THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Social Work

Undergraduate Course: Social Work Dissertation (UG) (SCWR10036)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits40 ECTS Credits20
SummaryPLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE IS ONLY FOR STUDENTS ON THE BSC SOCIAL WORK DEGREE PROGRAMME

The subject of the Dissertation will be an investigation of relevant, social work-related topic

It will include a review of existing research and come to a conclusion about the issues raised in the literature. The Dissertation will then set out the legal, policy and practice implications of the chosen topic.

It should be noted that this dissertation may not be necessarily based on the collection of empirical data by the student, although students are expected to demonstrate a methodological approach to reviewing the literature for their study.
Course description a) Academic Description

The BSc Social Work dissertation at the University of Edinburgh is a dissertation that students work on through the Honours years of their degree programme, culminating in the submission of a 8,000 word dissertation towards the end of the programme.


b) Outline Content

Input on dissertation preparation is provided to support with this process from the proposal stage to the final submission. Individual supervision is available throughout the process. Dissertation clinics, workshops and group tutorials are also held on a regular basis.

The proposal for a topic will be based upon the student's own interests and what is feasible in terms of the literature, time and resources available.

The dissertation is as an independent course of study on a relevant social work related topic that is chosen by the student. The majority of the work for the dissertation falls within the Senior Honours year but students will be introduced to the assignment within their Junior Honours year and during that year will identify a topic they wish to explore and submit a dissertation proposal for approval and feedback. In the summer between Junior and Senior honours years, students will undertake a work-in-progress literature review to be submitted on the first day of the final academic year.

c) Student Learning Experience

Students are expected to be independent learners, to drive their own project. With support from the course organiser, from the dissertation supervisor and where appropriate, from other social work staff members, students will select a relevant social work topic which is of interest to them. Students will source and review the available literature and discuss implications for policy, practice and social work organisations. In many respects, the dissertation is the culmination of the student's degree and an opportunity to self-direct and develop their understanding of a specific aspect of the profession. The longer assignment poses specific challenges in relation to working independently and sustaining required effort but ultimately is an opportunity which facilitates a deeper knowledge and understanding of an area of interest to the student.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 400 ( Lecture Hours 3, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8, Other Study Hours 41, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 340 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Assessment will based on:

Dissertation (8,000 words): 100%
Feedback Dissertation proposal: Midway through the second semester, students submit a dissertation proposal outlining their plan for the project, providing an outline of initial literature that has been sourced and suggesting possible implications of conducting this research for policy and practice. Students receive written feedback on the proposal from the dissertation supervisor.

Formative Assessment
Students submit a work-in-progress literature review on the first day of semester 1, year 4.
Written, developmental feedback is provided by the dissertation supervisor.

Summative assessment: 8,000 word dissertation. This is double marked by two members of staff from the subject area.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Define and provide a clear rationale for the topic and methodological approach chosen.
  2. Complete a literature review that critically engages with relevant sources (through library and internet research).
  3. Present a coherent, independent and analytical evaluation of their findings.
  4. Identify and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the implications of these findings for social work policy and practice.
Reading List
Aveyard, H. (2018), Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: A Practical Guide,
Buckingham: Open University Press.

Bell, J. (2014), Doing Your Research Project, 6th edition, Buckingham: Open University
Press.

Coughlan, M., and Cronin, P. (2016), Doing a literature review in nursing, health and social
care. London: Sage.

Humphries, B. (2000), Research in Social Care and Social Welfare, London: Jessica
Kingsley.

Kiteley, R. and Stogdon, C. (2014), Literature Reviews in Social Work. London; Sage.

Krumer-Nevo, M. (2017) ¿Poverty and the political: Wresting the political out of and into
social work theory, research and practice.¿ European Journal of Social Work, 20(6),
pp.811-822.

Mark, R. (1996), Research Made Simple: A Handbook for Social Workers, Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage.

O¿Leary, Z. (2010), The Essential Guide to Your Research Project, London; Sage.

Robson, C. (2011), Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and
Practitioner-Researchers, 3rd edition, Oxford: Blackwell.

Shaw, I.G.R. and Holland, S., 2014. Doing qualitative research in social work. Sage: London.

Tuck, E. (2009), ¿Suspending damage: A letter to communities.¿ Harvard Educational
Review, 79(3), pp.409-428.

Walliman, N. (2014), Your Undergraduate Degree: The Essential Guide for Success,
London: Sage

Watson, F., Burrows, H. and Player, C. (2002), Integrating Theory and Practice in Social
Work Education, London: Jessica Kingsley.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Georgia Cole
Tel:
Email: Georgia.cole@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Dani Langdridge
Tel:
Email: dani.langdridge@ed.ac.uk
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