Unit information: Dissertation in 2017/18

Unit name	Dissertation
Unit code	ARCH34001
Credit points	30
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Tubb
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

A dissertation is an extended piece of written work that provides students with the opportunity to identify and investigate a particularly topic in archaeology and/or anthropology and explore it systematically. In order to do so students are expected to demonstrate research skills and topic-specific knowledge gained throughout their degree, as well as appreciation of the intellectual challenge of formulating a valid research design.

This unit includes structured sessions from staff that provide guidance on research design and written communication. Individual staff supervisors will however be the primary intellectual support system guiding students during the academic year.

Aims:

• To develop students research skills
• To impart broad knowledge of issues in research design
• To develop students knowledge of research methods by applied learning
• To give students opportunity to further extend their knowledge of a topic of interest to them by personal research
• To provide advice, guidance and support on academic project management.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Design and plan a viable research project
2. Identify a research topic that extends their own knowledge and skills, and in excellent cases adds to general scholarship
3. Choose and use research methods relevant to their dissertation topic
4. Practise research management skills in respect of both their own work and maintaining an effective working relationship with an academic supervisor
5. Practise time-management through planning and organising a substantive piece of work over an extended period of time
6. Explain their in-depth understanding of their topic by writing an extended, structured, and well-argued piece of work.

Teaching Information

Supervision by a relevant advisor.

Assessment Information

A dissertation with a maximum word length of 9,000 words.

Reading and References

Reading as appropriate to individual dissertation, under the guidance of supervisor.