The classical studies dissertation
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The dissertation (16,000–18,000 words) is the culmination of your MA in Classical Studies and tests your ability to present a sustained academic argument in clear, logical prose. Within the rules of the MA, you’ll have considerable freedom in your choice of topic. You’re not expected to make an original contribution to scholarly knowledge, but you must demonstrate a reasonable grasp of work done in the subject area, with a thorough survey of primary and secondary sources. Your tutor will help you decide on the focus of your dissertation, approve your research proposal and comment on draft sections through the course.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Arts and Humanities.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | A867 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown.
What you will study
The only stipulation regarding the subject matter for your dissertation is that it must be related either to an MA subject course you have studied or to an area you have studied in sufficient detail in the foundation course. Your tutor will help you to decide what is feasible.
While the work you produce will not be expected to be entirely original (originality of that kind is a requirement for a PhD), you will be required to produce a well-argued thesis, supported by the relevant primary and secondary sources, and to be up to date as far as possible with recent bibliography on your chosen subject. Your dissertation must be well written and must show that you are confident in creating the scholarly apparatus necessary to support your argument.
During the course you will produce five pieces of written work. The first is your research proposal, which must be approved by your tutor and the Examination and Assessment Board. The next three pieces of work are draft sections of your dissertation. They will not be graded, but your tutor’s comments on them will be a key part of your teaching for the course, as well as a way of monitoring your progress. The last piece of work is the dissertation itself, which will be assessed by your tutor and a second marker. Their recommendations will help to determine the results awarded by the Examination and Assessment Board.
Entry
To take this course you must have a pass in the postgraduate foundation course in classical studies, and either a pass in a subject course in the MA in Humanities classical studies line or a subject course in another line, or an appropriate award of transferred credit. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
You are strongly urged to consider your dissertation topic and your access to the necessary source material before the course begins.
Qualifications
A867 is a compulsory module in our:
A867 is an optional module in our:
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
This course makes extensive use of research libraries and may require use of the internet. If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Dissertation guide.
You will need
You must have access to a research library – either a university library or a very large public or private library. There are likely to be charges for borrowing rights, inter-library loans and photocopying.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will be in a tuition group of about four students. For the most part, you will be given individual tuition on your dissertation proposal and as your dissertation develops. You will be asked to send to your tutor drafts that are not part of your assessment, but will enable your tutor to offer comment and assistance. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above. All marks come from your dissertation.
You can choose whether to submit your research proposal and drafts on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2013. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Arts and Humanities.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | A867 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credits
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
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