MA Philosophy / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Dissertation

Course unit fact file
Unit code PHIL70300
Credit rating 60
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

 The MA Philosophy dissertation allows students to produce a substantial piece of independent research which investigates in detail a topic that interests them. With the support of one-to-one supervision, students will undertake a sustained enquiry into a question of their own design, engaging critically and analytically with a topic of philosophical interest.

Aims

  • Improve students' research, critical analysis, independent study, time management and presentation skills
  • Allow students to study a topic that interests them in greater depth than is possible on taught units
  • Enable students to undertake a major piece of research which, if successful, might form the basis of a PhD thesis if desired.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit successful participants will be able to demonstrate that they can:

  • Undertake a sustained enquiry into a question of their own design
  • Undertake independent research
  • Write a critical, analytical, extended essay of a professional standard on a topic of current philosophical interest that engages critically with cutting edge philosophical research.
  • Make decisions about scope and focus that will allow for an argument to be developed and sustained across a piece of work of up to 10,000 words                              

Transferable skills and personal qualities

On successful completion of this course unit, participants should have developed:

  • Problem solving skills.
  • The ability to argue from evidence.
  • The ability to set appropriate goals and to work independently and/or cooperatively.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written assignment (inc essay) 100%

Feedback methods

In addition to summative feedback on their final, submitted dissertation, students will receive formative feedback on draft work from their supervisor during the process of writing their dissertation.

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study 600

Additional notes

10,000 word limit
Pass in all MA course units (or overall compensated pass as set out in Faculty PG Taught Handbook)

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