Postgraduate Course: Work-based dissertation (MSc Medical Anthropology) (PGSP11411)
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 | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | The Work-based dissertation is an alternative form of assessment for students who undertake organisational placements as part of MSc. Placements will be competitive, with employers making the final decision. Students may also set up projects directly, subject to a formal process of approval by the programme director.
Students will undertake a 15,000 word dissertation linked to a work-based placement on a topic related to Medical Anthropology issues, to be submitted by a date specified in the University Regulations, usually mid-August. The dissertation will comprise a 12,000 word research paper and a 3,000 word project diary. The placements generally consist of eight weeks of on-location research with a host organisation in the UK or overseas, from our network of contacts which includes NGOs, charities, social enterprises, think-tanks and government bodies.
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 Medical Anthropology. Previous placement students have produced briefing papers, literature reviews, project progress reports, field monitoring reports, grant proposals, annual reports, policy documents, and field based research outputs. The final 3,000 word diary will be submitted alongside the research paper, and fortnightly draft submissions will also be required.
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. |
| Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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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
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 12,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
576 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. A Project Diary of a maximum 3000 words.
The diary will consist of a fortnightly progress report sent to academic supervisor and the Placement Coordinator, with the final version submitted along with the research paper.
The diary should include a description of the work undertaken, an analysis of how this fits into the overall aims and objectives of the placement, a description and analysis of any obstacles encountered in fulfilling these aims and objectives, a description and analysis of the attempts made to overcome these obstacles and their relative success, and a description and analysis of what went well.
The diary aims to:
- Track the development of the placement and include comments on the issues raised as the student develops his/her knowledge of the project placement -Reflect the personal development of the student within the placement situation, making reference to the skills being developed.
- Document any problems that the student may encounter when in the field.
2. 12,000 word research paper on a topic identified in collaboration with the host organisation.
The project diary and research paper are to be submitted as one 15,000 word document to be marked as one document. The complete document will be marked according to the SSPS marking criteria.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- - Learn to undertake independent work on a topic chosen in conjunction with a host organisation, drawing on knowledge and insights from courses taken within the Medical Anthropology MSc;
- - Display and extend their research and analytical skills, training and knowledge acquired in the previous coursework, and apply them to the agreed project;
- - Employ relevant knowledge, concepts, and analytical approaches from their chosen field to inform their WBP dissertation;
- - Exercise and consolidate their time-management, task-management, and self-motivational skills in the planning, conduct, and execution of their research;
- - Develop and refine their communication and presentational skills;
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Nading
Tel: (0131 6)50 4052
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Kate Ferguson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5122
Email: |
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