Aims: To draw upon issues covered by the PG Certificate and PG Diploma stages of the Masters in International Development to produce a sustained argument concerning a development issue of particular interest and/or career relevance.
Learning Outcomes:
An ability (a) to define and offer a coherent answer to an original research question in a chosen area of interest related to development, (b) to support the argument with relevant empirical evidence and/or reference to appropriate theory, and/or critically linking together arguments from disparate literatures or disciplinary perspectives, (c) to do all the above in written form in a short dissertation that conforms to acceptable standards of presentation and expression, and (e) to complete the assignment within an agreed deadline.
Skills:
Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (e.g. essays) (Taught/Facilitated).
Ability to select, analyse and present numerical data (T/F/Assessed).
Ability to select, summarise and synthesis written information from multiple sources (T/F/A).
Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models (T/F/A).
Ability to synthesise multidisciplinary perspectives on the same problem (T/F/A).
Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer (T/F/A).
Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A).
Ability to work independently, without close supervision of guidance (T/F/A).
Content:
Any area of development studies for which an adequate level of supervision can be offered. This unit may be linked to a placement or internship within a particular development organisation.
The more limited time available and length of assessed work means that students will not be able to collect as much empirical material, or draw upon the range of depth of literature than is expected of an MSc Dissertation.
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