professional practice to date and is giving me tools to help me guide and further my career in the dance world'
Jess Clipp
Jess has been involved artistically with The Chickenshed Theatre since 1994. During this time she progressed as a company member. Jess also completed a Foundation Degree in Inclusive Performance at Chickenshed in 2007. Jess undertook a major work based project to discover and present the most constructive methods for engaging Chickenshed’s support staff in the artistic work of the theatre, with the hope that this would develop their understanding of the company’s inclusive philosophy. Jess graduated in 2008 with a First Class Honours Degree.
Jess says: “I feel I have developed into a self-managed learner. I am aware of the importance of continuous reflection and self-monitoring of one’s work so as to continually learn and gain new skills. I have also learnt how to be self-motivated – an attribute which has proved invaluable during the programme.”
To see Jess speaking about her project go to mdx play.
To see Jess speaking about her experiences on the programme go to mdx play.
Olivia Jenkins
Olivia is a professional ballet dancer currently with the Theater der Stadt Koblenz. With the support of the company, Olivia undertook a major project exploring the challenges and opportunities facing young ballet dancers on the international circuit titled ‘The Voice of Young Professional Ballet Dancers’.
‘Professional dancers are passionate about dance but have little opportunity to express their views about work issues. The workshops we shared brought out positive suggestions about how much more we could contribute to the company than just our dancing talent that gradually we are beginning to do e.g. ideas about promotion of ballet in the community. My colleagues were energised by the whole workshop process and being able to discuss and debate matters of great concern to them. We have formed a much better understanding of ourselves in a group context, and how we can achieve more by talking about issues’.
Olivia graduated in 2009 with a First Class Honours, BA (Hons) Professional Practice (Ballet)
‘The course was an opportunity to combine my professional life as a dancer with my love of learning, and to gain a recognised qualification.'
Learning activities
Following and engaging in the learning activities of programme
You are very welcome to view and engage in learning activities of the programme whether or not you intend to apply for a place. You can do this by accessing tutor and student blogs where much of our learning and teaching activities are located. The best way to do this is to link to the Tutor’s blogs, and from there you can access student blogs (they appear as ‘followers’). You can then view, read and add comments to student blogs where you find things of interest. Your starting point is the Tutor blogs:
Facilities
The staff are experienced in professional practice and are dedicated to creating a lively and useful environment for independent learning. Digital resources are a big part of the course.
Middlesex University has a large collection of library resources that are available both in campus-based libraries and over the web, with access to both digital journals and books during the course. These resources are both in subject-based areas, such as performance, and in work based learning and professional practice. When students are at the Hendon campus we would strongly encourage them to visit the library and make use of the valuable resources available there.