Module THEO40160: Dissertation

Department: Theology and Religion

THEO40160: Dissertation

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• to enable students to apply research methods and skills learned in the pre-requisite modules;
• to allow students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of a particular field of Faith and Globalisation;
• to advance students' skills in analysis and writing in Faith and Globalisation through completing a dissertation-based on appropriate primary and secondary sources.

Content

• the dissertation will demand a prolonged and detailed study of a particular aspect of the discipline of Faith and Globalisation. Students will be guided in the choice of their dissertation field and title by the Course Director and appropriate supervisors. They will produce a dissertation proposal by week eight of Epiphany term, and their dissertation topic and title will normally be approved by the final day of Epiphany term. Students will normally submit the completed dissertation by or on September 10th. Detailed guidelines for format, procedures and deadlines will be made available to students in the Department's MA Handbook.

Learning Outcomes

• By the conclusion of the module, students should:
• possess a detailed understanding of their particular field of dissertation, based on appropriate study of primary and secondary sources;
• be able to identify a viable research topic and to construct a coherent research proposal describing it.

• By the conclusion of the module, students should:
• have the organisational and reflective skills to construct a plan of research and writing for a research project;
• be able to collate appropriate sources and to interpret them in a precise and clear manner for academic peers;
• be able to publicise their research arguments and conclusions in a sustained scholarly thesis of 15,000 words.

• By the conclusion of the module, students should show:
• Self-reliance in conducting research;
• A self-critical approach to research and the effective utilisation of resources;
• Organisational skills in managing time in order to produce a substantial piece of work on time and to length with limited supervisory guidance;
• Skills of effective and appropriate presentation of academic work.

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

• Supervisors will guide students towards relevant primary and secondary sources in their field, and advise them on specifying their title. Students will meet with their supervisor on a regular basis, whilst they are researching and writing the dissertation.
• In Epiphany term, students will attend a tutorial with the Course Director to finalise formally the choice and title of their dissertation topic. They will produce a formatively assessed dissertation proposal at this stage. Approval of their dissertation topic and title will be made on the basis of their performance in the tutorial and of the written proposal. Dissertation topics and supervisors will therefore be decided in consultation with the Course Director and approved by him/her on behalf of the Programme board of examiners.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

None formally required, although students are encouraged to submit and discuss a draft plan of the dissertation and may submit 1 draft chapter upon which comments will be offered by the supervisor.

■ 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