| Unit name | Dissertation with Fieldwork or Community Placement |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRSM0121 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Langer |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
No pre-requisites |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
No co-requisites |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
The dissertation is an extended exercise in independent research and the capstone of your MArts in Religion and Theology with Study Abroad. It provides a structured and supervised opportunity to pursue a research project that reflects your academic development and emerging specialism in the study of religion.
This variant of the dissertation gives students the opportunity to combine their academic learning with practical experience of field-work or community-based placement. Students are supported to make contact and establish relationships with their chosen area of field-work / placement and to formulate research questions enabling them to engage with the field-work / placement in a scholarly context. Students will experience first-hand the interaction of religion, society and academia in their chosen community or placement and are encouraged to reflect on this in both their portfolio and the dissertation.
Students are expected to identify their own research topic, formulate focused research questions, and locate these questions within relevant primary sources and secondary scholarship. You will also develop appropriate methodologies to explore your topic and produce a scholarly, analytical text to a high standard appropriate to this level of study.
This unit aims to help students plan ahead for a career after graduation and to enhance their employability by providing opportunities to network and to develop a range of practical and transferable skills, such as effective communication, presentation, negotiation and teamwork
In addition you will also have opportunities to present your work to non-specialist audiences and to contribute to the organisation of an academic event, helping you to develop valuable communication and public engagement skills.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The dissertation is the capstone assessment for your programme. It is your opportunity to put into practice the research, analytical, and writing skills you’ve developed throughout the taught components of your MArts in Religion and Theology. It is also a chance for you to undertake in-depth research that reflects your emerging specialism as a scholar of religion. In other words, we see this unit as the culmination of your studies in Religion and Theology, as you continue to develop the interdisciplinary skills essential to the academic study of religion.
An overview of content
The dissertation is a student-led research exercise, the content of this unit will be shaped by each student’s individual interest and focus. You are encouraged to build on topics, primary sources, and research questions first encountered in your taught modules, using the dissertation to develop an area of specialism and contribute meaningfully to ongoing scholarly conversations in Religion and Theology.
In the first Teaching Block, you will be trained in fieldwork practice by means of five dedicated workshops.
Throughout the year, you will be supported by your assigned supervisor, and will benefit from a series of fortnightly workshops that will help you refine your research question, identify and work with relevant primary sources, engage critically with the secondary literature, and produce a scholarly and analytical piece of writing that meets the high academic standards expected at this level of study.
Finally, you will have the opportunity to present your work at the annual Religion and Theology Student Conference, which you will help organise collaboratively. This event offers a platform to share your research with peers, receive feedback, and develop valuable skills in academic presentation, event planning, and public engagement—experiences that will serve you well in future employment or postgraduate study.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit aims to support you in undertaking fieldwork and developing an original piece of research on a topic of your choosing within the field of Religion and Theology. It will develop your understanding not just of the religious or historical material involved, but also of the ways in which scholars frame appropriate research questions and pursue answers through critical inquiry. By the end of this unit, you will have gained transferable skills in fieldwork, project design, development, and management. You will also have gained and know how to articulate your unique set of skills—from academic communication and event coordination to teamwork and public engagement. Above all, you will have become a researcher in your own right, having contributed to the collective disciplinary knowledge of the field.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Classes will involve a combination of long- and short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
300-word reflective piece based on organisation and participation of research at annual UG/MArts conference (0% credit bearing) [ILO 7]
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
3,000-word portfolio consisting of: (a) analysis of place, situation or event; (b) structured interview and (c) reflective account. (30%) [ILOs 1-3]
7,000-word dissertation project (excluding footnotes) [ILOs 4-6]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. THRSM0121).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
