Dissertation Seminar

Language

French

Main themes

This seminar is part of the scientific supervision carried out by the dissertation supervisor and is aimed at ensuring student autonomy in the writing of their dissertation.
It allows students to evaluate their progress in their research and enables the supervisor to make comments and offer advice.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Define a relevant research project in the framework of the master dissertation. Master the principal methods of collecting and processing data. Correctly utilize epistemological, methodological and editorial propositions in the framework of the master dissertation.

Content

The purpose of the seminar consists of supervision of the preparatory work the master dissertation in the form of (1) meetings between the student and the supervisor and (2) possibly, depending on the supervisor, supervision group meetings. These meetings will be accompanied by personal readings, writing work on one section of the dissertation, as well as specific tasks (e.g., data collection) in the student's research.

Teaching methods

The seminar is directed by the dissertation supervisor.

Evaluation methods

The 7 credits of the dissertation seminar will be evaluated with a grade at the end of the first year of the masters ("Bloc Annuel 1") when the student complies with the following two requirements:

• By the beginning of November (the exact date may vary every year) of the first year of the master, the student has handed in at the MULT secretariat the form which includes the subject of the intended dissertation. This form should indicate two possible dissertation topics (one in each of the major languages in the student's programme). The panel of supervsors will share the topics in an equitable manner.
• By the first day of the June (or September) session of the first annual block, the student will submit to his or her supervisor a document containing the following elements: (1) a detailed plan of the dissertation, (2) an explanation of the research question(s) as well as the envisaged methodology, (3) at least 4,000 words of the theoretical part, and (4) a bibliography containing at least 15 scientific references.

Students who do not comply with these requirements will receive a fail mark.

Other information

Course material: Students will be able to consult dissertations completed by other students. They will also have a methodological vademecum which gives details on the preparation and writing of a scientific work.

Online resources

https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=4142

Faculty or entity

ELAL