Arts Honours Dissertation H 18cp (6cp) (8159.5)

Please note these are the 2021 details for this unit
Home
/
Find your course
/
Arts Honours Dissertation H 18cp (6cp)
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.25 6 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Arts And Communications Undergraduate Honours Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Students conduct study and research to produce a dissertation that comprises an original investigation of a topic. The thesis can take the form of either (a) a substantial creative, design or industry-relevant work, accompanied by an exegesis of 3,000 -- 5,000 words, or (b) an academic dissertation of 15,000 -- 20,000 words. The dissertation topic will require approval by the honours supervisor and will be conducted within appropriate ethical guidelines.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate high-level research skills;

2. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of their chosen field; and

3. Plan, implement, and document a sustained research or creative project under academic supervision.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

Students must be enrolled in 298JA Bachelor of Arts and Design (Honours) OR 922AA Bachelor of Arts (Honours).

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

7760 Arts Honours Thesis H 18cp (6cp)

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

A reading list relevant to the student's dissertation topic will be developed by the student in consultation with their supervisor.

Learner engagement

Students who attend campus for class or other purposes must play their part in keeping our campus and community safe by following these basic guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

  • Practise good hand hygiene, washing hands regularly;
  • If you do happen to cough or sneeze, please do so into the crook of your elbow, dispose of tissues immediately and wash hands immediately
  • Practise effective physical distancing;
  • Follow all directions of teaching and other UC staff regarding safety measures;
  • Stay off campus if you are unwell and get tested according to QLD Government guidelines, and 
  • Follow University communications about campus arrangements https://www.canberra.edu.au/coronavirus-advice

 
 

Participation requirements

Students are expected to engage regularly with their supervisors. This will generally take the form of sending work to the supervisor ahead of an individual meeting with her/him to discuss the work. Students are strongly encouraged to attend the weekly classes. 

Required IT skills

Word processing skills are essential; ability to use bibliographical software desirable; other skills as needed according to the student's project.

In-unit costs

Any cost incurred for projects/research must be covered by students. Please plan your project according to your financial capacity. Binding or otherwise suitable presentation of the thesis will be at the cost of the student.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit may involve work-place learning for students undertaking a practice-led research dissertation. Therefore, additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in this section. Work-place learning requires strict adherence to professional practice principles and ethics. Client/patient confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items such as reports or essays. Supervisors will work with students to identify UC policies relevant to their placement and develop a plan to make sure these are adhered to.

Additional information

Responsibilities of the candidate

Candidates undertake a cooperative venture along with their supervisor but, ultimately, each candidate must take responsibility for his or her own successful completion of the program.

A candidate is expected to:

  • Bring enthusiasm and energy to the research topic
  • Think independently and take initiative
  • Negotiate needs and expectations with the supervisor early in first semester
  • Attend regular meetings as arranged with the supervisor
  • Be honest when reporting on progress
  • Inform the supervisor and/or course convenor early of any problems that impede the progress of the research project
  • Share responsibility for finding solutions to problems as they arise
  • Allow the supervisor sufficient time to give feedback on written work, especially when approaching the final submission date
  • Submit all work by the deadlines
  • Bring to the course convenor's attention any problems that might be encountered with supervision.

Once the dissertation topic has been decided on in discussion with the supervisor, you are expected to follow this topic. Changes in specific focus may be necessary for good reasons, but they must be discussed with the supervisor and, if major, also with the Course Convenor.

A unilateral topic change may result in no supervision being available and the dissertation not being accepted for examination.

Role and responsibilities of the supervisor

Supervisors will have experience in research and investigation in the field of the candidate's project.  Compatibility between candidate and supervisor will be considered as one of the factors in the appointment of supervisors.

There will be one (in rare cases two) supervisor(s) for each approved Honours dissertation topic. The supervisor for each topic will be a member of the staff (usually) of the Faculty Arts and Design, University of Canberra.

The role performed by a supervisor will vary according to the nature of the study, the stage it has reached at a particular time, the learning and study style of the candidate and the skills and personalities of the supervisor and the candidate.

The following aspects are what a candidate may reasonably expect:

  • Support, encouragement and constructive criticism
  • Regular meetings as negotiated between supervisor and candidate
  • Help in focusing the topic and developing a suitable framework within which the work itself can be written or produced
  • Help in clarifying and resolving emerging problems as the fieldwork, project work or other research progresses
  • Assistance in establishing a work schedule
  • Timely feedback on work submitted by the candidate
  • Alerting the candidate to problems of written expression (but the supervisor is not expected to edit or proofread a candidate's work)