Course

Master of Arts (Research Studies)/PhD

Approved Abbreviation: MA(ResSt)/PhD

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Western Sydney University Course Code: 1687.1

CRICOS Code: 071119G

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The Master of Arts (Research Studies)/PhD is designed to prepare students to undertake a doctoral research project across disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences. It combines one and a half years of coursework and research training in Humanities and Social Science research methods and theory to prepare students to undertake a substantial doctoral research project in the second and subsequent years of the degree.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) component provides training and education with the objective of producing graduates with the capacity to conduct research independently at a high level of originality and quality. A PhD candidate should uncover new knowledge either by the discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories or the innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas.

Study Mode
Four and a half years full-time (one and a half years for the Master of Arts (Research Studies) plus three years for the PhD).

Admission

This course is only available to International students. Please contact the Head of Program for further information.

Course Structure

The coursework component of the Master of Arts (Research Studies)/PhD is structured on a total of 120 credit points to provide students with a discipline and research based coursework. The course will include a 120 credit point Master degree that has a research training component of one third (40 credit points) with a coursework component of discpline based content of two thirds (80 credit points).

The PhD component of the course will be completed according to the current Western Sydney University Doctor of Philosophy policy.

The course will comprise the following:

Core units - 20 credit points

Research Training - 40 credit points

Alternate units - 50 credit points

One Elective unit - 10 credit points

Students must successfully complete:

Core Units - 20 credit points

400585

Theories of the Social

A7444

Language and Linguistics Research Methods

Research Training component - 40 credit points

400421

Research Methods for Humanities and Social Sciences

101297

Languages and Linguistics Special Project

400586

Integrating Theory, Research and Practice

(Note: 400586 Integrating Theory, Research and Practice is a 20 credit point unit)

Alternate Units - 50 credit points (selected from the following)

100721

Contexts of TESOL

100919

Investigating Second Language Acquisition

101695

Introduction to Interpreting PG

101696

Introduction to Translation PG

100925

Literary Translation

400417

Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods

101697

TESOL Methodology and Curricula

(Note: 101697 TESOL Methodology and Curricula is a 20 credit point unit)

And one elective unit - 10 credit points

In order for students to progress into the PhD research program, they must have an average grade of 75% or greater across all units and have obtained an average grade of >74% across 101297 Languages and Linguistics Special Project and 400586 Integrating Theory, Research and Practice. The required research HRD documentation will be assessed by the College of Arts Research and Higher Degree Committee.

As part of this evaluation, successful candidature will be dependent on the availability of appropriate topics and available supervision. In order to facilitate this transition, students will be given ongoing academic advice regarding potential doctoral projects during the course of their Master’s study.