The Expressive Arts in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding (EXA-CT) is a three year Higher Education Master-program concentrating on the use of creative methods through the Arts to address conflicts within teams, communities and across cultures. The EXA-CT program provides students with frameworks for merging the Arts with conflict analysis interventions, trauma awareness and healing, humanitarian responses, and research. In short, EXA-CT students will learn ways to use the Arts for peace and co-existence. Distinguished faculty in the fields of the Expressive Arts and Conflict Transformation will provide instruction throughout the academic experience along with support and supervision of an internship, thesis and community of practice. The language of instruction is English.
Professional artists, peace workers, art therapists, mediators, educators, coaches and humanitarian workers are encouraged to pursue this Master’s Program.
Students will spend three summers in residence in Saas-Fee, Switzerland with an additional component of studies at Campus Malta. During the first two summer residency periods, they will follow the foundational courses on the principles and practice of the Expressive Arts (EXA). They will be taught by faculty members who are active practitioners in diverse disciplines. Within each course, students will be challenged to experiment with the application of the Arts in various settings, along with group discussions and reflective exercises.
In between the summer residencies and the Malta program, EXA-CT students will be expected to carry out and complete a portfolio, a supervised internship and a Master’s Thesis supervised by an EXA-CT faculty member. During the last summer session, students will complete oral and written exams and defend the Master’s Thesis.
M.A. in Expressive Arts Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
Introduction
The Expressive Arts in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding (EXA-CT) Master Program is a three year program concentrating on the use of creative methods through the Arts to address conflict within teams, communities and across cultures. The M.A. program provides students with the foundations for EXA methodologies. Participation in the Malta program, along with supervision by faculty within the field of conflict transformation and peacebuilding will provide support for students to merge the Arts with conflict analysis interventions, trauma awareness and healing, mediation, humanitarian responses, and research. The program EXA-CT is specifically (but not exclusively) addressed to health workers, professional artists, peaceworkers, art therapists, mediators, educators, coaches and humanitarian workers.
Expressive Arts, Digital Arts and Media KS
This module gives the student an in depth introduction to Expressive Arts in relationship to low skill high sensitivity, Intermodal Decentering IDEC® and the intermodal approach. Media today is an integral part of our culture and this module also opens up new channels of exploration where Digital Arts and Media can be used as a source of communication with the Arts and through the Arts. It can be taken on campus during the first period and is required for students who do not have any cooperating institutes in their home country that offer it as K module or for those students who wish to take the module as an intensive training program rather than have it spread out throughout the year.
Expressive Arts Methods – Interdisciplinary Approach P
Students will study the Interdisciplinary Approach through the principles and practices of Intermodal Expressive Arts, learning by working on project design and implementation in the field. Students become familiar with resource and system oriented concepts of counseling and aid. They receive advanced training and methodology of practice, and master the language and discourse with its aesthetic responsibility in Expressive Arts. Supervision by faculty within the field of conflict transformation and peacebuilding will provide support for students to merge their learning with conflict transformation and peacebuilding frameworks.
Expressive Arts Practice A-P
This 11 days Summer School module is run during the first period and focuses on group supervision from an Expressive Arts perspective. The essential aspects of an arts-oriented session using the method of Intermodal Decentering IDEC® will be introduced and discussed. Students present situations or cases studies from their practice and will also learn how to integrate the Expressive Arts in their work through various demonstrations. Live coaching is an opportunity to recognize and develop professional resources and to transform weaknesses and insecurities into strengths.
Internship:
Hours adequate to the specialization (minimum 100 hours)
For student’s doing a concentration in Education or Special Education: 465 h internship in education or special education.
Philosophical and Aesthetic Foundation – Interdisciplinary Approach – Module D
This Summer School module provides an in depth look at the philosophical and aesthetic foundations through intermodal learning, advanced training and theoretical foundations, and by a study of body and movement in Expressive Arts. Students learn to understand the process of change, and how to build resilience through Expressive Arts, an essential practice when working in communities.
Theoretical Foundation and Research – Module F
This module is divided into two parts: Part 1 is the mandatory course at the Malta Campus for Global Health and the Arts. This program provides didactic learning and practical skills training for artists, peacebuilders, humanitarian workers, health care providers, teachers and change agents from all fields who work with individuals, groups, and communities experiencing traumatic stress and crisis. Theoretical frameworks for conflict transformation and peacebuilding are provided for students to integrate their foundational learning of the expressive arts into the field. In addition, best practices in the field of psychosocial support for trauma informed care are introduced.
Part 2 for this module enhances understanding of processes of change in regard to resilience, salutogenesis, professional concepts, and ethical and aesthetic issues such as the “Menschenbild” – in the context of processes of change, specifically with respect to the artistic process. In the process of writing a thesis project, the student will be able to engage with a specific theme and formulation of a question on a practical, theoretical and artistic level to recognize resources that strengthen and broaden one’s own professional competence and enrich the field of work.
Expressive Arts Master Exams – Module E
During the third and last summer session in residence, students will finish their degree with Final Examination and Graduation. The students will complete oral and written exams on the principles and practices of Intermodal Expressive Arts with a Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding frame through a critical inquiry into a variety of schools of thought, including the polyaesthetics and Intermodal Method. Finally, students will present an Oral Defense of their Masters Thesis. Throughout the first two years, students are required to complete a theoretical foundation and research module (F), a portfolio, a supervised or coached field-based internship, intervision, and a method specific training.
Students without an adequate professional practice in the field are required to complete a training on trauma recovery, displacement and intervention through Expressive Arts. It can be done as a Professional development.
Prospective students need to hold a B.A. degree (or European equivalent) in the Humanities, Education or the Arts from an Accredited College or University. EGS also offers a special B.A. waiver in the form of an Access Examination.
Professionals within this field have the option to “nostrify” previous training assessed for qualification. The assessment serves to prepare for the transfer of such qualifying non-university studies and life experience into academic credits. Admission requirement remains a BA or equivalent..
In addition, applicants must pass an admission interview with a designated faculty member of EGS. Interviews may be scheduled throughout the year with the program director. A prospective student must complete the Introductory Course in Expressive Arts (or an approved alternative). Please check with the EGS Admission Office for your most convenient available opportunities.
Please contact the office to get access to the online application. (administration@egs.edu)
M.A. students are required to pass all 6 modules, seminars and their Masters Thesis must be accepted and demonstrate excellence.
For graduation students must earn a total of 102 ECTS credits. For details see the AHS M.A. Study Guide:
You will find all necessary information here.
The MA degree is EQF Level 7. For more information regarding the grading system review the Student Handbook.
The recognized degree issued by the European Graduate School EGS is the Master of Arts in Expressive Arts Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding.