CS900-7-AP-CO:
Interdisciplinary MA Dissertation
2023/24
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn & Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 22 March 2024
80
13 September 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA F85212 Environment, Society and Culture,
MA F85224 Environment, Society and Culture,
MA F852MO Environment, Society and Culture,
MA V70012 Heritage and Museum Studies,
MA V70024 Heritage and Museum Studies,
MA V700MO Heritage and Museum Studies
The MA dissertation is a substantial piece of interdisciplinary work 12,000 words long, which culmates the MA course. It is an opportunity to investigate a topic of your choice and really develop your interests and skills.
Students will receive initial guidance on choosing a topic and supervisor from the module director. The supervisor will then provide students guidance on developing their project, carrying out the research and writing the dissertation.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide students with the opportunity to undertake a significant research project involving in-depth investigation at an advanced level;
- To provide students with the opportunity to use and develop advanced level interdisciplinary research skills at master's level.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
- Have an appreciation of how different research methods can be used to investigate a specific problem or topic addressed within a substantial piece of written work;
- Be able to produce a significant piece of written work that demonstrates critical analysis of a defined issue and explores it within a substantial, coherent argument;
- Be able to select, reflect upon, justify and use appropriate qualitative research methods and sources;
- Be able to identify, interpret and integrate information from a range of disciplinary perspectives.
Students who have no prior experience of doing research are strongly recommended to audit the Doing Interdisciplinary Research module.
The four Spring term sessions will combine short lectures with class discussion and exercises. It is very important that you attend these sessions and do the preparatory reading. Students are also required to do two short assignments in the Spring term: a review of a past dissertation (5%) and a selection of key texts relevant to their research topic (5%).
In Week 32, students will then give a ten-minute oral presentation of their research proposal (5%) at the Dissertation Workshop and receive feedback from the Dissertation Coordinator and their MA Course Director. The final written research proposal (10%) is due on the Friday of Week 33. In the summer term students will conduct independent research for their dissertation in consultation with their supervisors.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Oral Project Presentation |
|
5% |
| Coursework |
Review of Past Dissertation (750 words) |
|
5% |
| Coursework |
Selection of Key Texts |
|
5% |
| Coursework |
1000 word proposal |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
12000 word Dissertation |
|
75% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Reassessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Jane Hindley, email: janeh@essex.ac.uk.
PHAIS Postgraduate Queries: phaispg@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr H Camilla Smith
University of Birmingham
Lecturer in Art History
Available via Moodle
Of 12 hours, 10 (83.3%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
2 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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