Module BUSI3091: DISSERTATION IN BUSINESS (20 CREDITS)

Department: ECONOMICS FINANCE AND BUSINESS (BUSINESS)

BUSI3091: DISSERTATION IN BUSINESS (20 CREDITS)

Type	Open	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2006/07	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

• Any one Level 2 module in Business or Economics.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Dissertation in Business (40 Credits).

Aims

• To provide students with an opportunity to undertake a research project on an approved topic of interest and present their findings and conclusions in an extended and coherent piece of work.
• They will be required to utilise knowledge and understanding acquired in business modules studied in the previous two years.

Content

• The topic and scope of the dissertation will be discussed with the student's dissertation tutor and approved by the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in Business Management.
• Individual tutorials with the dissertation tutor will be held during Terms 1 and 2.
• Discussion at these tutorials will focus on issues such as dissertation outline, methodology and review of draft chapters.
• A series of six lectures in Term 1 will take students through the various stages in the production of a dissertation.
• All students will be issued with a Dissertation Guidelines handbook to assist them in the conduct of their research and the preparation of the dissertation.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students are expected:
• to have acquired extended knowledge of a relevant topic of interest

• to have acquired skills of independent research and project management.
• to be able to demonstrate an ability to present and analyse data in a clear and appropriate manner.
• to be able to demonstrate an ability to present arguments and conclusions in an extended and coherent form.

• Written Communication - e.g. by completing draft chapters and the summative assessment.
• Planning, Organisation and Time Management - observing the strict deadlines.
• Problem Solving and Analysis - by applying the necessary analytical and quantitative skills, as well as the ability to manipulate concepts in Business.
• Initiative - by searching relevant literature and other information, including, if appropriate, numerical data.
• Adaptability: students must use Business outside the narrow limits of a taught module.
• Numeracy - by analysing appropriate numerical data.
• Computer Literacy - by word-processing the dissertation; accessing, and downloading articles and data, as appropriate, from the web and other electronic sources; using e-mail to communicate with your supervisor.

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

• Teaching is by lectures, tutorials and support for student-centred learning. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in tutorial classes and private study (inlcuding student-centred learning). Formative assessment is by means of preparation of dissertation outline. Summative assessment is by means of written piece of work of 8,000 words.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	6	Weekly in Term 1	1 Hour	6
Tutorials	3	By Agreement with Tutor in Terms 1 and 2	1 Hour	3
Preparation and Reading				191
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Dissertation 100% (dissertation of 8000 words max. to be submitted by the final day of the Epiphany Term.100%).

Formative Assessment:

Preparation of dissertation outline, including methodology, and draft chapters for discussion at tutorials.

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■ 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