Undergraduate Course: Landscape Architecture Dissertation (ARCH10035)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | In this course you will investigate a landscape-architectural topic of your interest negotiated with a member of academic staff. You will undertake sustained and in-depth research and present a 10,000-word, coherently argued, fully referenced and appropriately illustrated piece of academic writing. |
| Course description |
The course Landscape Architecture Dissertation encourages the definition, planning and completion of landscape-architectural research on a topic of your interest and previously negotiated with the course organiser and/or a member of academic staff. Through the production of a coherently argued, fully referenced and appropriately illustrated 10,000-word piece of academic writing you will learn about contemporary core research methods, theories, tools, and techniques in landscape architecture. We expect that you will engage in robust interdisciplinary research that will set up the basis for your Dissertation.
Preparation and research for the course will be supported by research methods seminars to help you to plan and organise the study materials and research methods required in the writing of the Dissertation. You will also have five tutorials with your allocated tutor along the semester in strategic moments of revision of your work.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is only available to students enrolled on the MA (Hons) Landscape Architecture programme. |
| Additional Costs | Costs in this course may vary radically, but typically costs have ranged between £50 and £100. An average student will spend approximately £70. This value includes costs involved in the printing and binding of two paper copies of the dissertation that need to be submitted to the School. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 12 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 4,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 2,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Formative Assessment Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
377 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The final grade for this course is based entirely (100%) on the submission of a dissertation (10,000 words with illustrations), due in Exam Week 2.
Students are marked against the three Learning Outcomes. The assessment of the dissertation is based on all the Learning Outcomes, which are equally weighted.
The Dissertation is graded directly against the Learning Outcomes of the course.
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| Feedback |
a) Formative feedback
Week 2: you will make a formal 10-minute presentation focusing on a clear definition of your research topic, research questions and a first draft of your research plan (including abstract, preliminary research question(s) and preliminary conclusions).
You will receive verbal formative feedback at the time of your presentation.
Week 6: you will submit a digital draft of your work-in-progress via LEARN, which should be as complete as possible and include:
- Chapter outline including a very short summary of each chapter
- Introduction formulated as a first chapter
- Literature review
- Methodology (including research methods and definition of case studies, if applicable)
- Early discussion of results
- More developed preliminary conclusions
You will receive short written formative feedback from your dissertation tutor within 15 working days. If necessary, the Course Organiser may also decide to conduct a 1-1 or group tutorial.
b) Summative feedback
After the submission of your dissertation in Exam Week 2, you will receive written summative feedback together with your final grades.
The summative feedback will be broken down in the form of comments per each learning outcome.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify and develop a research topic with clarity and rigour and demonstrate its relevance to cultural, historical and /or philosophical themes in the discipline of landscape architecture.
- Conduct a clear line of research enquiry that demonstrates a high level of critical thinking, by following a refined research methodology and presenting relevant data in support of the argument(s).
- Produce a structured and substantial, well-written, professionally-presented and well-referenced piece of academic writing, which presents clear research objectives and conclusions.
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Reading List
The readings in this list should be used as guides. The nature of this course requires students to develop their own reading list according to their research topic).
Reading List:
Joyner, R. L.; Rouse, W. A.; Glathorn, A. A. (2013). Writing the Winning Dissertation: a step-by-step guide. Corwin Press, USA
Madsen, D. (1992) Successful Dissertations & Theses: a guide to graduate student research from proposal to completion
Mauch, J.; Park, N. (2003). Guide to the Successful Thesis & Dissertation: a handbook for students & faculty. CRC Press, USA
Rudestam, K.; Newton, R. (2014). Surviving your dissertation: a comprehensive guide to content & process. Sage Publications, USA
Booth, W. C.; Colomb, G. C.; Williams, J. M. (2008). The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press, USA
Borden, I.; Ruedi, K. (2000). Dissertation: An Architectural Student's Handbook. Oxford: Architectural Press.
Russell, Terrence M. (1992). Essays, Reports and Dissertations: Guidance Notes on the Preparation and Presentation of Written Work. University of Edinburgh Library Guide No. 42.
Editorial List for further reference:
Journals
Journal of Landscape Architecture, JOLA (2-2016) - Editorial Papers
Landscape Research - Editorial Papers
Web
Landscape Performance: http://landscapeperformance.org/
Scenario Journal: www.scenariojournal.com
Places Journal: www.placesjournal.org
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
On the completion of this course you will:
- Demonstrate independent, self-directed research skills, using methodologies, theories, techniques and tools
- Demonstrate strong critical analysis skills in: thinking, writing, documentation and publication
- Demonstrate written and visual communication skills in a precise and finely edited format
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| Keywords | Dissertation,Landscape Architectural Research,Theory |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Liam Ross
Tel: (0131 6)51 5781
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Fanny To
Tel: (0131 6)51 5773
Email: |
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