DESIGN 793B : Thesis part-time

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester One (1253) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

This 90pt MDes Thesis, research component, provides design scholars with the opportunity to undertake a postgraduate design research project on a topic approved by the Head of the Design Programme (or a suitable nominee) for the degree of Master of Design, under the guidance of an appointed supervisor. The study is expected to be situated within the domain of design but may vary by field and approach (e.g. scientic, creative, philosophical, practice-based). The project may include industry partners or external participants, as long as these are covered within the ethics approval for the study. The MDes Thesis can be undertaken with Creative Practice.

This Digital Course Outline should be read in conjunction with General Regulations - Masters Degrees: https://www.calendar.auckland.ac.nz/en/genregs/gen-postgrad/masters.html

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Design

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop expanded skills in the research and analysis of a specific issue of pertinence to design that demonstrates a critical awareness of the field (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4)
  2. Show sophisticated understanding of the different influences and factors contributing to that issue and to be able to show their interrelation (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4)
  3. Develop advanced capacity of reasoning and articulation of research findings in a substantial piece of written work (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4)
  4. Articulate compelling arguments and valid conclusions arising from research (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4)
  5. Develop advanced skills in critical and reflexive dialogue (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4)
  6. Realise an integrated piece of research incorporating a substantial finished academic document to an advanced standard (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Thesis 100% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Thesis
A total grade of 50% or higher is required to pass this course.

Students are required to submit a midway progress report, co-signed by their supervisor, to the Course Director at the end of their first semester.

In the MDes Thesis, the final research outcome will include a maximum 30,000 word document, and potentially, aligned creative practical work, which must be fully documented in the written thesis (no examined practical work).

In the MDes Thesis with Creative Practice, the final research outcome is a maximum 18,000 word document (60%) and substantial practical work that can effectively stand on its own, which is assessed as 40% of the total mark.

The Guide to the Presentation and Submission of Research Components in Sub-Doctoral Qualifications provides an overview is what is expected in the final thesis outcome: https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/auckland/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-policies-guidelines-and-forms/masters-policies/Guide%20to%20the%20Presentation%20and%20Submission%20of%20Research%20Components%20in%20Sub-Doctoral%20Qualifications_2023%20(002).pdf

All assignment submission items requested by the course coordinator must be uploaded to Canvas through Turnitin. No email submission will be accepted. The final thesis is submitted to the faculty for examination by the student through Web DropOff.

The Head of Programme (or suitable nominee) will appoint two examiners to assess the thesis. Neither examiner may have supervised the work nor been part of the supervisory team. At least one of the examiners must be from outside the University of Auckland. The examiners must not be from the same institution. Examiners must be appointed according to the Masters Examiner Appointment Procedures. One Graduate Advisor who must not have been involved in the supervision of the student or been an examiner of the thesis, will also be appointed.

Work must be submitted in line with the University Regulations on Masters Degrees. 

Note that all extensions or suspensions must be approved by the School of Graduate Studies. See your Supervisor or the Director of the MDes if this is required.

Teaching & Learning Methods

The appointed supervisor will have an appropriate scholarly interest in the topic area of the research/thesis. The supervisor will be an
academic sta member.

Students will be invited to develop their topic proposal in conjunction with their supervisors. Students should be prepared to clearly
present their research in a professional manner and describe what literature they are reading in support of their thesis.
Firm arrangements for regular meetings will be made between the student and the supervisor. Students will show substantial progress
between each meeting with their supervisors. As a general rule, the student should come to a supervision meeting bringing a new
component of work to be discussed.

In the event there is a breakdown in relations with the Supervisor, please contact the Course Director.

Exam Mode

  • There is no final exam for this course

Further information about exams can be found at https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/about-exams.html

Workload Expectations

A 90-point course should tally 900 hours of work for each student.

Students will initially be expected to participate in lectures with the Course Director and Supervisors in order to frame the design research thesis process. Thereafter, students will work with individual Supervisors and should expect to see them for one-0n-one weekly meetings. The remainder (close to 800 hours) will be dedicated to independent research and writing by the student.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at initial scheduled lectures to frame the design research thesis process.
Attendance is required at the scheduled meetings with the supervisor.
Attendance is required at scheduled workshops and presentations.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Part of this course may require additional resources. This may include specialised materials, tooling, hardware, or software. Where possible the programme will supply these items to students at cost price through the CAI shop, however, students also need to be prepared to source these items at their own expense.

Health & Safety

Students wanting to make use of the Design FabLab will need to have been inducted into the workshop. Once inducted, work within the FabLab will be undertaken according to the Health and Safety oversight of the FabLab technical staff.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

All thesis submissions will be evaluated for academic integrity through Turnitin.

Generative AI tools, such as Grammarly, ChatGPT and DALL.E 2, should be approved for use by the Course Director and Supervisor. The use of AI tools should be acknowledged in a written statement in the thesis detailing any tools used and the prompts applied (where relevant).

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

We recognise that things may happen that are outside of your control and affect your ability to complete your studies.

To apply for an extension of time, which means that you are asking for additional time to complete your research component beyond the expected submission date due to exceptional circumstances, please visit:  https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/postgraduate/postgraduate-extensions-and-suspensions/extension-of-a-postgraduate-programme/extension-of-a-postgraduate-programme.html

To apply for a suspension, which means that you need to take time off your programme, please visit: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/postgraduate-students/postgraduate/postgraduate-extensions-and-suspensions/suspension-of-a-postgraduate-programme.html

Learning Continuity

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 31/10/2024 03:47 p.m.