Course Title: Doctoral Seminars

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Doctoral Seminars

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BUSM3952

City Campus

Research

660H Grad School of Business

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Professor Lynne Bennington

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0130

Course Coordinator Email:lynne.bennington@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 300 Queen Street, Level 2


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enrolment in the DBA


Course Description

This course allows candidates to work together to gain insight into the processes of doctoral level research. This will primarily be through presentations and discussion of issues candidates are facing in their own research and contributing to the resolution of issues faced by other candidates in their research; critical appraisal of the work of other candidates; attendance at other research seminars in the school and portfolio; and through self-directed learning.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

By the completion of this course each candidate will be

a) better prepared to undertake doctoral  research and thesis writing;

b) able to constructively and critically review and improve their own literature review; and 

c) understand the practical complexities and challenges of conducting quality research.



 


As in capability development


Overview of Learning Activities

The course will be taught using workshops/seminars. Participants will be required to make presentations as part of the program.
The content and process of teaching and learning will be reviewed through ongoing feedback. Candidates are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and manage their time accordingly.


Overview of Learning Resources

e-journal research articles which candidates will need to identify, summarise and integrate into their assessable work.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is available as a Pass or Fail grade only in this course. Candidates must complete (at doctoral level) each of 4 assessment tasks to pass this course. Assessment will consist of :

a) A critical review of the literature in at least one area covered by your thesis topic. This should be no more than 4,000 words (but can be anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 words) and should clearly indicate the implications for research arising from the review (by way of research that needs to be conducted). This will be used by one or more other candidates to fulfil "c" below and to provide you with constructive but critical feedback.

b) A presentation aided by powerpoint which summarises your review  and will assist another candidate to understand your topic area

c) A critical review of at least one other candidate’s critical review of the literature - this can be done by way of comments written legibly on the paper as well as a 500 word critical appraisal.

d) A critical appraisal of two research seminars attended either within the GSB, in the portfolio or from elsewhere in RMIT. (Seminars attended at other universities may be used with prior approval.)