Unit information: MA Dissertation (Trinity & Baptist College) in 2014/15

Unit name	MA Dissertation (Trinity & Baptist College)
Unit code	THRSM0056
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Eeva John
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	In giving approval to dissertation proposals, the course leader and faculty will be guided by the relevance of students' profiles of completed units. MA students will participate in a week-long Research Methodology course as part of the MA programme and in preparation for the dissertation.
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The proposed title of the dissertation, together with a brief description and initial bibliography, should be submitted to the unit director. The student and course leader will then agree on an appropriate supervisor with whom the student discusses his/her dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal must be approved by the course leader and the supervisor. The student is responsible for arranging supervisions and for organising his or her work so that it is completed on time. MA students will meet together with a member of faculty present regularly during the year to present progress papers to one another.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. provide the student with an opportunity to pursue research in an area of interest as specified by the MA programme on which they are enrolled;
2. enable the student to develop skills in research method, critical thinking, argumentation and the articulation of original ideas;
3. lay the foundations for possible future work at higher degree level.

On completion of the unit students should:

1. possess a solid understanding of the intellectual disciplines and research methods appropriate to the area of theological study within which the dissertation topic falls;
2. develop an extended argument that takes account of different points of view;
3. develop and defend fresh ideas in theology;
4. present to a high standard an extended piece of academic writing that includes subsections, footnotes and bibliography.

Teaching Information

The student is entitled to receive no more than five hours of supervision. These will include an initial meeting, the discussion of an outline and a timetable for completion, discussion of a penultimate draft and a final draft. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of primary sources. Feedback will include discussion at supervisions, and written comments on drafts of the dissertation.

The unit will consist of 5 contact hours in total with the supervisor.

Assessment Information

The dissertation should be 15,000 words in length, inclusive of any appendices, but excluding footnotes and bibliography. It must be typed or word-processed, and presented in a secure folder.

Examiners shall have the discretion to give students an oral examination on the subject of their dissertation.

Reading and References

Not applicable.