Postgraduate Course: Dissertation (MSc in Modern and Contemporary Art: History, Curating, Criticism) (HIAR11080)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | A 15,000-word dissertation on a topic relating to the programme, chosen in conjunction with the dissertation supervisor. An introduction to the process of dissertation writing is normally given by the PGT Director in a group tutorial/meeting in Semester II. |
| Course description |
The dissertation gives you the opportunity to test and prove your ability to conduct advanced independent research in your subject of study, on postgraduate level, with the contribution of an academic supervisor. The dissertation is written so as to test that, through the taught part of the Masters, you have acquired the skills and knowledge to make independent decisions relating to academic research at a postgraduate level.
Having completed the taught part of the MSc, the Dissertation permits you to implement your academic training in contextualising research findings, on a topic that you define as relevant to your discipline. These will be presented in a coherent text (the dissertation), adhering to academic conventions and implementing an appropriate structure, which enhances understanding of your chosen topic. In terms of the skills required for its successful completion, the dissertation is the longest and most important academic text you will produce during the MSc.
Dissertation supervision follows the rules set out in the University's Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes. You will receive supervision by a member of the staff cohort whose research specialism, as far as possible, corresponds with the topic you are focussing on for your dissertation. You will be notified early in the year about how supervisors will be allocated ¿ often, students are asked to approach the member of staff of their choice bearing in mind that a member of staff can supervise only a limited number of dissertations. The pattern of meetings and/or online-conducted supervision is outlined in the Programme Handbook.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
| Course Start Date |
19/04/2021 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
582 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
15,000 word dissertation (excludes Bibliography)
If the programme is taken part-time, the dissertation will normally be taken in year 2. |
| Feedback |
You will receive informal feedback on one sample of written work, of a specified length (the same for all students), submitted to the supervisor at a pre-arranged date once supervision has started. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Design and conduct an extended research enquiry in the history and/or theory of modern and/or contemporary art, defining appropriate research questions or problems, that contributes to expanding knowledge in the field.
- Utilise a range of research resources, including, for example and as appropriate, library, archival, web-based material, object-based collections. You will also evaluate and deploy research methods appropriate and relevant to your project, your material as well as your research questions and aims.
- Devise a structured, intellectually sound argument introducing your research questions, examining a range of material, assessing any possible shortcomings, knowledge gaps and/or unresolved issues and contradictions, and presenting your conclusions - all in ways that can be communicated to the academic community.
- Present a structured written account of your research of up to 15000 words, using academic conventions for footnoting and bibliography, and with illustrations if necessary.
- Communicate research results, transparently and convincigly, to an academic audience, and take responsibility for your informed and critical analysis and positions on a given topic.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Ability to conceptualise, design and conduct independent research (with some supervision), and take responsibility for the result.
- Time management skills in relation to preparation for, realisation of and self-evaluation in relation to academic research (re self-evaluation, this corresponds to the process of going through and improving a number of drafts, as appropriate).
- Written communication skills pertaining to the organisation and presentation of long, formal subject-focused texts. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jamie Forde
Tel:
Email: Jamie.Forde@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Anna Johns
Tel: (0131 6)51 5740
Email: Anna.Johns@ed.ac.uk |
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