Study Guide

Descriptions

The training includes 240 credits/4 years. Study structure:
-Basic Studies
-Undergraduate studies in pedagogy
-Subject Pedagogical studies
-Professional Studies
-Optional Studies
-Internship
-Degree Project and thesis

First year: Focus on Basic education in theatrical art and the pedagogical basic studies.
Second year: Focus on theater- and Dramapedagogik.
Third year: In the autumn semester, vocational training in Finland or abroad chosen according to the students personal area of interest. During the spring semester specialization in performing arts as well as artistic leadership and the first preparations for thesis work and the degree project.
Fourth year: specialisation courses in drama and performing art. A large part of the year is devoted to the degree project, which includes 15 sp. The degree projects are shown during a public theatre festival organized by the students.

The basic studies include general studies such as language and sector-specific studies.

The training works in ongoing practically oriented research processes where theory is woven in parallel during the artistic/pedagogical process.
As an evaluation and communication instrument, the portfolio is used where students are in constant dialogue with their own development process. Great emphasis is also placed on personal study guiding. The studies involve the whole person and a strong focus is on bodily expression which is trained during several courses such as acrobatics, dance, stagefighting, physical theatre, mask and clown.

Courses in, for example, voice, motion, improvisation, acting training, contemporary theatre, directing and drama are culminating in stage production projects that give the opportunity to the students to test their knowledge in a meaningful context. Practical and theoretical teaching always runs in parallel and supports each other. Courses such as Theatre and Drama history, Drama Didactics and Entrepreneurship give the studies their theoretical substructure. Special courses such as: Mask, Clown, Physical Theatre and Stage Technology rounds the training. The studies include 60 study credits, which give competence to teach within basic art education and the free education system.

Great emphasis is placed on ensemble work and the development of the student's personal artistic identity and profile. Through own projects, joint courses and optional studies, the boundaries between the art species can be blown up.

Traineeships can be made at professional theatres, amateur theatres, schools, drama/theatre clubs, cultural institutions, radio and television productions, and through studies at our international partner colleges. The traineeship is carried out during the third year's entire autumn semester abroad or within Finland. It is possible that through internships and elective courses put a personal emphasis on acting, directing, drama or musical theatre.

Thesis
The thesis consists of two parts: an artistic or artistic-pedagogical part and a written part. The work is carried out during the fourth year's course. The degree project can be a commissioned work or a development work for an organization, a school, a theatre or similar.
The artistic part can be a directing assignment, a leadership for a drama project, a choreography, an acting assignment, a performance and similar projects . The theoretical part is related to the artistic part so that students choose an aspect for the written part that is explored more thoroughly.

Development

The curriculum is continuously developed on the base of the student's evaluations and professional requirements as well in consultation with other national and international educational institutions for theatre and professional experts. Internationalization:
The course of studies is an european exchange programme. Erasmus regularly provides student and teacher exchanges with universities in Germany, Lithuania, Norway and the Netherlands.
The international workshops are a recurring feature for both students and teachers.
We have a large part of places for regular internship in Finland and abroad.
In addition, in the framework of our projects, we have many partners and customers from the work field.

Further information

Career opportunities
After graduation, performing arts pedagogues can find career opportunities in a wide area of the cultural field:

-Professional theatres and free theatre groups (public work, theatre pedagogy, acting and directing)
-Amateur theatres (management, directing)

-Artistic and organisational development of perfomnce events and cultural events.

-Municipal art education and art schools.

-Drama projects in primary and higher education.

-Health institutions and organisations (drama-Work in therapy-establishments)

-Museums

-Social work in the field of drama, such as Prisons, integration work with young people, immigrants, seniors, etc.

-Communication training and training of social skills.

-Companies (theatrical methods for research and performances in collaboration with the business world, development of concepts for employee training and conflict solving)

Competence
According to Finnish legislation, a person who has completed a polytechnic qualification is qualified for services or positions, where the eligibility requirement is a lower university degree or a polytechnic degree. In some cases, the eligibility requirement also includes a requirement for completed studies in specified areas of study. The examination is subject to article 11 of Directive 2005/36/EC of the directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications, level D.
The studies include 60 study credits for pedagogical courses, which give competence to teach within basic art education and the free education system.

Objective

The student
- has both pedagogical and artistic excellence in the field of performing arts.
- have developed their creativity and their own personal and artistic profile during their studies.
- can react with his artistic and educational work to our multicultural social structure with its constantly changing needs.
- can work multi-artistically and develop theater and drama pedagogical projects, courses, workshops and audience works in a wide field of work for all imaginable institutions and age groups.
- looks for creative solutions without prejudice and is always interested in following along and developing the field of work.