Postgraduate Course: USD Dissertation (ARCH11201)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 60 |
| Home subject area | Architecture and Landscape Architecture |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This compulsory core course introduces students, via lectures and supportive tutorials, to the dissertation project. It then matches students with tutorial supervisors who work with the students, in an advisory capacity, to conceive, structure and write a fifteen thousand (15 000) word thesis, on an agreed and relevant theme, topic, or question, related to the Urban Strategic Design Project. Or, alternatively produce a thesis on an agreed topic of relevance to the student's previous urban-related work, and in keeping with the described themes of the Urban Strategies and Design Programme.
The Course is structured in three stages:
Stage One
Introductory lectures, tutorials, and seminars (course content to be shared with ARCH11197 MSc Dissertation)
Stage Two
Matching with dissertation supervisors and development of dissertation proposal (Dissertation supervisors will include SBE/HWU staff)
Stage Three
Dissertation write-up and consultations with research supervisor. Concluding with dissertation hand in.
Aims of the Course
To enable students to do the following:
1. Demonstrate skills in rigorous investigation and synthesis in the production of an authoritative written discourses or design project.
2. Develop a personal position on what represents a high standard of urban design development, process or practice, and establish a position in relation to the wide-ranging debate on the subject.
3. Experiment on a theme within a particular area of interest and challenge preconceptions, pursue an enquiring and critical approach to Urban Process. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2013/14 Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
21/04/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
568 )
|
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. The ability to plan, structure and develop a significant project of research investigation.
2. The application of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to complex issues which require informed and critical judgements.
3. The skill of presenting a dissertation or project to an agreed layout and format which is consistently clear and coherent. |
Assessment Information
The ability to plan, structure and develop a significant project of research investigation. 33%
The application of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to complex issues which require informed and critical judgements. 33%
The skill of presenting a dissertation or project to an agreed layout and format which is consistently clear and coherent. 33%
|
Special Arrangements
Some course content will be shared with MSc Conservation Dissertation Course - ARCH11197 MSc Dissertation.
Dissertation supervision to be shared with staff from School of Built Environment, Heriot Watt University. Administration of Course undertaken by University of Edinburgh. |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Weeks 1 -10
Introductory lectures and seminars on dissertation writing and research topic definition. Matching of students with Dissertation supervisors.
Lecture Topics to be covered:
Effective library and archives usage.
Academic writing.
Information sources.
Use of electronic referencing systems.
Time management.
Structuring the Dissertation.
Writing critically.
Use of case study analysis.
Week 6
Student Dissertation Presentations Seminar; in association with MSc Conservation Students.
Weeks 10 - submission deadline
Student-led work on dissertation with planned meetings with dissertation supervisors. |
| Transferable skills |
Critical-writing, report writing skills, research skills, urban case study analysis. |
| Reading list |
Indicative Bibliography
Berry,R (1986). How to write a research paper,2nd ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Fairbairn, Gavin (1991) Reading, writing and reasoning:a guide for students, Milton Keynes, Open University Press Brink-¿Budgen.
Roy van den (2000) Critical thinking for students: learn the skills
of critical assessment and effective argument, Oxford: How To Books.
Borden, I.and Ruedi, K.(2005)The Dissertation: an architecture student's handbook,2nd edition, Oxford, Architectural Press. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Lectures, seminars, tutorials, individual research. |
| Keywords | Urban Design, knowledge, theory, writing skills, research intellectual analysis creativity |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Nwola Uduku
Tel: 0131 651 5786
Email: o.uduku@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Daniel Emmerson
Tel: 0131 651 5738
Email: daniel.emmerson@ed.ac.uk |
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