| Unit name | Practice-based dissertation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HUMSM0024 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Kelly |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | School of Humanities |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
All MA students are expected to undertake a dissertation as the culmination of the programme of study. The Practice-based dissertation option will provide a structured and supervised opportunity for MA students to independently pursue an agreed form of creative enquiry. This will involve researching and producing an advanced piece of practice work, to be accompanied by a critical and/or theoretical written element. The unit involves devising a realisable topic, which has the potential to contribute to knowledge in the discipline. It would normally be expected that this topic would arise from work already undertaken on the programme, as the dissertation is an opportunity to explore a specialist area in more detail. Creative practice within this unit may take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, the design of a physical or virtual exhibition, a heritage walk, a digital heritage tool, a short work of fiction or creative non-fiction relating to a heritage site or collection. The title, scale and form of each piece of work will be discussed with the supervisor. The practice and written element together provide the means for advanced creative enquiry through realisation and reflection.
How does this fit into your programme of study?
The practice-based dissertation is the culmination of the MA programme of study. It offers an opportunity to make a practical contribution to the field of cultural heritage through a creative piece of work agreed with your supervisor and then to reflect academically on this contrition in an extended piece of writing (4,500 words).
An overview of content:
The practice-based dissertation is a substantial independent research project with a creative focus. It will consist of conducting a practical exercise agreed in advance in consultation with your supervisor, and an extended reflective essay on the contribution being made to the field of cultural heritage.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit:
The practice-based dissertation offers an excellent opportunity to make a practical and creative contribution to the field of cultural heritage through a form of your choosing in consultation with your supervisor, and then to reflect critically on this practice. As a consequence, it will develop both your practical and creative skills in relation to themes emerging from the programme, as well as your academic research and writing skills. The unit will give you the skills and confidence to pursue a major piece of practical creative work which will make a contribution to knowledge in the field of cultural heritage.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Tutorials in the form of supervised sessions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Towards the beginning of your dissertation research you will produce a reading and resource list for your dissertation topic in consultation with your supervisor. Although the length of this list may vary from topic to topic, it is expected that you will include at least 30 items. Depending on your topic, your resource list may include visits to heritage sites or conversations with heritage practitioners, writers and creatives.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A practical element (70%) (to be agreed with a supervisor) [ILOs 1-4]
A written element (4,500 words). This essay will reflect on how the practical element of the dissertation fits within the academic field of cultural heritage, and how it makes a contribution to the field (30%) [ILOs 1-4]
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 form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic 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. HUMSM0024).
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.
