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Teaching
The course offers seminar-style teaching on core topic areas and additional research methods courses.
Students are expected to write two essays of 3,000 words in the first term (Michaelmas). These formative essays are not assessed, giving students the opportunity to receive feedback on their writing and research before submitting any assessed work.
During the second term (Lent) (Easter term of first year for part-time students), building on readings, lectures and supervisions, students submit a 4,500 to 5,000 word Field Review Essay, which offers a comprehensive review of research related to one of their core lectures.
Students work towards a written dissertation supported by supervisions and a dissertation workshop.
| One to one supervision | Students will typically receive approximately 8 hours of supervision on their dissertation, spread across the three terms (across six terms for part-time students). Additional supervisions are provided for the research essays and the assessed Field Review Essay. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Seminars & classes | Core course: Approximately 20 hours (eight 2-3-hour seminars) in the first term (Michaelmas) and a one-hour Field Review Essay preparation session in the second (Lent) (Michaelmas and Lent of the first year for part-time students). Craft of Sociology and Research Skills seminars: 16 hours of optional seminars (first or second year for part-time students), including Talking History, Research Ethics, critical reading and academic writing skills and Turning a literature review into research questions. 8 to 10 hours of optional seminars during the second term (Lent) (first or second year for part-time students). In addition, students are welcome to attend any other relevant lectures offered by the Department or across the University, including any specialist research methods courses run by Cambridge Research Methods (CaRM) and lectures in the other MPhil Pathways. |
| Lectures | In addition, students are welcome to attend any other relevant lectures offered by the Department or across the University, including any specialist research methods courses run by Cambridge Research Methods (CaRM) and lectures in the other MPhil Pathways. |
| Practicals | Dissertation workshop: 4 hours. |
| Journal clubs | Various reading groups and clusters are offered within the Department. |
| Literature Reviews | Written assignments require students to conduct extensive literature reviews in their chosen research areas. |
| Posters and Presentations | Students present their dissertation proposals in a workshop usually held during the second term (Lent) (first or second year for part-time students). |
Feedback
- Regular oral feedback and termly online feedback reports from supervisor
- Oral feedback from academics and peers during dissertation workshops
- Written and oral feedback from supervisor on dissertation proposal and on first draft of dissertation
- Written feedback from examiners on essays and dissertation.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
Students write a dissertation of no less than 10,000 and no more than 15,000 words on a subject approved by the Sociology Postgraduate Education Committee, falling within the field of the pathway chosen at the beginning of the course. The dissertation counts for 70% of the final mark.
Essays
Students write one Field review essay of between 4,500 and 5,000 words on topics approved by the Sociology Postgraduate Education Committee. This essay counts for 30% of the final mark.
Other
The examination may, at the discretion of the Examiners, include an oral examination on the dissertation and on the general field of study within which it falls.