Philosophy Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• conceptualize a feasible and intellectually adventurous research project as well as a programme of study to bring it to fruition
• present and debate ideas, both orally and in writing, in an open minded and rigorous way
• synthesize and integrate the analysis of these texts and the philosophical positions they contain into a coherent, sustained and convincing dissertation argument
• critically evaluate a wide range of both primary and secondary texts, and the arguments contained in them

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• identify a significant research question and the appropriate way of addressing it
• demonstrate the capacity for self-directed problem-solving, independent working and autonomous time- management
• develop and manage a programme of study to bring your chosen research project to fruition
• communicate a coherent, sustained and convincing argument over 20,000 words
• locate relevant scholarly literature, using a variety of bibliographic aids, to permit a convincing response to be made to the research question

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the processes by which understanding is achieved and new ideas advanced within the discipline
• the place of your topic in philosophy considered more broadly
• the subject chosen for your dissertation, including principal primary and secondary literature

You will complete a 20,000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice, subject to available supervisory expertise. This dissertation may follow on from (but not replicate) work completed in other elements of the programme, but this is not a requirement. You will be allocated an appropriate supervisor, and develop the project under his or her initial guidance. The bulk of the work, however, is done independently. Samples of written work and a full draft of the dissertation may be submitted for comment to the supervisor.

Teaching methods include

• one-to-one meetings with supervisor
• feedback on written work

Learning activities include

• oral discussion with supervisor
• conceptualization of dissertation project
• research for and organization and composition of dissertation

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.