Dissertation Preparation
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| GEOG2031 | Geography | 2 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- GEOG2031
- School
- Geography
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module is taught by formal lectures, scheduled preliminary fieldwork, and supervision meetings with a dissertation tutor. The formal lectures cover the following:
1. Introduction to the dissertation process and procedures
2. What is a dissertation?
3. Preparing a dissertation proposal
4. Ethics, risk and safety implications when conducting geographical research
5. Cartography for dissertations.
Target Students
BA Geography L700; BSc Geography F800; BA Geography with Business L7N1; Joint Honours Archaeology and Geography LV74; Environmental Sciences F759; Natural Sciences (Geography pathway) FGC0 (3 year BSc) and GFC0 (4 year MSci).
Classes
Teaching comprises a combination of timetabled lectures and supervision sessions arranged between student and supervisor.
Assessment
- 100% Coursework: 3,000 words
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The aims of this module are to prepare undergraduate Geography students for undertaking their 40 credit dissertation which is a significant piece of supervised research that includes working in the field, collecting primary and/or secondary data, conducting a literature review, undertaking independent research and writing their research up to produce a significant piece of original scholarship. The module will equip students with an understanding of research design and methodology, will explore the nature of the dissertation and how to select a topic, determine appropriate methodologies and methods of analysis and will explain the ethical, risk and safety frameworks under which dissertations are undertaken. The module will detail the timetable, procedures and processes that students need to follow in order to complete the dissertation.Learning Outcomes
a. Knowledge and understanding:
• Demonstrate comprehension of the literature on a specific topic within Geography.
• Demonstrate comprehension of the range of methodologies that can be employed in undertaking original research for a dissertation.
• Evaluate the diversity of approaches and the range of disciplinary interventions involved in the undertaking of original research.
b. Intellectual Skills:
• Ability to critically evaluate the contested nature of knowledge and understanding in the production of original Geographic research.
• Synthesise information and recognise relevance.
• Develop a sustained and reasoned argument.
• Undertake critical reflection and evaluation.
c. Professional Practical Skills:
• Evaluate the diversity of specialised techniques and approaches involved in collecting information for undertaking Geographical research and to deploy an appropriate range of data collection methods.
• Evaluate the diversity of specialised techniques and approaches involved in analysing geographical information.
d. Transferable Skills:
• Communicate geographical ideas, principals and theories effectively and fluently by written means.
• Undertake independent/self-directed study/learning to achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainments.
• Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
• Work creatively and present an innovative research-based piece of work.
• Effectively manage time and resource constraints.
• Understand and implement the ethical, safety and risk assessments required when undertaking Geographical research.