DESIGN 794A/B : Thesis

Creative Arts and Industries

2023 Semester Two (1235) / 2024 Semester One (1243) (90 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

This course provides design scholars with the opportunity to undertake postgraduate design research on a topic approved by the Head of School (HoS) for Te Waka Tūhura Elam School of Fine Arts and Design (or a suitable nominee) for the degree of Master of Design under the guidance of an appointed supervisor. The study may vary by discipline and approach (e.g. scientic, creative, philosophical, practice-based), and may include industry partners or external participants, as long as these are covered within the ethics approval for the study.
Students are required to submit a progress report, signed by their supervisor, to the course coordinator at the end of their first semester.
The final research outcome will include a maximum 30 000 word thesis, and potentially, aligned practical work documented in the thesis.

This course outline should be read in conjunction with the Guide to Theses and Dissertations.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: DESIGN 700-702 To complete this course students must enrol in DESIGN 794 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
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 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 6.2)
  2. Show sophisticated understanding of the different influences and factors contributing to that issue and to be able to show their interrelation (Capability 2.4, 3.3 and 6.1)
  3. Develop advanced capacity of reasoning and articulation of research findings in a substantial piece of written work (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 and 4.2)
  4. Articulate compelling arguments and valid conclusions arising from research (Capability 2.4, 4.1 and 5.1)
  5. Develop advanced skills in critical and reflexive dialogue (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 5.1, 5.5 and 6.2)
  6. Realise an integrated piece of research incorporating a substantial finished academic document to an advanced standard (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 and 4.1)

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.

The 90-point research thesis will consist of an original piece of independent research with the outcome of a maximum 30 000 words thesis.

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 HoS (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 Postgraduate Studies if this is needed.

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, recourse should be made in the rst instance to the course
coordinator.

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 coordinator/s 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.

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.

Learning resources will be agreed upon by the student and the supervisor.

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 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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

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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption 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. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 02/11/2022 03:51 p.m.