Course Details

Course Information Package

Course Unit Title	MASTERS DISSERTATION
Course Unit Code	MMM517
Course Unit Details	MA Visual Arts (Masters Dissertation) - MA Interdisciplinary Design (Required Courses) -
Number of ECTS credits allocated	30
Learning Outcomes of the course unit	By the end of the course, the students should be able to: Carry out an independent piece of research on a development issue. Address a specific theme in a scientifically sound, thorough and precise manner. Outline the relationship between choice of research question, theoretical perspective, research design and choice of method. Deliver a professional report presenting Master’s thesis; Defend the work conducted in front of an audience utilizing innovative presentation/display techniques. Justify the selection of techniques and tools to solve the problem under investigation.
Mode of Delivery	Face-to-face
Prerequisites	NONE	Co-requisites	NONE
Recommended optional program components	NONE
Course Contents	Preparatory work for the Dissertation begins during the First semester of studies through module MID501: Research Methods where students are asked to present research and a written proposal for approval. The dissertation is further prepared through the module MID502 Module Advanced Research Applications. Part of the students’ obligations is to submit a research proposal, which will be elaborated and developed into their MA dissertation. Students can enroll for their Dissertation after having completed 60 ECTS. Dissertation is expected to be developed during the 3rd semester for full time students and during the 4th and 5th for part time students. Although determining the exact length of the dissertation is not possible since the quality evaluation criteria lie within the dissertation content and depth, the expected extend is set around 8,000 to 10,000 words, excluding Tables of Contents, Annexes, Appendixes and References. When completed (with the consent of the Thesis Advisor) the MA Thesis must be submitted in three copies, 15 days before the examination period of the semester. Additionally students are to produce and present a body of visual work according to their chosen investigation.
Recommended and/or required reading:
Textbooks	No specific textbook required
References	J. Cresswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Sage Publications, 2002 Bennett, Design Studies; Theory and Research in Design, Princeton Architectural Press, 2006 Wisker, Gina, The postgraduate research handbook: succeed with your MA, MPhil, EdD and PhD, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008 Laurel, B (Ed)., Design Research: Methods and Perspectives. Cambridge MA, MIT Press, 2003
Planned learning activities and teaching methods	Teaching for this course consists of individual academic supervision given over the semester. Students are obliged to select an academic advisor and meet regularly with throughout the semester. Student centered practical work, personal research, realization and manipulation in project work. The use of personal tutorials is an important and integral part of the teaching methodology.
Assessment methods and criteria	Interim Presentations 10% Final Presentation 10% Research Paper 50% Final Exam 30%
Language of instruction	English
Work placement(s)	NO