ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

 

SO4B2     
MSc in Human Rights and Politics Dissertation

This information is for the 2022/23 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Chetan Bhatt STC S107 and Dr Sara Salem STC S218

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Human Rights and Politics. This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

Dissertation workshops aim to help you to begin the process of writing your dissertation, develop your ideas further, and learn about a range of research methods and techniques. During MT, an extended seminar aims to get students thinking about research on Human Rights and Politics and how to identify a strong research problem. In Lent Term, dissertation workshops will cover a range of areas, including the structure of a dissertation, ethical and practical issues in research, refining your research problem, deciding on research methods, analysing data, and writing the dissertation.  The workshops will aim to give tailored guidance on proposed research questions in small groups with fellow students who are working on similar topics. The MSc in Human Rights and Politics takes a pluralist approach towards research methods and does not seek to prescribe any particular theories or methods.

Teaching

2 hours of lectures in the MT. 3 hours of seminars in the LT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

These seminars are for students on the MSc Human Rights and Politics only.

In addition to the above teaching, there will be two sessions during MT for ALL MSc students based in the Sociology department. These will be offered in conjunction with ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Life and ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Library and provide basic guidance about planning your dissertation, such as selecting a suitable topic, designing the research and reviewing the existing literature.

Teaching arrangements may be adjusted if online teaching is required at any point.

Formative coursework

Students will be required to submit a provisional dissertation title in MT, plus an extended dissertation statement in LT.

Indicative reading

Seale, C. (2018), Researching Society and Culture (Fourth Edition), Sage.

Assessment

Dissertation (100%, 10000 words) in August.

Two hard copies of the dissertation, with submission sheets attached to each, to be handed in to the Sociology Hub, STC.S116, no later than 4.00pm on Thursday 17th August 2023. An additional copy to be uploaded to Moodle no later than 4.00pm on the same day.

Both hard copies and electronic copies must be submitted on time to avoid any late submission penalties.

Dissertations may be up to and no more than 10,000 words, must be word-processed and be fully referenced using a recognised citation system.

Attendance at all workshops and submission of all set coursework is required.

Key facts

Department: Sociology

Total students 2021/22: 60

Average class size 2021/22: 13

Controlled access 2021/22: Yes

Value: One Unit

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills