Postgraduate Course: SSPS Masters Dissertation (Sociology) (PGSP11510)
Course Outline
School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
Summary | This dissertation course is for students studying topics in energy, society and sustainability with particular emphasis on the Sociology dimension. The specific topical focus of dissertations will be agreed among the student, the supervisor, and the programme director |
Course description |
The dissertation is an extended piece of scholarship in which a student is expected to formulate and study in depth a topic largely of their own choosing, under the guidance of an academic supervisor. In the course of the dissertation, the student is expected to engage critically and analytically with a particular area of empirical study within the sociology of science, sustainable development, technology studies and innovation studies, to refine and extend their grasp of relevant concepts and theory introduced in the taught element of the degree, and to demonstrate competence in deploying a range of sources as well as appropriate analytic and bibliographic skills. Students are not expected to undertake the exhaustive literature review or empirical work typical of higher research degrees, though a limited amount of empirical research may be included in the preparation of the dissertation. The dissertation may be up to 15,000 words in length.
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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 |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2021/22, 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
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
588 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %.
A dissertation of up to 15,000 words in length.
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Feedback |
During the dissertation project, learning takes place on a much more individual and independent basis. General guidance on the dissertation is contained in the Graduate School Taught Masters Student Handbook.
Structure and guidance for the project is provided in part through regular meetings with a supervisor, through formal presentations of dissertation proposals and preliminary conclusions (in dedicated workshops that will be organized for subject area once dissertation work is underway), and through informal discussion sessions with the Programme Director and other students on the programme. The project is, however, your own responsibility, and must be entirely of your own work. Students' and supervisors' rights and responsibilities during the dissertation stage are described in the Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes.
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No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Undertake a sustained piece of supervised but independent work within Sociology
- Employ relevant knowledge, concepts, theories and analytic approaches from Sociology in formulating an extended argument based on empirical material
- Engage critically and analytically with the literature in their chosen field of specialist interest
- Exercise and consolidate their time- and task-management, presentational, and self-motivational skills in the conduct, presentation, and time- and task-planning of their research scheduling
- Demonstrate attention to the relevant data analysis, referencing, and bibliographic conventions.
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Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Display the ability to critically employ theories and concepts from Sociology for the analysis of a range of empirical examples
- Develop a critical awareness of current issues in Sociology along with an understanding of how Sociology intersects with other disciplinary domains
- Be able to communicate your acquired methodological and analytical insights to academic and non-academic audiences alike
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Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser | Prof Jonathan Hearn
Tel: (0131 6)50 4242
Email: J.Hearn@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Dave Nicol
Tel: (0131 6)51 1485
Email: dave.nicol@ed.ac.uk |
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