Status Approved 1. INTENDED AWARD 2. Award 3. MRes Sociology PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION(POSTGRADUATE) 4. DATE OF VALIDATION Date of most recent modification (Faculty/ADQU use only) Version Number (ADQU use only) 5. AWARDING INSTITUTION Edge Hill University 6. TEACHING INSTITUTION 05-APR-13 1 7. ADMINISTRATIVE BASE Faculty of Arts & Sciences 8. PLANNING UNIT Social Sciences 9. UNIT OF PERIODIC REVIEW Social Sciences 10. EHU COURSE CODE MRS000017 11. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS STANDARD UCAS ENTRY TARIFF The normal entry requirement is an upper second class degree in a cognate subject area or discipline, supported by a short draft proposal of a specifed research project and referees reports. Exceptionally, candidates with a lower second class degree will be considered. All applicants will be interviewed Students for whom English is not a first language will be required to demonstrate an IELTS score of 7.0 12. ALTERNATIVE AWARD(S) Course Award PG Cert Researching Society 13. AVAILABLE MODES OF STUDY Mode of Study Course Duration Delivery Part Time Full Time 2 1 Classroom Classroom 14a. PRIMARY QAA SUBJECT BENCHMARK STATEMENT 14b. OTHER QAA SUBJECT BENCHMARK STATEMENT 14c. ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL BENCHMARKS The MRes is an established Level 7 award in UK HEIsthat is recognised as occupying a distinctive role in Level 7 provision. It allows the achievement of Level 7 learning outcomes by focused research learning and practice. The award can be benchmarked against other MRes programmes that have a social science focus, if the programme format is often heterogeneous and reflects the multi-disciplinary and applied focus to sociological orientedawards.this programmes include: MRes Sociology and Research Methods: University of Glasgow; MRes Sociology: University ofbath and Goldsmiths College University of London; MRes Sociology, Planning and Policy: Sheffield Hallam University MResSocial Research: University ofaberdeen MRes in Social Research: Universities of Chester, Liverpool and an equivalent MSc at Liverpool Hope MRes in Critical Social Science: Liverpool John Moores There is no overarching academic benchmark 15. Accreditation by Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies (PSRB) Name of PSRB Name of Accreditation / Relationship
16. PRIMARY SUBJECT AREA L300-Sociology 17. SECONDARY SUBJECT AREA (if applicable) L310-Applied sociology 18. TERTIARY SUBJECT AREA - 19. PROGRAMME AIMS To develop students research skills, training, experience and best practice necessary to engage in research at an advanced level To equip students with an advanced understanding of research methods and methodologies and an appreciation of ethical consideration in social research To allow students to plan, undertake and complete a critically engaged, coherent, substantial and advanced piece of research int he broaddiscipline of sociology To provide students with the opportunity to develop project management skills 20. PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES The programme learning outcomes shown here describe the knowledge, understanding and skills that students will have demonstrated on achievement of their intended level 7 qualification award. Students who do not complete their full programme of study may qualify for an alternative award and the validated exit awards for this programme are listed at the front of this programme specification. The learning outcomes of level 7 exit awards are determined by the combination of modules taken and passed and can be identified from the table below. Level 7 Knowledge and Understanding Students will be able to demonstrate an advanced knowledge and understanding of the research process, research methods and methodology and the task of managing of a research project from inception to execution Students will be able to demonstrate a deep and advanced knowledge of their specialist topic of study Intellectual Skills Students will be able to demonstrate advanced skills of designing, developing and evaluating a research project Students will be able to demonstrate the intellectual skills of critical evaluation of both a specialist body of knowledge relevant to their specialist topic and their own knowledge production Transferable Skills Students will be able to demonstrate skills in the design, execution, delivery and evaluation of research projects. Students will be able to demonstrate the skills to design, manage, deliver and critically evaluate a small scale research project Practical Skills Students will be able to demonstrate the skills of executing best research practice according to their own design specifications Students will be able to demonstrate skills in engaging in independent research practice to a high standard SPY4001; SPY4003; ; SPY4001; SPY4003 ; SPY4001; SPY4003 ; SPY4001; SPY4003
21. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE 1. Core modules are essential to learners' achievement of their target award, often in respect of meeting professional standards, and are excluded from the application of condonement by assessment boards. 2. Compulsory modules are prescribed modules but are not core and therefore are condonable. 3. Optional modules are offered within programmes to provide an element of choice and variety within the programme curriculum. They do not form part of the compulsory curriculum requirements for the programme. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year which means that not all optional modules may be available in any given year and will be subject to the module achieving minimum student numbers. Students will be required to make optional choices on an annual basis for each academic year of study. SPY4001 Advanced Social Science Research Methods 20 SPY4003 DISSERTATION PROPOSAL (SOCIOLOGY) 40 DISSERTATION (SOCIOLOGY) 120 COMPULSORY COMPULSORY CORE Pathway (if applicable) 22 ai. STUDENT 'LEARNING JOURNEY' Students take SPY 4001 (20 s)and SPY 4003 (40 s)at the commencement of their studies in order to develop their research skill set aptitudes and knowledge of best practice whilst developing their research proposal. Both are completed before they move on to their dissertation - SPY 4004 (120 s). Students who complete SPY 4001 and SPY 4003 and do not wish to proceed to their dissertation can exit with a PGCert Researching Society.
22aii. Student Learning Journey 23. LEARNING AND TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES Students are supported by a spine of seminars whilst developing their research skills and aptitudes (SPY 4001) and developing their research project proposal (SPY 4003). The seminars are supported by a VLE that structures and supports their weekly learning, provides resources and learning tools to accentuate their learning and provides a common frame of reference for staff and students with respect to progress. The use of the VLE for much of the knowledge transfer in the module, including learning packs, allows students to participate both in the classroom and remotely. The teaching of advanced research methods in supported by a team of researchers with expertise in different forms of research project and research method. The dissertation project proposal and the dissertation itself is supported by two
tutors who have expertise in the designated area of study and/or methods being employed, and supervision takes place by meetings or telecommunications,gfuided by a structured timetline built into the VLE. 24. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT Not Applicable 25. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT SPY4001 SPY4003 Advanced Social Science Research Methods DISSERTATION PROPOSAL (SOCIOLOGY) DISSERTATION (SOCIOLOGY) 20 40 120 Portfolio Written (inc Essay) Dissertation 5000 words 00 words 30000 words 26. NON-MODULAR TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES LEVEL 7 Category Hours Description Rationale Total Hours of Non-Modular Teaching & Learning Activities 27. INTENDED MARKET