THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies)

Postgraduate Course: SSPS Masters Dissertation (Sociology) (PGSP11510)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeDissertation AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits60 ECTS Credits30
SummaryThis 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.
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 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1) 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 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %.
A dissertation of up to 15,000 words in length.
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.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Undertake a sustained piece of supervised but independent work within Sociology
  2. Employ relevant knowledge, concepts, theories and analytic approaches from Sociology in formulating an extended argument based on empirical material
  3. Engage critically and analytically with the literature in their chosen field of specialist interest
  4. 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
  5. Demonstrate attention to the relevant data analysis, referencing, and bibliographic conventions.
Reading List
None
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

KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Jonathan Hearn
Tel: (0131 6)50 4242
Email: J.Hearn@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Dave Nicol
Tel: (0131 6)51 1485
Email: dave.nicol@ed.ac.uk
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