Aims of the Course

 After completing this course students should be able to:

• Produce an essay expressing personal views on the topics approached.

• Produce an essay defending a specific thesis in a clear and unambiguous way.

• Select bibliographical references focused on a specific topic and face the texts on their own. Develop a suitable work methodology (including the use of literature) to be able to make judgements, reach conclusions and produce convincing arguments.

• Explain and make use of the traditional and current knowledge contained in the subject approached, dealing with its different trends and traditions.

• Show fluency in scientific-philosophic language.

• Independently argue and discuss the studied topics and, by extension, any other relevant topic.

 Contents

General characteristics:

- Original research paper on a topic related to the subject matter of the Master's Degree.

- It should include a state of the question, a presentation of the issue, a well-argued and substantiated development of it, a section of conclusions and a section of properly quoted bibliographical references.

- The aims of the paper and the methodology used should be clearly stated.

- It is recommended that the Master's Degree Paper can be used as a basis for the future production of a Doctoral Dissertation.

- The recommended length is of around 40 pages.

 Document:

- Master's Degree Paper (approximately 40 pages, with a maximum of 10% above that).

- The document's format must be well-defined. A template will be provided on the virtual platform. Refer to the regulations of each university for information that should be included (author, supervisor, etc.) 

- Quotation style and rules regarding plagiarism: http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~tdrewry/referencing.htm

 Procedure:

- The student must send a proposal to the Coordination Committee in charge of the postgraduate studies concerned, stating the title and name of the supervisor of the Master's Degree Paper on a date set by the Committee.

- The Coordination Committee will either approve the proposal or request appropriate modifications as regards the title or supervisor.

- Students must submit their Report to the supervisor before the set deadline (there must be enough time for the student to revise the first version after its review by the supervisor). After reviewing it, the supervisor will decide whether it is fit for public presentation in the sessions established for that purpose.

- If it is considered fit, the student must upload the document in .pdf format on the appropriate task section (MOODLE, FINAL MASTER'S DEGREE PAPER, UPLOAD YOUR FINAL MASTER'S DEGREE PAPER HERE) and send electronic copies to the members of the Committee at least 5 days before the date set for the presentation.

 Basic Literature and Complementary Bibliography

The literature consulted will depend on the topic chosen by the student. It will be defined by the supervisor. 

 Skills

Basic and general skills:

BS6:  To have a foundation of knowledge solid enough to be able to innovate in the development and/or implementation of ideas, especially for research purposes. 

BS7: The ability to apply the knowledge acquired and to solve problems in new or little known areas within wider (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.

BS8: The ability to integrate knowledge and deal with the complexities of forming opinions based on incomplete or limited information, including reflections on social responsibilities and ethics related to the application of their expertise and judgements.

BS9: The ability to clearly and unambiguously express conclusions, stating the knowledge and reasons behind them, to both experts and non-specialized audiences.

BS10: Learning skills to conduct further studies and research in a self-directed and autonomous way.

 General skills:

GS1: The ability to produce readable, detailed and technically correct documents   and research work that meets the current international standards for the disciplines.

 Specific skills:

SS1: The ability to identify traditional and current knowledge specific to the field of logic and philosophy of science, as well as the different trends of thought and tradition involved.

SS2: Mastery of the analytical tools provided by philosophy to facilitate the clear identification of the semantic, logical, epistemological, ontological, axiological and ethical factors in the fields of science and technology.

SS3: The ability to judge disputes, considering and assessing the alternatives to decide which parts are the best justified and substantiated.

SS4: To be able to identify arguments as they appear in texts, dialogues and discussions, assessing their accuracy, acceptability and persuasiveness.

 

Teaching Methodology

Individual reading and reflection together with feedback provided by the supervisor.

 

Assessment

Paper (maximum 70%). The minimum grade required for assessment is 3:

1) Presentation (formal aspects): 33% from the total of 70%.

               i) Organization, structure (sections, headings, etc.)

               ii) Style (spelling and grammar, clarity and structure in presentation, etc.)

               iii) Critical analysis (quotes, footnotes, references, etc.)

2) Contents: 33% from the total of 70%.

i) Topic: appropriateness, understanding of the case, relevance of the analysis, etc. 

ii)  Bibliographical and/or other references.

3) Defence: 34% from the total of 70%.

               i) Presentation of the issue.

               ii) Development: presentation, arguments.

               iii) Conclusions.

 

Presentation and oral defence (maximum 30%). The minimum grade required for assessment is 2:

1) Presentation: 50% from the total of 30%.

i) Expression, grounds.

ii) Communication skills and ability to summarize.

2) Defence: 50% from the total of 30%.

i) Understanding of the issues.

ii) Answers to the questions posed.

iii) Capacity of discussion and dialogue.

 

Study and individual work

Tutoring hours for adequate monitoring of the work:

               Face-to-face: 37 hours

               Individual work: 100 hours

Submission of a first draft:

               Individual work: 181 hours

Revision and production of the final version:

               Face-to-face: 2 hours

               Individual work: 48 hours

Presentation of the final paper before the corresponding committee:

               Face-to-face: 2 hours

               Individual work: 5 hours

Total: 375 hours

Total face-to-face: 241 hours

Total individual work: 334 hours

 

Remarks

Students are required to have earned 45 credits from the Master's Degree: 5 of them corresponding to the compulsory "Methodology" course, 10 to the two compulsory courses of the chosen module, 15 to the 3 elective subjects from the chosen module, and 15 to the 3 elective subject that can be chosen from any of the modules.