Political Science Thesis

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Admission to Political Science Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts.

Politics and International Studies at Undergraduate level

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject involves a supervised thesis of 12 000 words, embodying the results of the student's own political research.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• demonstrate a specialist understanding of the subject being studied;
• show advanced skills of analysis pertinent to the subject;
• show a detailed sense of the theoretical debates in the subject area;
• demonstrate an ability to undertake critical independent research;
• show a good capacity to communicate research in written form.

A thesis of 12 000 words, due at the end of the second semester of enrolment.

The following Hurdle Requirements must be met in order for students to be eligible to submit the final Thesis:

1. Supervision: Regular supervisory meetings

2. Topic Proposal Form: To be submitted by the first week of the Semester of thesis enrolment

3. Progress Report: To be submitted half way through the thesis year

4. Thesis Draft: A full draft of the thesis is to be submitted approximately 5 weeks prior to the final thesis submission date.

Final Theses submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should:

• be able to conceptualise and plan a substantial project of original research;
• be able to present material in draft form and engage productively with a supervisor;
• be able to consolidate and enhance established skills in engaging creatively with a critical field;
• be able to synthesise critical arguments and debates;
• be able to test and develop new research methods in relation to ongoing debates;
• be able to enhance drafting and writing skills, in both a critical and creative manner;
• be able to manage time and study resources over a sustained period of time.

Please note this thesis subject is currently being phased out and is only available to students who commenced their Honours/PD-Arts program prior to 2013. Students wishing to enrol in Honours/PD-Arts from 2013 will need to enrol in a 50 point thesis subject (POLS40020) as per the course requirements for BH-Arts & PD-Arts.

The Political Science thesis is a (pre-2013) compulsory component of the Political Science Honours and Postgraduate Diploma programs. Students completing the Political Science thesis must also complete the February-intensive subject POLS40013 Social Science Research Seminar.

Students are required to enrol in the thesis subject over two consecutive semesters.