THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2018/2019

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Divinity : Divinity

Postgraduate Course: Major Dissertation (Masters by Research) (DIVI11004)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Divinity CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeDissertation AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits160 ECTS Credits80
SummarySupervised major dissertation (up to 25,000 words length) in MTh by Research and MSc by Research in Religious Studies.
Course description Academic Description:
This dissertation is the major component of assessment for the Masters by Research, 'major dissertation' track. Students have the opportunity to develop a sustained piece of research in their own area, under the guidance of an allocated research supervisor. The aim is to foster research and writing skills at Masters level.

Syllabus/Outline Content:
Students will work with their research supervisor to define and execute the project. The research questions, content and method will be refined not only in conversation with the supervisor, but also in the two 10-credit 'Approaches' courses which Masters by Research students must complete. In preparing their dissertation, students will develop skills in framing research questions and shaping appropriate research strategies; researching evidence and critically assessing it; developing sustained arguments; writing clear and engaging prose; providing academic referencing and bibliography.

Student Learning Experience Information:
Students work with their allocated research supervisor, one-to-one, with regular supervisory meetings for guidance on the research and writing of the dissertation. Students will demonstrate their achievement of the intended learning outcomes through the preparation of the dissertation (up to 25,000 words).

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 1600 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 32, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 1568 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Dissertation, ca. 25,000 words: 100%
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Prepare an effective dissertation, with an appropriate breadth and depth of focus (for a 25,000 word project), well-defined research questions, suitable research methodologies, awareness of scholarly context, and proper use of referencing and sources.
  2. Identify relevant research resources within the field of the dissertation, reading widely in the scholarly literature.
  3. Employ critical skills in weighing and considering evidence.
  4. Develop sustained arguments and support those arguments with evidence.
  5. Write in a clear and engaging style, and proofread their written work.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Larry Hurtado
Tel: (0131 6)50 8920
Email: L.Hurtado@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryDr Jessica Wilkinson
Tel: (0131 6)50 7227
Email: Jessica.Wilkinson@ed.ac.uk
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