Module: MAJ Project/Dissertation

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	MAJ Project/Dissertation
Module Code	CM5140 (ITS) / JRR1028 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Communications
Module Co-ordinator	David Robbins
Module Teachers	Dawn Wheatley, Declan Fahy, Paul Mcnamara
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	15
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None
Array

Description

The Project/Dissertation is a major component of the MA in Journalism. Students have a choice of format: they may produce a project comprising a significant piece of journalism in their preferred medium together with a critical production report, or they may research and write a dissertation dealing critically with historical, theoretical and/or practical aspects of journalism or news media.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically analyse issues in media or resolve questions concerning in-depth or large-scale journalistic work
2. Integrate theoretical concepts of media, or propose and assemble a coherent journalistic work on a major current topic
3. Demonstrate journalism skills in research, writing and production, or to select and deploy methodologies to research media issues
4. Demonstrate ability to access and deploy subject literature in constructing a theoretical framework

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Seminars	35	The relevance of research methodologies shall be considered in the context of projects and dissertations being undertaken by students. Their proposed project or dissertation will be presented and discussed in detail during a seminar series.
Fieldwork	340	Under the guidance of the programme's nominated project and dissertation supervisor, students will undertake research and produce their projects and dissertations to a specified delivery deadline within a detailed production timeline.
Total Workload: 375

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The Project/Dissertation is a major component of the MA in Journalism. Students have a choice of format.
Students may produce a project comprising a significant piece of journalism in their preferred medium together with a critical production report, or they may research and write a dissertation dealing critically with historical, theoretical and/or practical aspects of journalism or news media.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Project	n/a	100%	n/a
Project	Research, database and library skills.	0%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 2

Indicative Reading List

Other Resources

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