University home page

Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Resources for New Graduate Research Students | Current student enquiries | Prospective student enquiries | Apply


PhD Coursework

Overview

Through the Arts PhD Coursework component, we aim to give you a more rounded research training experience, with some identifiable subsidiary knowledge and skills. The seminar format will enable you to enhance your cohort experience with PhD colleagues and academic staff.

From 2012, all commencing PhD students in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences are required to successfully complete a small component of compulsory coursework. This work is done in parallel with regular meetings with your supervisor.

The Arts PhD Coursework is completed before Confirmation, which normally occurs at the end of the first year of candidature (full-time). It consists of 25 credit points, made up of a Research Workshop (12.5 points) and two Elective Modules (6.25 points each). The coursework is designed to offer high-level engagement with the key literature and research in the discipline(s) in your research area, and to assist with your preparation for Confirmation.

  • The year-long Research Workshop focuses on the intellectual frontiers of your core area of study and enhances the preparation of your research project, through a comprehensive understanding of the relevant literature, and through formulating and discussing your project proposal in relation to the current literature.
  • The Elective modules provide graduate-level engagement with contemporary work in your own or cognate disciplines, as a source of intellectual enrichment and – if necessary – may also provide development of specific knowledge and expertise necessary for your thesis work.


The workshop and elective modules will be assessed; however, the award of the PhD will be based solely on the result of the 80,000 word dissertation. Consequently, work written for the coursework can, if appropriate, be incorporated into the final thesis.

PhD Coursework Frequently Asked Questions

 

PhD Research Workshop


The Arts PhD Research Workshop (12.5 points) is a two-hour fortnightly seminar run over one year (two semesters). It is taught in discipline-cluster groups ('streams'), and is designed to enhance the critical, theoretical and methodological skills necessary for PhD study and for Confirmation.

Students choose one of the seven available streams or clusters, which are:


Students must achieve a H2A (75%) grade or above in their Research Workshop assessment as a necessary hurdle requirement for Confirmation. 

Successful completion of the Research Workshop will enable you to have an enhanced awareness of the range of contemporary scholarship in your discipline or interdisciplinary area. In your assessment, you will be expected to demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate the contemporary research literature that is relevant to your thesis topic. The Research Workshop will also enable you to formulate and present your research proposal for confirmation.

Information on the PhD Research Streams for 2012

 

Time Commitment

  • One two-hour fortnightly seminar during both semesters – a total of 24 contact hours (estimated total time commitment: 120 hours).


Assessment

  • One 2500-word literature review positioning essay, worth 50%, due at the end of first semester; and
  • One 2500-word research essay, worth 50%, due mid-second semester.


Choosing a Workshop


Enrollment in the Workshop and Electives can be done for you by the GSHSS at the time you enroll in your degree. It is recommended that you discuss your Workshop and Electives selections with your Supervisor before you make a final decision. Workshop classes will commence in the second and third week of Semester 1, 2012 (second week of semester begins on 5th March) and it is strongly recommended that you enroll and commence your studies by this date. You will be sent an email when the timetable for the Workshop and Electives is available.

More information and a chance to meet and chat with the Workshop Coordinators will be available at the Welcome and Orientation session on Thursday 23rd February.

In the meantime, for planning purposes it would be helpful if you could please indicate which Workshops you are (at this stage) interested in taking. Completing this quick pop poll will not enroll you in the Workshops or Electives, nor will we hold you to the selections you may make at this time. Take the Poll.

Thank you!

PhD Elective Modules

Introduction

With the guidance of your PhD Advisory Panel, you will select two 6.25 point modules which are completed during the first year of candidature (full-time). These modules are designed to give you an enhanced knowledge of leading-edge research work and theoretical approaches to doctoral research in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

The list of available modules within the Electives is designed to encompass the diversity of disciplines across the Faculty.  Substantive content will include current research projects being conducted by senior Faculty staff, graduate seminars offered by distinguished visiting scholars, leading-edge research in specific disciplinary fields, and advanced level research methods.


Some modules are run as a regular seminar (such as weekly or fortnightly) and some are offered as intensives over several days.

Students must achieve a minimum grade of H3 (65%) or above in each Elective module.  

While they will add intellectual value to your specific research project and its methods, Elective modules are not normally intended to directly focus on your dissertation. Normally, you will be able to select any of the available modules to enhance your knowledge of key debates within or beyond your disciplinary area, and to demonstrate graduate-level knowledge in these areas. Electives are an opportunity for intellectual enrichment, as well an opportunity to expand your repertoire and demonstrate your vocational preparation.

A supervisory panel may require a student to enrol in a specific Elective or Electives considered necessary for their research project, such as the development of specialised methodological skills. In some cases, with the agreement of their supervisory panel, students may be permitted to take a substitute subject or subjects considered necessary for their research.


Time Commitment per Elective

  • Attendance at seminars, which may be held weekly, fortnightly or intensively depending on the module - a total of 12 contact hours (estimated total time commitment: 60 hours).


Assessment

  • One 500-word essay proposal, worth 20%; and
  • One 2000-word essay, worth 80%.

PhD Elective Modules Timetable Semester 1, 2012

Elective Dates Time Venue
Advanced Qualitative Methods
(John Fitzgerald)		 Monday, 21 May
Tuesday, 22 May
Friday, 25 May 		9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM 		Room 333, Alice Hoy Building
Cecil Scutt Room, Old Arts Building
Collaborative Learning Space 2, Old Arts Building
Current Debates in Linguistic and Language Research
(Barbara Kelly)		 Monday, 5 March
Monday, 12 March
Monday, 19 March
Monday, 26 March
Monday, 2 April
Monday, 16 April 		11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Graduate Seminar Rm 2 (Rm 209)
Kant
(Colin Marshall)		 Monday, 16 April
Monday, 23 April
Monday, 30 April
Monday, 7 May
Monday, 14 May
Monday, 21 May 		1:15 - 3:15 PM Graduate Seminar Rm 1 (Rm 210)
Law and Language
(Marianne Constable)		 Monday, 2 July
Tuesday, 3 July
Wednesday, 4 July
Thursday, 5 July 		2:00 - 5:00 PM Graduate Seminar Rm 1 (Rm 210)
Memory, Identity, Biography, Narrative
(John Murphy) 		Monday, 16 April
Monday, 23 April
Monday, 30 April
Monday, 7 May
Monday, 14 May
Monday, 21 May 		3:15 - 5:15 PM Graduate Seminar Rm 2 (Rm 209)
The Cosmopolitan Imaginary
(Nikos Papastergiadis)		 Tuesday, 28 February
Tuesday, 13 March
Tuesday, 27 March
Tuesday, 17 April
Tuesday, 1 May
Tuesday, 15 May 		11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Graduate Seminar Rm 2 (Rm 209)


Download this table as a pdf (40kb pdf)

 

top of page