Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description The purpose of this course is to help you to undertake a dissertation or capstone project on a topic of relevance to climate change. The dissertation/capstone project accounts for 27.7% of your final grade and requires an even greater proportion of your time. It is an opportunity to conduct independent research on a question of your own choosing. It is the dissertation/capstone project that primarily distinguishes a Master’s degree from a primary degree. As a core part of the MSc in Climate Change, students have the choice of writing either a 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, or a capstone project, which is a practice-oriented, problem-based substantial assignment. During this module, students will be appraised of the importance of this choice, the differences between the two pathways, and the implications of choosing one or the other. They will be taught essential elements of social science such as the role and importance of theory and qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as opportunities and pitfalls of practice-oriented research. They will receive discipline specific guidance for conducting academic and practice-oriented research in political science and policy analysis, media studies, and communications, taught by experts from DCU’s School of Law and Government and School of Communications. The module is assessed on a pass-fail basis. If you pass, it does not contribute to your final degree classification. If you fail, you will not receive a degree. There are three assessments. These are the submission of an initial proposal, the presentation of the initial proposal, and the submission of a developed proposal. Ideally, the proposal should contain: 1. A statement of the research question or problem, preferably in one line; 2. The location of the project in the existing literature; 3. Research method, including sources; and 4. Possible conclusions. The initial proposal should be 300 to 500 words long. After proposals have been submitted, a schedule of presentations will be drawn up. Each student will present to the class and will receive feedback. They will then incorporate this feedback into a revised and further developed proposal, which should be 800 to 1000 words long and contain a detailed structure, however notional. Students will be assigned supervisors before the beginning of the next semester. The supervisor’s greatest contribution will usually be to guide you through the general process of research, rather than the particular detail of your thesis topic. I will give you feedback on your developed research proposal. Please revise your proposal in line with this feedback and your own ideas and submit this to your supervisor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. appreciate the importance of research design 2. understand the differences between a dissertation and capstone project and implications of this choice 3. make substantial progress in identifying a practicable research project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Week 1 Dissertations and capstone projects: Differences and implications Week 2 How to conduct a literature review Week 3 Qualitative and quantitative research in social science Week 4 Practice-oriented research: Opportunities and pitfalls Week 5 Key research methods and topics in political science and public policy Week 6 Key research methods and topics in media studies Week 8 Key research methods and topics in communications Weeks 9-12 Presentation of student proposals and feedback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles: None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||