Postgraduate Course: Dissertation MSc Global Crime, Justice and Security (LAWS11296)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| 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 | An independent piece of research and analysis of up to 10,000 words on an agreed topic in the field of Global Crime, Justice and Security. Supervision is provided. Work that integrates perspectives from more than one relevant discipline is especially welcomed. |
| Course description |
The MSc in Global Crime, Justice and Security is defined by its analytical focus rather than any disciplinary approach. During the programme students will have been exposed to legal and political theory and philosophy, political science, sociology, criminology and international relations. Students can choose any one of a number of approaches to the dissertation, so long as it is appropriate to answer the research question.
The dissertation can take a variety of forms, including:
- Analysis of documents, such as policy documents;
- Analysis of law, through statute and case-material (a 'black-letter law' approach);
- Analysis of secondary data (quantitative or qualitative data)
- Fieldwork based, involving the generation, collection and analysis of primary data;
- Analysis primarily aimed at advancing conceptual and/or theoretical insights;
- Any sensible combination of the above.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
| Course Start Date |
01/05/2023 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
580 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Dissertation of 10,000 words in length. This assessment is worth 100% of the overall course mark.
Full guidance on what is included in the word count is provided. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an ability to integrate perspectives from more than one discipline, where appropriate to the selected topic and question.
- Undertake a sustained piece of supervised, but independent, work in the field of global crime, justice and security displaying a mix, appropriate to the selected research topic and question, of research skills, analytic skills, theoretical understanding and substantive knowledge.
- Engage critically and analytically with the literature in the field of specialist interest.
- Employ relevant legal, political and/or social science concepts and theories in formulating a thesis.
- Manage the conduct, presentation, and timing of an independent research project, employing appropriate analytic, comparative and bibliographic skills.
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Reading List
Becker, H. 1986. Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book or Article. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hart, C. 1998. Doing a Literature Review. London: Sage.
Israel, M. and Hay, I. 2006. Research Ethics for Social Scientists. London: Sage.
Salter, M. and Mason, J. 2007. Writing Law Dissertations. Harlow: Pearson.
Turabian, K.L. 2007. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Wilson, S. and Kenny, P. 2007. The Law Student¿s Handbook. Oxford: Oxford University Press (especially p. 132ff. ¿Preparing Substantial Pieces of Work¿).
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Analytic thinking;
Writing clearly and concisely to a brief;
Delivering an argument and supporting it with evidence;
Formulating, planning and managing large projects;
Working independently and managing deadlines;
Oral communication skills. |
| Study Abroad |
Students seeking to conduct all or part of the work on their dissertation away from Edinburgh should present a case to the programme director. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Andy Aitchison
Tel: (0131 6)51 4563
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Chloe Culross
Tel: (0131 6)50 9588
Email: |
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