Postgraduate Course: Dissertation (MSc in Religious Studies) (REST11014)

Course Outline
School	School of Divinity	College	College of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	60	ECTS Credits	30
Summary	Development of a research topic exploring methodological issues in the study of religion and writing a dissertation on the topic under supervision.
Course description	Academic Description: This course offers students the opportunity to engage with a particular topic in the study of religion through their own, independent, research, culminating in a dissertation of 15,000 words. Students are encouraged to pursue their own distinctive academic interests, informed by the themes and topics they have encountered in taught components of the MSc Religious Studies, and perhaps making use of their academic backgrounds prior to enrolment in this MSc programme. The dissertation will demonstrate advanced knowledge of the chosen subject, the ability to identify appropriate research questions and to develop appropriate research strategies to explore those questions, the ability to develop a sustained argument, as well as effective academic writing and presentation skills. Syllabus/Outline Content: The content of this course will fall within the broad area of the study of religion. Students will work with a supervisor as identified by the Programme Director of the MSc Religious Studies. The supervisor will provide guidance at all stages of the preparation of the dissertation and be available for consultation on a meeting schedule agreed with the student at the beginning of the course. The supervisor will guide the research process by suggesting appropriate literature, advising on shaping the research material into an argument suitable for a 15,000-word dissertation, and accompany the writing process by commenting on drafts and the academic presentation of the material, including the style of references and bibliography. Student Learning Experience Information: This is a course based on independent research. Students are expected to take charge of their work schedule and independently structure their time for research and writing. Regular consultations with their assigned supervisor are essential for the successful completion of the dissertation. Students are encouraged to seek the advice of the supervisor at the beginning of the course and agree a schedule of meetings which allows for the timely completion of the dissertation.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: None
Course Start	Full Year
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)	A dissertation of up to 15,000 words: 100%.
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Completed a dissertation of 15,000 words of an appropriate scope, with well-defined research methods, and situated in a clearly articulated scholarly context Identified and located relevant research resources on their chosen topic Demonstrated confident and critical handling of relevant scholarly literature Presented a clear argument and supported this with evidence Observed appropriate academic conventions with respect to style, tone, paragraphing, footnoting, referencing, and bibliographies