Postgraduate Course: Dissertation by Placement (MSc Childhood Studies) (PGSP11384)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | Students have the opportunity to apply for, or to create, a work-based placement for their dissertation. The placement is an opportunity to work within a non-governmental organisation, government or business for about 6 weeks, on a childhood studies-related topic. The placement will have an identified work programme, which for the organisation will result in one of 3 products: a policy report or briefing paper; a research report; or a project evaluation report.
Placements will be competitive, with employers making the final decision. Students may also set up projects directly, subject to a formal process of approval by the programme director. Students will have a relevant academic supervisor, as well as a key contact within the host organisation, to assist them with the successful completion of their placement and dissertation.
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| Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
580 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment will be on the basis of:
1. A Project Diary of a maximum 3,000 words, worth 20% of the final mark.
The diary is designed to assess the student¿s performance in the placement organisation. The diary will consist of a fortnightly progress report sent to the academic supervisor and the Placement Coordinator.
The diary aims to:
- Track the development of the placement and include comments on the issues raised as the student develops his/her knowledge of the project placement.
- Reflect the personal development of the student within the placement situation, making reference to the skills being developed.
The diary should include a description of the work undertaken, an analysis of how this fits into the overall aims and objectives of the placement, a description and analysis of any obstacles encountered in fulfilling these aims and objectives, a description and analysis of the attempts made to overcome these obstacles and their relative success, and a description and analysis of what went well.
The diary will be assessed according to the following criteria:
a. Evidence of regular entries.
b. Evidence of a clear engagement with the work of the organisation.
c. Evidence of critical reflection on the work being undertaken and skills developed.
It has been decided not to include a mandatory final input from organisational hosts as this will increase the burden on the host, will penalise students whose hosts do not complete their part of the assessment, and will create problems of quality control.
2. An Analytical Report of a maximum 12,000 words, worth 80% of the final mark.
All Analytical Reports must include a 2,500 to 3,000 word literature review.
The Analytical report will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Clear definition of the task
- Degree of reflexivity and critical thinking
- Development and coherence of arguments
- Evidence of the use and application of appropriate methods
- Review of literature and contextualisation of report within the academic literature
- Use of supporting evidence and evaluation of evidence
- Drawing together major arguments by way of conclusion in relation to the original research or policy problem
- Evidence that the report is of value to the project placement organisation
- Formal presentation of report, following academic conventions |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- learn to undertake independent work on a topic chosen in conjunction with a host organisation, drawing on knowledge and insights from courses taken within the MSc in Childhood Studies;
- display and extend their research and analytical skills, training and knowledge acquired in the previous coursework, and apply them to the agreed project;
- employ relevant knowledge, concepts, and analytical approaches from their chosen field to inform their project report;
- exercise and consolidate their time-management, task-management, and self-motivational skills in the planning, conduct, and execution of their research;
- develop and refine their communication and presentational skills;
- demonstrate attention to the relevant data analysis, referencing, and bibliographic skills necessary to complete the report.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Morag Treanor
Tel: (0131 6)50 3918
Email: morag.treanor@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Andrew Macaulay
Tel: (0131 6)51 5067
Email: Andrew.Macaulay@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 12 January 2015 4:36 am
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