Course Title: Minor Thesis

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Minor Thesis

Credit Points: 24.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ARCH1281	City Campus	Postgraduate	330H Social Science & Planning	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006
ARCH1281	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009
ARCH1281	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 2 2010
ARCH1281	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 2 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 2 2013

Course Coordinator: Dr Jonathan Makuwira and Dr Benno Engels

Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) 9925 3799 / 9925 3884

Course Coordinator Email: jonathan.makuwira@rmit.edu.au / benno.engels@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: email for appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

HUSO 2079 Research Strategies, with a grade of at least DI [70% or higher]

Course Description

The Minor Thesis requires you to conduct independent research under supervision at a relatively advanced level. The thesis is based on a viable research proposal you previously prepared during your participation in the Research Strategies Course. This is why a Distinction [70%] or higher grade for the Research Strategies course is normally necessary as a pre-requisite for enrolment in ARCH1281. The thesis, which should be 12-14000 words in length, can cover a wide range of topics arising out of the different Masters programs and disciplines taught in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies. It can be based on some sort of fieldwork, project or empirical work, or be totally text-based. In addition to having a viable proposal, students will only be allowed to enrol in ARCH 1281 when a suitably qualified member of staff is available to supervise their thesis. This is so their work can benefit from appropriate scholarly input. The Minor Thesis should be completed in one semester.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In completing the thesis, students will be expected to:

• integrate and apply the skills and knowledge gained in their Masters of Social Science program while conducting an independent research project;
• carry out, under supervision, a viable research project they previously drafted
• demonstrate familiarity with the principal scholarly literature[s] relating to the thesis topic;
• demonstrate a capacity to synthesise a range of conceptual and empirical materials and draw appropriate conclusions;
• demonstrate enhanced capacity to articulate and organise ideas in a sustained written composition in order to produce a minor thesis of publishable standard.

Overview of Learning Activities

With the assistance of a supervisor, you will carry out the research project you previously designed in the Research Strategies course. As part of this process, you will come to terms with the major existing literature on the subject, investigate new sources, gather and organise relevant data, sustain an interpretative discussion, and present the argument in a logical and coherent form. Through this process, you will gain experience in discovery, critical analysis, problem-solving and interpretation. This process will equip you, among other things, to undertake a longer postgraduate research thesis.

The supervision process is critical to the success of this course. Your supervisor is your personal adviser and critic. He or she should assist you in locating relevant sources, people, sites and organisations, recommend appropriate methodological and theoretical readings, advise about the organisation and structure of the argument, help you refine your topic if necessary, and read and criticise your manuscript. Your supervisor should give you assistance and support, as well as presenting you with a continual intellectual challenge. For this reason, you should be in regular weekly contact with your supervisor.

While your supervisor is your primary adviser, you should still feel free to consult with others in the School who may be able to help you with your work. It is only common courtesy, however, to inform your supervisor about this. You may also call on the program coordinator to resolve any conflicts or other problems arising from your work in this course.

Overview of Learning Resources

To be worked out in conjunction with your supervisor.

Overview of Assessment

The course will be assessed on completion of a minor thesis of 12 000 to 14 000 words