Postgraduate Course: Dissertation (MSc International Development) (PGSP11291)

Course Outline
School	School of Social and Political Science	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	Students will undertake a dissertation of no longer than 15,000 words on a topic related to international development issues, to be submitted by a date specified in the University Regulations, usually by the end of August. The dissertation is an extended piece of scholarship in which a student is expected to formulate and sustain a substantive piece of independent research in international development. The work is expected to engage critically and analytically with the literature in the field, building upon relevant concepts and theories introduced in the taught elements of the degree and deploying a range of primary and secondary sources as well as appropriate data-analytic and bibliographic skills. Each student will be allocated a research supervisor by the end of the second semester to advise on and oversee her/his research progress. There may be some opportunities to undertake dissertation research as part of planned internships with development organisations, these will be assessed by the same criteria as the standalone dissertations.
Course description	Not entered

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	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)	15 000 word dissertation
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Plan and eecute a significant piece of independent work within the field of International Development that displays and extxends research skills, training and knowledge acquired in the previous coursework Demonstrate mastery of a range of techniques of enquiry and/or materials reflecting the current state of their discipline and appropriate to independent research on their chosen subject Employ relevant concepts and theories in presenting a sustained argument/thesis that is developed in accordance with social scientific norms and engages critically and analytically with the significant relevant literature in the field of their specialist interest Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in time and task management, taking primary responsibility for all aspects of their work Deal self-reflexively with complex ethical and professional/academic issues and make informed judgements on issues arising in the context of independent research