Module PHIL40560: Dissertation

Department: Philosophy

PHIL40560: Dissertation

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• to introduce students to independent, though supervised, in-depth research involving extensive study and critical assessment of secondary literature and, where appropriate, several primary sources.
• to train students in developing a research plan and presenting an elaborate argument on an issue from the History of Medicine, or the History of Science, or the Philosophy of Science and Medicine.
• to advance student skills, appropriate to Level 4, in research, analysis, and writing relevant to their field of study by facilitating the completion of Dissertation on an approved topic from the History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine.
• To advance student understanding of the inter-related nature of historical and philosophical aspects of the dissertation topic.
• The dissertation will be researched and written from April to early-September.

Content

• The Dissertation involves detailed study of a specific topic or issue from the History of Medicine, or the History of Science, or the Philosophy of Science, or the Philosophy of Medicine.
• The subject area and topic of the Dissertation will be chosen by the student in consultation with the supervisor and requires formal approval by the Module Leader, who will also set the Deadline for approval of the dissertation title.
• Guidelines for students on the dissertation will be incorporated into the course handbook, where full information on the format and procedure for producing the Dissertation will be given.

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the module the student should have:
• A detailed understanding of a defined topic from the History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine.
• An understanding of the relations between historical and philosophical aspects of the dissertation topic.

• At the end of the module the student should be able to demonstrate:
• Ability of independent research within the field of HPSM requiring analysis of extensive secondary literature and, where appropriate, several primary sources.
• Ability to develop a research plan and to present an elaborate and coherent argument on a specific issue in HPSM.

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

• In individual tutorials, supervisors will direct students, based on their 'Dissertation Proposals (see module Research Methods in HPSM), to further reading and/or sources, discuss refinements of the research questions and methods of historical and/or philosophical analysis, and provide critical comments on the dissertation design, draft chapters, the bibliography and the overall presentation of the Dissertation.
• Students are entitled to up to 6 tutorial hours distributed as required over the period from April to early-September.
• A Dissertation Workshop, to discuss presentations on the dissertation projects, is held in June.
• For some topics, students may have a second supervisor, in order to make the best use of available staff expertise in HPSM.
• The above Teaching Methods support the Learning Outcomes.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None.

■ 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