Unit information: Theology and Religious Studies Dissertation in 2017/18

Unit name	Theology and Religious Studies Dissertation
Unit code	THRS30026
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. D'Costa
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Third-year joint-honours students have the option of working under the supervision of a full-time member of Theology and Religious staff in order to produce an 8,000-word dissertation in an area of particular personal interest. Students are asked to submit in order of preference three proposals for topics appropriate to the interests of three different members of the full-time academic staff; please note that in certain cases the same proposal may be appropriate for more than one member of staff. While we will endeavour to allocate students to their first choice of topic and supervisor we are unable to guarantee that we can do this. In preparation for this unit, students are required to attend a library research-training session at the end of their second year of study.

Aims:

The unit enables students to identify an issue which interests them and follow that interest through independently into a substantial independent research project.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit students should have:

• a deep understanding of a chosen subject

• enhanced their research skills through the production an extended piece of independent research in accordance with high scholarly standards

• developed proficiency in forming their own research questions

• further developed their skills of argumentation and communication

• have demonstrated that they can compile their own bibliography

• demonstrated the ability to work with both secondary and primary resources and to draw reasoned and considered conclusions from them

Teaching Information

1 x 1.5 hour seminar followed by a 1 hour discussion every other week
6 x 1 hour lectures/workshops across the year
5 x 1 hour meetings with supervisor across the year
1 x 3 hour conference

Assessment Information

8,000 word project (including footnotes)

Reading and References

Bibliographical references will depend on the topic chosen and the student will be responsible (in consultation with an appointed supervisor) for assembling a bibliography which will include relevant primary and secondary sources.