Postgraduate Course: USD Dissertation (ARCH11201)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| 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 | This compulsory core course introduces students, via lectures and supportive tutorials, to the dissertation project. It then matches students with tutorial supervisors who work with the students, in an advisory capacity, to conceive, structure and write a fifteen thousand (15 000) word thesis, on an agreed and relevant theme, topic, or question, related to the Urban Strategic Design Project. Or, alternatively produce a thesis on an agreed topic of relevance to the student's previous urban-related work, and in keeping with the described themes of the Urban Strategies and Design Programme.
The Course is structured in three stages:
Stage One (weeks 6 - 10 semester 2)
Introductory lectures, tutorials, and seminars (some course content to be shared with ARCH11197 MSc Dissertation) Initial individual tutorial meeting with Dissertation supervisor and production of draft dissertation abstract/hypothesis
Stage Two (week 11 or final week of Semester 2)
Completion of dissertation abstract and presentation of dissertation propsal at internal symposium Matching with dissertation supervisors and development of dissertation proposal (Dissertation supervisors will be shared pro-rata betwen SBE/HWU staff)
Stage Three Summer period at the completion of Semester Two , from June - mid August
Dissertation write-up and consultations with research supervisor. Concluding with dissertation hand in.
Aims of the Course
To enable students to do the following:
1. Demonstrate skills in rigorous investigation and synthesis in the production of an authoritative written discourses or design project.
2. Develop a personal position on what represents a high standard of urban design development, process or practice, and establish a position in relation to the wide-ranging debate on the subject.
3. Experiment on a theme within a particular area of interest and challenge preconceptions, pursue an enquiring and critical approach to Urban Process. |
| Course description |
Weeks 6 -10
Introductory lectures and seminars on dissertation writing and research topic definition. Matching of students with Dissertation supervisors.
Lecture Topics to be covered:
Effective library and archives usage.
Academic writing.
Information sources.
Use of electronic referencing systems.
Time management.
Structuring the Dissertation.
Writing critically.
Use of case study analysis.
Week 11
Student Dissertation Presentations Seminar; in association with MSc Conservation Students.
Weeks 12 - abstract draft submission deadline
Student-led work on dissertation with planned meetings with dissertation supervisors.
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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 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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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
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
568 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The ability to plan, structure and develop a significant project of research investigation. 33%
The application of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to complex issues which require informed and critical judgements. 33%
The skill of presenting a dissertation or project to an agreed layout and format which is consistently clear and coherent. 33%
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| Feedback |
Dissertations will be read by each student's dissertation supervisor, and an anonymous second reader. Feedback will be given within two weeks of hand in of work.
For this reason all dissertations must be handed in both as hard copy texts to the ECA PG office and uploaded on Learn or whatever future proprietory online learning environment that the University of Edinburgh uses.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- The ability to plan, structure and develop a significant project of research investigation.
- The application of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to complex issues which require informed and critical judgements.
- The skill of presenting a dissertation or project to an agreed layout and format which is consistently clear and coherent.
|
Reading List
Indicative Bibliography
Berry,R (1986). How to write a research paper,2nd ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Fairbairn, Gavin (1991) Reading, writing and reasoning:a guide for students, Milton Keynes, Open University Press Brink-Budgen.
Roy van den (2000) Critical thinking for students: learn the skills
of critical assessment and effective argument, Oxford: How To Books.
Borden, I.and Ruedi, K.(2005)The Dissertation: an architecture student's handbook,2nd edition, Oxford, Architectural Press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical-writing, report writing skills, research skills, urban case study analysis. |
| Special Arrangements |
Some course content will be shared with MSc Conservation Dissertation Course - ARCH11197 MSc Dissertation.
Dissertation supervision to be shared with staff from School of Built Environment, Heriot Watt University. Administration of Course undertaken by University of Edinburgh. |
| Keywords | Urban Design,knowledge,theory,writing skills,research intellectual analysis creativity |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Nwola Uduku
Tel: 0131 651 5786
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Siobhan Byron
Tel: (0131 6)51 5744
Email: |
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