10. HONOURS RESEARCH: Timelines & Processes

10.1. GUIDING YOUR DEVELOPMENT & TIMELINES

The Digital Arts Honours is a research and coursework programme and can be taken in one of three subject areas: Animation, Interactive Media, Interactivity & Writing or Game Design.

As presented in the overview section, this coursework programme includes:

1. A one year written research project, either as Digital Arts Research Project or Long Essay. *see more below.

2. A year long Digital Arts Creative Project.

3. A semester long theory course: Digital Arts Theory.

4. One 4th year / honours level course in either Animation, Game Design, Interactive Media or Writing & Interactivity - these are to be taken at either ‘introductory - year long’ or ‘advanced - semester long’ level - on advice of the supervisor and based on the applicant's academic history or experience in the respective field.

All courses apart from the Long Essay or Research Project and the Digital Arts Creative project run as normal courses within a weekly class timetable, associated assignments and exams. The following outlines details on the more ‘research’ oriented courses the Long Essay & Research Project and the Digital Arts Creative Project

C.H.I.P (Counter Human Independence Protocol) (2020), Wits Student Project: Matthew Brown, Eric Gardiner, Thishen Packirisamy, Brendan Jackson, Ryan Van Zyl, Brenton Budler. Source: Early Access Exhibition

10.2. RESEARCH PROJECT & LONG ESSAY CHOOSING_

The primary difference between the Long Essay and the Research Project is how it is done and the level of academic and research experience you need.

→ The Research Project is when a student joins a research group exploring a particular supervisor's research topic. Topics are updated annually and are aligned to research being conducted in the Department. See the 2023 research projects listed in Appendix B.

→ The Long Essay is done by a student when they want to propose and write on their own very specific topic. Importantly, students wanting to take this route should have experience in research and academic and have an above 70% average in their previous theory courses. Students wanting to do the Long Essay must apply with an expression of interest on the topic they want to write on.

HONOURS RESEARCH STEPS & PROCESSES_

The Research Project and Long Essay have key steps that must be met for their development, see below two tables outlining these expectations for both the Research Project and the Long Essay:

Steps - RESEARCH PROJECT

Timeline Action

Choosing a Research Group Feb / March Students will review research group details (Appendix B) and select the top two groups they are most interested in joining.

Supervisors will review the selection and assign students to groupsgenerally students will be placed in their top 1.

Research Group Seminars & Contributions

For two to three quarters: 1, 2, 3 or 4 depending on your group.

Your research group supervisor will inform you directly of their planned seminars, assignments or expected contributions. Each group works differently based on the content being covered and the supervisors schedule.

Essay Development July - October

Your supervisor will work with your group to identify and set a timeline for the essay portion of the group.

Final Submission Examination

November All final submissions are examined in November.

Steps - LONG ESSAY Timeline Action

Submitting an Expression of Interest March In the first weeks of the 1st term through Ulwazi.

Long Essay Proposal Development March - June Long Essay candidates will work with supervisors to develop a proposal. Long Essay candidates can also join the MA proposal development workshops, see Appendix A. The proposal is marked, and contributes to your final Long Essay mark.

Long Essay Development July - October Long Essay candidates will work with supervisors to complete their long essays. Supervisors will lead students on how many drafts are expected.

Final Submission Examination November Long Essays are externally examined.

PLAGIARISM & ETHICS FOR HONOURS_ Plagiarism and Responsible Resource Use

In all academic work plagiarism is an offence that can lead to you being excluded from the university.

For this reason it is important that you work with your supervisor to understand and implement good referencing practises throughout. Additionally Long Essay candidates are required to get ethics clearance for their work. See more in Section 5.

10.3. DIGITAL ARTS CREATIVE PROJECT

The Digital Arts Creative project at Honours and 4th Year Level is a year long project in which you get to develop a single creative output. This is an excellent opportunity for research orientated creative work and can be linked to your Research Project or Long Essay, but can be independent of this too.

You will be given time in the beginning of the year to work on a concept. Following this each student is assigned a mentor to work with across the year.

Your key milestones are three crits sessions, one in the 1st quarter and the next two in the 3rd & 4th quarters.

The creative projects are examined by a panel of both internal and external examiners and will be showcased at the end of the year Exhibition, which usually take place around the 25th of November