Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module ECOS3032: DISSERTATION

Department: ECONOMICS FINANCE AND BUSINESS (BUSINESS FINANCE) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

ECOS3032: DISSERTATION

Type Tied Level 3 Credits 40 Availability Available in 2005/06 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton
Tied to N420

Prerequisites

  • Any two Level 2 modules in Business, Finance or Economics (Modules with BUSS, ECON or ECOS codes).

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • to develop students' abilities to plan and manage their own learning
  • facilitate students' development of research skills and provide the opportunity to apply their knowledge to a topic in Business Finance
  • offer all students the opportunity to develop some key skills

Content

  • The content of this module is chosen by the student in consultation with a supervisor (and is subject to approval).

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • This module is designed to give students the opportunity to: demonstrate their understanding of some specific issue of business finance of their own choosing.
  • engage in an exercise of self-study.
  • pursue in depth a study of a focused area of business finance.
  • write a scholarly report.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Independant (supervised) research
  • Literature review
  • Research methods and related skills
Key Skills:
  • Written Communication - e.g. by completing draft chapters and the summative assessment.
  • Planning, Organisation and Time Management - by preparing for examinations and observing the strict deadlines.
  • Problem Solving and Analysis - e.g. by applying the necessary analytical and quantitative skills, as well as the ability to manipulate concepts in Business Finance.
  • Computer Literacy - e.g. by word-processing the dissertation; accessing, and downloading articles and data, as appropriate, from the web and other electronic sources

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • 4 lectures throughout the year, advising students on choice of topic, literature search, planning and writing a dissertation
  • Students will have individual consultation sessions with a named dissertation supervisor throughout the year, to assist with queries which may arise in the course of the work

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 4 2 per term 1hr 4
Seminars n/a n/a n/a 0
Consultation 10 hrs per term 10
Preparation and Reading 400
Total 400

Summative Assessment

Component: Dissertation Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
one dissertation of 12000 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

One contents page


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University