Unit information: Dissertation in 2014/15

Unit name	Dissertation
Unit code	HISTM1000
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Holdenried
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Completion of relevant mandatory units in TB1 and TB2 and progress at the June Progress Board
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of History (Historical Studies)
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Description: All MA students are expected to undertake a dissertation as the culmination of the programme of study. The dissertation provides a structured and supervised opportunity for MA students to pursue independently an agreed topic of interest with reference to and emerging from their previous studies and to produce an appropriately advanced piece of research. The dissertation involves devising a realisable topic, which has the potential to contribute to knowledge of the subject. After a conducting a survey of literature and other relevant materials, appropriate methodologies will be devised in order to explore a research problem. It would normally be expected that this topic would arise from work already undertaken on the programme, creating an opportunity to explore a specialist area in more detail.

Aims:

1. To provide for in-depth independent research
2. To establish a potential path for further advanced research (if appropriate)
3. To explore and develop appropriate methodological approaches
4. To gain in-depth knowledge of a specialist area
5. To present the findings in a written dissertation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. To be able to distinguish between a range of different research methods
2. To become familiar with existing work on a particular subject
3. To use that work in order to provide a focus for independent inquiry
4. To design a project that is realistic in scope
5. To gain substantial knowledge of a specific subject area
6. To make a sustained argument or intervention, in academic debate and/or in relation to the particular research problem, appropriate to the determined mode of assessment.
7. To be able to communicate that knowledge with clarity appropriate to the determined mode of assessment.

Teaching Information

Tutorials - supervision sessions.

Assessment Information

By written dissertation [15,000 words or equivalent].

Reading and References

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