University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Template revised October 2005)

Code: UPZPM6-60-M Title: Dissertation in European Philosophy Version: 1

Level: M UWE credit rating: 60 ECTS credit rating: 30

Module type: Project

Owning Faculty: Social Sciences & Humanities Field: Philosophy

Valid from: September 2008 Discontinued from: N/A

Contributes towards: MA European Philosophy

Pre-requisites: BA (Hons)

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module students are expected to demonstrate:

    1. The ability to define an appropriate area of research and frame an appropriate research question at advanced level (assessed through element 1)

    2. The ability to evaluate and select the research methods and philosophical perspectives appropriate to the chosen topic (assessed through all elements)

    3. The ability to plan and execute a self-initiated programme of advanced research and writing to an agreed schedule (assessed through all elements)

    4. The ability to present and justify proposals at advanced level (assessed through element 1)

Syllabus outline:

This module is composed of two parts. The first part is taught and prepares students to write the dissertation. In the second part students are supervised on a one-to-one basis through to completion.

For part 1, a series of workshops will familiarise students with the research skills and methods needed to complete a research project successfully at the standards required at postgraduate level. This includes workshops and lectures on:

    1. how to identify and develop a problem for advanced philosophical research

    2. how to propose, present and write advanced philosophical research

    3. how to undertake advanced textual research and scholarship in European philosophy

    4. how to seek and apply for funding

This will culminate in an assessed research proposal with methodological report and critical bibliography.

For part 2 of the module students are allocated a specialist supervisor, who will set up with the student a supervision schedule for the duration of the dissertation write-up period.

Teaching and learning methods:

    1. A series of workshops;

    2. Core staff presentations, including short lectures;

    3. Student presentation and feedback sessions;

    4. One-to-one supervision tutorials.

Reading Strategy:

Hard copies of appropriate journals will be in the library and an online copy will be made available to the students via UWE Blackboard. Many journals have an online version, which makes obtaining reading material easy. Additional reading material will be ordered for the library. As the MA group is likely to be relatively small we do not envisage a need for placing material on short loan. Students will also be encouraged to make full use of online resources, such as databases (e.g. the Philosophers’ Index, Project Muse, JSTOR).

Indicative Reading List:

The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.

Cottrell, Stella (2003) The Study Skills Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Critchley, Simon and William R. Schroeder, eds (1999) A Companion to Continental Philosophy. Oxford: Blackwell.

Gibaldi, Joseph (2004) MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th Ed. New York: MLA.

Glendinning, Simon (2006) The Idea of Continental Philosophy. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Letier, Brian and Michael Rosen, eds. (2007) The Oxford Handbook of Continental Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Wisker, Gina (2001) The Postgraduate Research Handbook: Succeed with your MA, MPhil, EdD and PhD. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Journals:

Collapse: a Journal of Philosophical Research and Development

Philosophical Forum

Philosophy & Phenomenological Research

Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology

Radical Philosophy

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B A: 100% B: N/A

THIS IS A PROJECT MODULE WITH ONLY ONE COMPONENT OF ASSESSMENT

First Assessment Opportunity

ATTEMPT 1

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Proposal with Methodological Report and Critical Bibliography (2,500 words) 30%

2. Dissertation (15,000 words) 70%

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Proposal with Methodological Report and Critical Bibliography (2,500 words) 30%

2. Dissertation (15,000 words) 70%

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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