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Interesting question. Here is a quo=
te from CAA:
=93At this time, few=
institutions in the United States offer a PhD degree in studio art, and it =
does not appear to be a trend that will continue or grow, or that the PhD wi=
ll replace the MFA. To develop a standard for a degree that has not been ade=
quately vetted or assessed, and is considered atypical for the studio-arts p=
rofession, is premature and may lead to confusion, rather than offer guidanc=
e, to CAA members, their institutions, and other professional arts organizat=
ions.=94
The point that I was trying t=
o address=A0earlier=A0is that the definition of terminal degree vary from fi=
eld to field. When we add the=A0fields of art, design and new media to the e=
quation, we need to take a look at their standards. It is not up to the acad=
emic department to define the degree as terminal. These decisions are made b=
y=A0professional associations and=A0accreditation=A0institutions. CAA clearl=
y defines the standards for the teaching and practice in the visual arts (in=
cluding new media).=A0
http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/mfa.html
=
http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/tenure2.html
Students that plan to pursue a career as new media artist, designers or e=
ducators should be aware of these standards. Exceptions are made all the tim=
e, of course.
S.
On Jan 12, 2009, at 8:25 PM, Eric Forman wrote:
what about now tha=
t there are a few PhD programs that are art/technology fusions like ITP?=A0 does that suddenly up the ante =
for every digital media masters program because masters is no longer termina=
l/highest?
On Jan 12, 2009, at 5:12 PM, Sandra Vi=
llarreal wrote:
Rob is kind of right too, but the answer may not=
be as simple.
=
From the New York State Education Department’s Office of College and Univers=
ity Evaluation, Chapter I of Title 8 of the Official Compilation of Codes, s=
ections 3.47 and 3.50.
Highlights: 3.47, Sec. D, SubSec 2 lists the MPS and MFA BOTH under =
“professional=A0 degrees” which=
it indicates are designed as “primarily terminal in nature”. This is key la=
nguage. It means the state recognizes that the degrees may be terminal. They=
may not. The state does not involve itself in this distinction, which is de=
termined at local levels (schools and professional/academic/accreditation as=
sociations).
3.=
50, Sec. A “General Degrees in course” lists the AA/AS, BA/BS, MA/MS, M. Phi=
l. and Ph. D. as well as the Professional Degrees (BPS, B Tech., MPS, DPS, a=
nd DA). Sec. B. “Specialized Degrees in course” lists the multitudes of very=
specific degrees, including the MFA.
According to the State of New York, this subsection d=
efines what would be the only difference between the two.
The point that CUNY is recognizin=
g one as terminal rather than the other, in this case, is not simply a matte=
r of bureaucratic bookkeeping; rather, someone made this decision. Perhaps t=
he reasoning may be inferred somewhere in this distinction. That is, however=
, supposition. Since there is no federally recognized base standard on the q=
uestion of terminal degrees, states, and associations, and schools, are left=
on their own to decide. The=A0 state standard in this case, clearly, does not help.
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/chapter_i_of_title_8_of_the_off=
i.htm#Section%203.50.%20Registered%20Degrees
The ITP website describes the program as “=
the first graduate program in alternative media”. It also reads: “The curric=
ulum is devoted to teaching the practice and theory that emerge from the con=
vergence of new media technologies.” M.F.A. programs in New Media, Interacti=
ve Media and Design and Technology already exist. Their curricula includes t=
heory and practice and a minimum of a two-semester thesis paper and project.=
They are not intensive programs.
Despite the fact that ITP is not an art, design or engine=
ering program, graduates from the program often look for jobs in the field o=
f art and design and hold positions as creative directors, art directors, de=
signers, interactive designers, producers researchers and visiting instructo=
rs or adjunct professors in art or design schools. In these fields the M.F.A=
. (specialized degree) is consider the terminal degree.
S.
On Jan 11, 2009, at 6:10 PM, Rob Faludi [list] =
wrote:
Sandra is kind of right, yet ITP is not an art school or =
a design school or an engineering school. For better or worse it has a deal =
all its own, hence the MPS, which is indeed considered terminal. The State o=
f New York accredits it as such, but for some reason CUNY, which is run by t=
he State of New York does not have the bureaucratic machinery to recognize i=
t so they need to apply for exceptions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_degree
http:/=
/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Professional_Studies
I’m sure someone can come up with=
a more authoritative reference source than Wikipedia. Maybe someone with an=
MLS?
–Rob
=
On Jan 11, 2009, at 5:19 PM, Sandra Villarreal wrote=
:
=
The department will have to make the case for the candidate in=
question because an MPS is not considered a terminal degree, as Rob points =
out (at CUNY, in NY and in the US).
A terminal degree is the highest degree earnable in a g=
iven field of study. Usually is a PhD. The only exceptions exist in the fiel=
ds of applied arts such as creative writing, graphic design, fine arts, vide=
o art and interactive design, where an MFA is the terminal degree.
For example, an MFA righ=
t now is the terminal degree for game design and game art because there is n=
o PhD in game design. A PhD is the terminal degree for game development (pro=
gramming as opposed to design). MPS is not a terminal degree in the fields o=
f art, design, media, journalism and education because there are MFA, Ed.D a=
nd PhD in these fields.
Terminal Master programs are often designated by specific descripti=
ve titles such as Master of Education (M.Ed), Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) or=
Master of Architecture (M.Arch). Typically a terminal Master takes more tim=
e than a non-terminal Master to complete (1-2 vs. 2-3 years) Some academic a=
rt institutions even use the MA (Master of Art) degree (30 credits) as a pre=
requisite for final acceptance into MFA candidacy. An MFA also requires the =
completion of certain amount of credits in art history and philosophy.
=
MFA is usually a req=
uirement to teach art and design at the rank of assistant professor. I don’t=
know about other fields.
On Jan 11, 2009, at 12:=
10 PM, Rob Faludi [list] wrote:
CUNY officially categorizes the =
MPS as a non-terminal degree, so it has to go through an exceptions process.=
This is their own pain, not yours.
On Jan 8, 200=
9, at 7:29 PM, Caleb wrote:
=
Midori. Hope you and family are well=
. This caught my eye from the below email “If we can make a strong case for =
a
candidate, they are willing to consider the MPS as a te=
rminal degree”
since I’m looking for academic teaching jo=
bs. I thought an MPS WAS terminal? Especially in NYC? and on par with an MFA=
??? Any new thoughts about this as one who has to defend an MPS as terminal =
out of state???
I am going for teaching in Art, Communications, Media, Journalism, and Educ=
ation depts. mostly.
On Jan 6, 2009, at 11:02 AM, Midori Yasuda wrote:
The New York City College of Technology, Department of Entertainment
Technology, invites applications for a tenure-track, full ti=
me
position in Interactive Entertainment at the rank of A=
ssistant
Professor, beginning in September 2009.=A0 Even though there are some
hurdles to overcome within CUNY (regarding the terminal degree),
please do share the attached announcement with alumni, col=
leagues, and
friends who may be interested. If we can mak=
e a strong case for a
candidate, they are willing to cons=
ider the MPS as a terminal degree.
=
Additional details, including application instructions, =
may be found at:
http://portal.cuny.edu/cms/id/cuny/do=
cuments/jobposting/027788.htm
Sincerely,
Jenna Spevack
Chair, Interactive Entertain=
ment Search Committee
New York=
City College of Technology
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YO=
RK
DEPARTMENT O=
F ENTERTIANMENT TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AND DESIG=
N
300 Jay Street V411
Brooklyn, NY 112=
01
www.entertainmenttechnology.org
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Title: Assistant Professor – Interactive Entertainment
L=
ocation/Department: Entertainment Technology
Compensation=
: Commensurate with education and experience.
Closing Dat=
e: Open until filled with review of resumes to begin 11/24/08
Website: http://portal.cuny.edu/cms/id/cuny/documents/jobposting/027=
788.htm
POS=
ITION DESCRIPTION AND DUTIES
The New York City College of=
Technology, Department of Entertainment Technology,
invi=
tes applications for a tenure-track, full time position in Interactive Enter=
tainment at the
rank of assistant professor, beginning in=
September 2009.
The department offers undergraduate inst=
ruction in a variety of disciplines, including
lighting, =
sound, show control, and video systems. New programs in development include
emerging media technology, music technology, interactive =
control, and video production.
The successful candidate w=
ill teach courses in several areas including, but not limited to
Interactive Media, Entertainment Control Systems, Electricity, Tangi=
ble Computing, and
Introduction to Entertainment Technolo=
gy. The Assistant Professor will also be expected to
deve=
lop, plan, and prepare curricula related to a program track in integrated an=
d
interactive entertainment technologies.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications for the rank of assistant professor include a=
terminal degree in a field related
to interactive media =
systems, and significant experience in both design and technical
implementations. Media related software engineering experience and e=
xcellent
communications skills are essential. Candidates =
should provide evidence of creative,
professional, and sc=
holarly activity with adequate documentation of productions,
publications, research, and curriculum materials.
TO APPLY
Send cove=
r letter of introduction and resume.
Email: isr@citytech.cuny.edu
Sub=
ject Line: Interactive Entertainment
Contact: Ms. M. Harr=
is, Director, ISR
The City University of New York
An Equal Employment O=
pportunity/Affirmative Action/Immigration Reform and Control Act/
Americans with Disabilities Act Employer
—