Curriculum

As specified in the Graduate Bulletin, the 42-hour MATX curriculum consists of 36 hours of coursework and a minimum of 6 hours of dissertation research. Because students enter with a master’s degree, it is assumed that they will have a strong foundation in one or more disciplines. Each student will take the following core courses during their first two years in the program. They are offered on a rotating basis, with one course being offered per semester.

MATX 601: Texts and Textuality
MATX 602: History of Media Art & Text
MATX 603: Mass Media
MATX 604: Interdisciplinary Workshop

Course on research methods. The core is supplemented with a course on research methods in a field relevant to the area of the individual student’s dissertation research. This should be drawn from the offerings of the participating units, but it may be taken in another unit with permission of the instructor and the MATX Director. It may be taken in the first or second year.

Electives (21 credits) are drawn from the regular offerings of the participating units and from the MATX 690 seminars offered each semester. They should form a coherent program of study and support dissertation research. Selection must be approved by the MATX Director and/or the student’s dissertation director during the advising period.

Independent study may be supervised by graduate faculty in one of the participating units. It may not duplicate courses regularly offered. No more than 12 credits of independent study may be counted toward the degree. Additional credits may be authorized for purposes of continuous enrollment. Upon approval by the supervising faculty member, the student should submit a description of the course of study, a bibliography and the anticipated final product (a long paper, annotated bibliography, creative project, etc.) to the MATX Director and the Graduate Programs Adviser. An electronic override is issued for registration upon approval.

Internship opportunities are available in the Richmond area at a range of institutions including museums, libraries and galleries. Students seek out their own internships and submit to the MATX Director a description of the planned internship with the approval of the external supervisor. The final grade will be assigned by the supervisor in consultation with the MATX Director. A student may take one or three credits of internship in a given semester. No more than six credits of internship may be counted toward the degree.

Courses

MATX core

MATX 601: Texts and Textuality
Semester course; three lecture hours. Three credits. Explores theories of texts and textuality as they relate to the study of media, the arts and discourse of any kind.

MATX 602: History of Media Art & Text
Semester course; three lecture hours. Three credits. Examines the history of communication technologies in their social and cultural contexts, with an emphasis on the development of contemporary digital technology and new media. Students will explore how the interactions between communication practices and technologies are related to institutions, identity formation, cultural values, social practices and economic conditions.

MATX 603: Mass Media
Semester course; three lecture hours. Three credits. Examines the history of mass media and the leading theories, concepts and methods for mass media research.

MATX 604: Interdisciplinary Workshop
Semester course; three lecture hours. Three credits. Students gain an understanding of current interdisciplinary theory and practice across media, art, and text. Examination of real-world examples provides a foundation for academic and professional careers in today’s interdisciplinary digital environment. Workshopping of students’ preliminary dissertation ideas, conference abstracts, teaching portfolios and professional websites develops content and skills needed for the MATX degree. Graded as pass/fail.

MATX seminars

MATX 690 Seminar in Media Art & Text
Semester course; three lecture hours. Three credits. Graduate-level research and reading centered on interdisciplinary study.

Other courses

Independent study

Independent study may be supervised by graduate faculty in one of the participating units. It may not duplicate courses regularly offered. No more than twelve credits of independent study may be counted toward the degree. Additional credits may be authorized for purposes of continuous enrollment. Upon approval by the supervising faculty member, the student should submit a description of the course of study, a bibliography and the anticipated final product (a long paper, annotated bibliography, creative project, etc.) to the MATX Director and the Graduate Programs Advisor. An electronic override is issued for registration upon approval.  Find the independent study application form please contact the Graduate Programs Advisor.

Internships

Internship opportunities are available in the Richmond area at a range of institutions including museums, libraries and galleries. Students seek out their own internships and submit to the MATX Director a description of the planned internship with the approval of the external supervisor. The final grade will be assigned by the supervisor in consultation with the MATX Director. A student may take one or three credits of internship in a given semester. No more than six credits of internship may be counted toward the degree.