Module: Dissertation/Capstone project

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Dissertation/Capstone project
Module Code	POL1064 (ITS: LG5048)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	25

Description

Students on the MSc in Climate Change can choose either one of two pathways. The first pathway requires them to write a Master’s dissertation, which is an original piece of research on a substantive topic of interest in any humanities or social science field related to climate change. The second pathway requires them to undertake a capstone project, which is a practice-oriented, problem-based substantial assignment. This could take diverse, discipline-specific forms, including an extended analysis of a real-world problem in climate policy and development of proposed solutions, development of a sustainability strategy for a business or social enterprise, development of climate change educational material for a specific context, for example. Although more practical in orientation, the capstone project must be robustly grounded in relevant academic debates, methodologies and approaches. Students will have been appraised of the requirements and implications of choosing either pathway as part of LG5049 Research Methodology, which is a pre-requisite for this module.

Learning Outcomes

1. produce a lengthy piece of original academic or practice-oriented research on a topic of the student’s choice
2. develop an in-depth expertise in a particular subject
3. carry out investigation using one or more research techniques and theoretical approaches
4. analyze, interpret, and critically evaluate research findings

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Independent Study	625	Dissertation research and writing
Total Workload: 625

Section Breakdown
CRN	11737	Part of Term	Semester 1, 2 & 3
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Donnacha Ó Beacháin	Module Teacher	Daniel Marks, Diarmuid Torney

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Extended Essay / Dissertation	Dissertation or capstone project with 15,000 word limit	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None