About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: L9K212
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Construction and Property
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: MA 12 months full-time, 28 months part-time, or on a module by module basis. Postgraduate Diploma nine months full-time, 21 months part-time.
- Delivery: Part-time, full-time
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Stuart Farthing BA MA PhD
Introduction
As part of UWE Bristol's commitment to the further development of graduate studies, a cross-Department taught postgraduate MA course has been developed as an introduction to social science research.
Building on the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) '1+3' recognition of the Department of Construction and Property, this new course has been designed to meet ESRC's generic social science research training guidelines, and the appropriate subject and discipline guidelines in the participating faculties.
The course is intended for graduates who wish to increase their theoretical and practical knowledge of social research. It is suitable for students who:
- Wish to pursue research careers in the public or private sector
- Want to be able to take a critical approach to the research findings of others
- Would like to prepare themselves for doctoral (PhD) study
There is a choice of pathways through the course, based on different discipline areas:
- Built Environment
- Business and Management
- Economics
- Education
- European Business
- Health and Social Care
- Politics
- Sociology.
This course will help you develop skills and knowledge which can be applied in a range of international contexts. It may therefore be suitable for international students, and there are opportunities for incorporating material and examples from your home country into your studies, especially in the dissertation.
Structure
Content
The course consists of two 30 credit (Level M) modules which are common to all of the pathways, and which introduce you to the broad field of social science research. The modules are Research Practice and Research Methods.
These are taught by researchers drawn from across the University, and provide an opportunity for contact with students from other social science disciplines at UWE Bristol. The content of the Built Environment routeway is underpinned by the research and consultancy undertaken by the Department's research centres.The modules listed are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, so some of them may change before the course starts or whilst you are on it, but the overall aims and broad content of the course will remain the same.
Research Practice
This module consists of taught sessions and practical workshops, and provides an introduction to the methodological and epistemological base of social science research, its relationship to social theory and its socio-economic contexts. It explores the way in which the construction of knowledges (epistemologies) are both the products of methodological approaches to social research, and also the rich contexts within which research takes place. The module emphasises the need for reflexivity within the research process. It recognises that research depends not only on intellectual skills but also on the practical and professional skills essential to the proper and ethical conduct of research. These practical sessions include the development and design of research proposals, management of the research process, approaches to writing and dissemination.
Research Methods
This workshop-based module concentrates on the practical issues surrounding the process of social science research. It aims to sharpen awareness of the quality of evidence deployed in academic debates, to increase understanding of the issues involved in adopting qualitative and quantitative methods of research and to provide you with practical skills of data generation and analysis. Specific analytical workshops deal, for example, with large secondary datasets, multivariate statistical analysis, and computer-based qualitative analysis.
Built Environment pathway
The Built Environment pathway comprises the module 'Claims and Debates in Built Environment Research' plus a further 40 credits of optional modules from across the Department of Construction and Property's postgraduate scheme. You will also complete a 60 credit dissertation.
Claims and Debates in Built Environment Research
This module explores theoretical diversity, theoretical 'paradigms' and policy and practice in the Built Environment field.
Dissertation
This 60 credit module provides the opportunity to engage in an extended research project. You will be allocated a research supervisor, who in most cases will be the tutor who has supported you throughout the course.
Research skills acquired in previous modules are practised and applied to your individual research interests. You are supported in conducting their research in a way consistent with both professional practice and research ethics, and to communicate your research findings in written form to both academic and non-academic audiences.
Students wishing to apply for future PhD study may wish to use the dissertation to carry out a pilot study, or to explore a specific related area of interest.
Module Leader: Stuart Farthing BA MA PhD
Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83073
E-mail: Stuart.Farthing@uwe.ac.uk
Special Features
Study facilities
A range of specialist facilities are provided by the Department. A suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis and spatial enquiry. They provide access to e-mail and internet, including Faculty and University websites which enable you to use a vast number of specialist electronic journals and publications, and resources provided by lecturers to support their modules.
A Project Room provides space for you to work on individual and group assignments, together with a range of materials and equipment. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
You may also use the well equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental services, environmental physics, earth sciences, spatial analysis (including mapping and Geographical Information Systems) and surveying technology, each with specialist technicians supporting both teaching and research.
The Department is based in a large modern building, to which a new set of studios and teaching rooms (designed by a member of the Department) have recently been added.
Student representatives sit on a wide range of committees at University and Faculty levels, where they can influence discussions and decisions which affect your learning experience.
Entry
Entry requirements
We normally require a first degree of 2:2 or above. We will also consider applicants with an appropriate professional qualification or substantial relevant experience.
Fees
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
We welcome applications from students without the conventional entrance requirements but who do have substantial relevant work or other experience and whose motivation and skills would enable them to succeed on the course.
We also welcome applications from people with disabilities, and we are happy to arrange visits for disabled applicants to find out whether the course is suitable, and discuss what support is appropriate.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from people with disabilities.
Following is a list of the types of activities that the course normally involves. We are committed to supporting students with disabilities, and wherever possible we will make reasonable adjustments to these activities to enable students with disabilities to successfully complete the course. We encourage applicants to disclose any disabilities or support needs in their application forms, so that we can offer information, advice and support. There is a Disability Service at UWE Bristol and a Disability Support Co-ordinator in the Faculty.
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Visually inspect construction sites, including physical movement around and through construction sites
- Participate in field courses or activities away from the University
- Measure distances and sizes of buildings, materials or sites
- Team working and negotiation
- Laboratory work involving observations and physical manipulation
- Take part in discussions and presentations
Open days
We run open days throughout the year, when you can meet lecturers and current students, see the facilities and resources that we offer, and visit the student accommodation. Please ask for details. For further information regarding the course, you are welcome to contact: Dr Stuart Farthing (Programme Leader) Stuart.Farthing@uwe.ac.uk or Julian Spicer (Admissions) fet.admissions@uwe.ac.uk, +44 (0)117 32 84242.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011