Important notice
The course guide is provisional.
The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.
Master's Degree Dissertation
Code: 44261Credits: 15
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Global East Asian Studies | TFE | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- David Saurí Pujol
- Email :
- david.sauri@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
None.
The TFM (Master's Degree Dissertation) may be submitted in Spanish, Catalan, or English.
Course coordination: David Saurí Pujol
Objectives
The aim of this subject is to evaluate the integration of the competences acquired in the master's degree by completing a TFM (Master's Degree Dissertation). The TFM is an individual piece of academic work carried out autonomously and in accordance with the principles of scientific research and supervised by tutors. The student must demonstrate that they have sufficient command of the appropriate theoretical and methodological knowledge to carry out their own, specialised analysis on a topic of their choosing, which is relevant to the contents of the master. The theme of the TFM can be both theoretical and methodological, with the application, in either case, of a research methodology that can be complemented by an institutional approach, if the thesis is developed in collaboration with an entity in the field of East Asia with which the UAB has an agreement. In all cases, the TFM must show that the student dominates the theoretical-conceptual contents and the methodological tools well enough to be able to carry out a rigorous investigation on the subject matter, and demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake further research according to a criteria of scientific quality and academic rigour in subsequent projects.
Learning outcomes
- CA26 (Formulate in an original way the research questions, the objectives to be developed and the hypothesis to be verified in the realization of the TFM, taking into account the specificity of the field of study analyzed, as well as its interrelation with the set of contents of the master's degree.) Formulate in an original way the research questions, the objectives to be developed and the hypothesis to be verified in the realization of the TFM, taking into account the specificity of the field of study analyzed, as well as its interrelation with the set of contents of the master's degree.
- CA27 (Be able to write and publicly defend the Master's Thesis, communicating the results of their research in an academically sound manner in the context of the master's degree learning.) Be able to write and publicly defend the Master's Thesis, communicating the results of their research in an academically sound manner in the context of the master's degree learning.
- CA28 (To be able to communicate in a clear and systematic way, the global relevance of East Asia in the field of study developed in the TFM, considering a diversity of interlocutors and registers.) To be able to communicate in a clear and systematic way, the global relevance of East Asia in the field of study developed in the TFM, considering a diversity of interlocutors and registers.
- CA29 (To be able to develop in the TFM the skills to consult specialized academic sources, apply theoretical paradigms and advanced analysis techniques, and produce original research results, which guarantee their ability to tackle new training projects with guarantees.) To be able to develop in the TFM the skills to consult specialized academic sources, apply theoretical paradigms and advanced analysis techniques, and produce original research results, which guarantee their ability to tackle new training projects with guarantees.
- KA15 (Choose the theoretical and methodological tools appropriate to the research field of the Master's degree dissertation that make it possible to carry it out based on the criteria of scientific quality and academic rigour.) Choose the theoretical and methodological tools appropriate to the research field of the Master's degree dissertation that make it possible to carry it out based on the criteria of scientific quality and academic rigour.
- KA16 (Identify the knowledge and practices in the research field of the Master's degree dissertation that can contribute to the construction of a sustainable and diverse society, respectful of the principles of social, cultural and gender equality.) Identify the knowledge and practices in the research field of the Master's degree dissertation that can contribute to the construction of a sustainable and diverse society, respectful of the principles of social, cultural and gender equality.
- SA25 (Competently apply the appropriate theoretical-conceptual developments to research and produce original academic results in the field of study of the Master's degree dissertation.) Competently apply the appropriate theoretical-conceptual developments to research and produce original academic results in the field of study of the Master's degree dissertation.
- SA26 (Effectively use the methodology, analytical techniques and specialised resources for autonomous research in the completion of the Master's degree dissertation.) Effectively use the methodology, analytical techniques and specialised resources for autonomous research in the completion of the Master's degree dissertation.
- SA27 (Analyse the characteristics and transformations derived from the global redefinition of East Asia in the field of study of the Master's degree dissertation, articulating a discourse characterised by rigour and the capacity for critical analysis.) Analyse the characteristics and transformations derived from the global redefinition of East Asia in the field of study of the Master's degree dissertation, articulating a discourse characterised by rigour and the capacity for critical analysis.
Contents
The TFM (Master's Degree Dissertation) is an individual piece of academic work carried out autonomously by the student in accordance with the principles of scientific research and supervised by tutors. The theme of the TFM can be both theoretical and methodological, with the application, in either case, of a research methodology that can be complemented with an institutional approach if it is developed in collaboration with an entity from the East Asian area with which the UAB has an agreement. The aim of the TFM is for the student to incorporate the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out specialized research in the field of the master's degree in accordance with the principles of scientific quality and academic rigour. For this, the student must undertake an original piece of work that addresses the approach and development of the research questions, hypotheses and research objectives, current state of the issue, theoretical framework and methodological approach to the research. The follow-up of the TFM will be carried out through periodic supervision tutorials with the relevant tutor, who will be assigned by the coordinators of the master's degree, taking into account the themes of the TFM. In the first semester, the tutorials will focus on an initiation into research through the methodological approach and the development of the research project, and will help the student acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to approach a research project in the field of master's studies. The second semester tutorials will focus on monitoring the theoretical, methodological and analytical development of the work, in order to guarantee its research progress at all times in accordance with a criteria of quality and academic excellence.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essays writing, readings papers/specialized reports, personal study | 365 | 14.6 | CA26, CA27, CA28, CA29, KA15, KA16, SA25, SA26, SA27 |
| Tutorial work, participation in complementary activities, seminars, talks | 10 | 0.4 | CA26, CA27, CA28, CA29, KA15, KA16, SA25, SA26, SA27 |
- Tutorial work
- Participation in complementary activities
- Talks
- Essays writing
- Personal study
- Readings papers/specialized reports
- Seminars
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral defence of the thesis | 20% | 0 | 0 | CA26, CA27, CA28, CA29, KA15, KA16, SA25, SA26, SA27 |
| Thesis submission | 80% | 0 | 0 | CA26, CA27, CA28, CA29, KA15, KA16, SA25, SA26, SA27 |
Article 54 of the UAB’s Academic Regulations establishes that “The master’s should conclude with the production and public defence of a Final Master’s Thesis”. In this regard, the final result of the TFM must demonstrate that the student has sufficient command of the conceptual-theoretical content and methodological tools to carry out rigorous, independent research in the field of the master’s studies, and thereby demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge and capacity needed to carry out further research in subsequent projects, in accordance with criteria of scientific quality and academic rigour. For this the student should: a) Submit the written report on the research project undertaken; and b) Undertake the defence of said report before the assessment committee.
The assessment committee will comprise three members of the masters’ doctorate-holding teaching staff, one of them being the coordinator of the TFM subject. In its assessment, the committee will take into consideration the suitability of the contributions and the results (35%), the academic soundness of the arguments and critical analysis (30%), the structure and systematisation of the thesis (15%), the linguistic accuracy (10%) and the inclusion of a bibliography (10%). For the TFM final mark, the assessment weighting will be distributed as follows: oral defence (20%), written work (80%).
The duration of the TFM defence will be no longer than 45 minutes. The student will have 20 minutes to present the main results of their TFM. Then, the teaching staff assessment committee member will formulate the questions or comments they deem appropriate, which must be responded to as individual or groups of questions. Finally a numeric mark will be awarded that has been agreed upon mutually among the members of the aforementioned committee.
RESTRICTED USE OF AI
In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies may or may not be permitted depending on the activity. The permitted and prohibited uses in each case will be detailed in the course introduction. Students must clearly identify which parts were generated using AI technologies, specify the tools used, verify and validate the information obtained and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and the final result of the activity. A lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in graded assignments will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty on the assignment grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases. The teaching staff, in case of doubts, may require a face-to-face meeting to validate the authorship.
Bibliography
Since each TFM (Master's Degree Dissertation) has a specific theme, the bibliography will be equally specific for each project. The student and the tutor will decide this bibliography in the first stages of the preparation of the research.
Software
We will not use specific sotfware.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TFMm) Treball de fi de màster | 1 | Spanish | annual | afternoon |