MUS3015 : Major Specialist Study: Project
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Professor Kirsten Gibson
- Technician: Mr Fred Hollingsworth
- Owning School: Arts & Cultures
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 20.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To enable students to:
1. engage in an extended research project
2. consolidate and develop research techniques, critical skills, and scholarly imagination
3. demonstrate professional scholarly practice and develop skills in writing and presentation appropriate to the chosen medium
4. assume autonomy, choice and responsibility in the academic study of music
The focus on this module is very much on the process of learning and of developing academic and professional skills through conducting a project that is embedded within their prior and continuing study in the academic modules of their music degree, focussed on a topic of the student’s own choice. The bulk of the student's time is devoted to private study and research. At the same time, they will receive appropriate support and guidance to enable their success. Workshops offered through this module introduce students to the research and writing process and will help them develop the skills required to undertake a supervised project. Students are recommended to arrange regular tutorials with their supervisor - six one-hour meetings being the norm - and are expected to attend at least five of the Music research seminars over the course of the academic year.
Additional assessment, comprising a project outline (to include methodology) and participation in a Finalists' conference, are designed to contribute to the successful completion of the project. Formative assessment, an initial proposal written over the summer vacation (submitted during the first week), is designed to further raise student achievement.
Outline Of Syllabus
Students submit a project proposal in week 1 and are allocated a project supervisor. Six one-hour one-to-one meetings with the supervisor over the course of the year support the planning and writing of the project. A series of workshops in Semester 1 covering various aspects of the Project process, including planning, research, writing and referencing provide additional support, alongside one further group session in Semester 2, to help facilitate the final writing stages of the project. These writing workshops are organized to introduce and help students develop appropriate research approaches and methods, and the process tools and skills that will enable students to be successful.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Tutorials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | Writing Workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 384:00 | 384:00 | N/A |
| Total | 400:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| MUS3013 | Major Specialist Study: Dissertation |
| MUS3017 | Minor Specialist Study: Dissertation |
| MUS3019 | Minor Specialist Study: Project |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Since this is a project module focused on a topic of the student’s own choice, the bulk of the student’s time is devoted to private study and research. The workshops will be whole class events to provide advice and guidance on the approaches/techniques required to undertake the projects. These workshops are aimed at developing students’ research and writing skills, and to guide the students in the writing of their extended outlines (to provide an overview of their proposed course of study and research) and in preparing their short presentations (demonstrating the progress of their research during a Finalists’ Conference, which takes place during the assessment period at the end of Semester 1). Tutorials are in the form of supervisory sessions (individual) and are to ascertain progress, provide formative feedback and feed forward, and facilitate problem solving and supported independent learning. Students are recommended to arrange regular tutorials with their supervisor (six one- hour meetings being the norm) and are expected to attend at least five of the music department's research seminars.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research paper | 2 | A | 70 | 10,000-12,000 words (or equivalent) (due just prior to assessment period) |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 10 | Extended Outline (approx. 500 words). Students must also submit their completed SACS Ethical Approval checklist alongside the extended outline. On a case by case basis they may be required to complete the HaSS ethical approval online form. |
| Oral Presentation | 1 | A | 20 | 10 minute presentation of work in progress (with 5 minutes for questions) at the Finalists' Conference. Presentations will be filmed. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The quality of the final project submission tests all the learning outcomes. The ‘extended outline’ tests the student’s planning and preliminary research skills and acts as an early ‘staging post’ to assess the student’s progress. The presentation tests oral presentation skills, as well as providing a 'staging post' to assess the student's progress at the halfway point.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MUS3015's Timetable