Undergraduate Course: Dissertation in Sustainable Development, SPS (SSPS10015)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
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 | PLEASE NOTE: This course is only available to MA Sustainable Development students.
The dissertation in Sustainable Development, SPS is an extended piece of independent, in-depth scholarship on a sustainable development topic.
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| Course description |
The Dissertation in Sustainable Development, SPS, is an extended piece of independent, in-depth scholarship on an sustainable development topic with a clear political, international, sociological, anthropological or human geographical dimension. The topic is largely of the student's own choosing, but must be approved by the Dissertation Convenor. The work should engage critically and analytically with the literature in the chosen field. Students will be expected to refine and extend their understanding of relevant concepts and theories introduced in the courses completed in Years 1-3 of the degree. Students are further expected to demonstrate competence in research involving primary and/or secondary sources, and to apply appropriate referencing and bibliographic skills.
Students are required to attend a set number of non-assessed dissertation workshops during Year 3, organised for all students undertaking a Dissertation for the MA (Hons) Sustainable Development. The sessions will provide general advice on dissertation questions, structure, research methods and other relevant topics. Students on the geography pathway for MA in Sustainable Development should take the Geography Dissertation in Sustainable Development (GEGR10111).
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- undertake sustained, independent work, drawing on one or more of disciplinary fields from the degree
- engage critically and analytically with the significant literature in their chosen field of interest
- employ relevant knowledge, concepts, theories and analytical approaches to formulate an extended argument
- develop task-management, presentational, and self-motivational skills
- demonstrate attention to the relevant data analysis, referencing, and bibliographic conventions.
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Reading List
A guide that some students have found useful is Karen Smith et al, "Doing your undergraduate social sciences dissertation", which is available as an e-book and in hard copy. There is also a very good on-line resource about researching and writing undergraduate dissertations in the social sciences available at: http://www.socscidiss.bham.ac.uk
Other similar guides include:
Murray R (2002), "How to write a thesis" (Buckingham: Open University Press)
Oliver P (2004), "Writing your thesis" (London: Sage)
Silbergh, D (2001), "Doing Dissertations in Politics: a student guide" (London: Routledge).
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sarah Parry
Tel: (0131 6)50 6389
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Ewen Miller
Tel: (0131 6)50 3925
Email: |
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