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| Semester | fall semester 2016 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Günter Schmidt-Gess (guenter.schmidt@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The instructor of this course is Christina J. Schneider Associate Professor Jean Monnet Chair and Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Fellow Department of Political Science University of California, San Diego E-mail: cjschneider@ucsd.edu The purpose of this two-part seminar is to help students carry out their dissertation research and to learn about the professional academic system in the United States. The seminar provides Ph.D. students with an opportunity to design and develop their dissertation research projects, and to learn about quantitative research design. Class time will be devoted primarily to discussion of research topics and an introduction to research design, the discussion of students’ research topics, and an introduction to the American academic system. During the first part of the course participants will learn about how to develop a Ph.D. thesis. The lecture will cover topics including how to pick interesting questions, how to narrow down a topic to a manageable size, how to develop a (novel) theoretical argument, and how to develop a research design. The main focus will lie on the development of a research design. During the second part of the course, the seminar will focus on a discussion of the participants’ research projects. Students will have the opportunity to present their work and receive feedback for further developments, including their qualitative and quantitative analyses. The seminar will also incorporate a professional development session on the American academic system, including presentational style, networking, job market, and opportunities for visiting positions in the United States. |
| Bibliography | Students should complete reading assignments in advance of the seminar meetings. • Wayne C. Booth, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams, The Craft of Research, 3rd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008. • Online: http://www.charleslipson.com/How-to-write-a-thesis.htm |
| Comments | PLACE: Petersgraben 11, Room 209 SEMINAR SCHEDULE September 22 (Thursday), 10am-5pm: Framing Questions, Research Topics, Argument • Read http://www.charleslipson.com/How-to-write-a-thesis.htm • Read Preface, Prologue, Chapters 1, 3, and 4 in Booth, Colomb, and Williams, The Craft of Research, 3rd edition. September 23 (Friday), 10am-5pm: Research Design I and Discussion of Student Research • Read Chapters 7, 10, and 12-14 in Booth, Colomb, and Williams, The Craft of Research, 3rd edition. October 20 (Thursday), 10am-5pm: Research Design II and Student Presentations • Read Chapters 7, 10, and 12-14 in Booth, Colomb, and Williams, The Craft of Research, 3rd edition. October 21 (Friday), 10am-5pm: Professional Development (American Academic System) and Student Presentations • No readings, but students should prepare some questions they may have about professional development in the American system. |
| Admission requirements | During the second part of the seminar, we will discuss the participant’s dissertation proposals in respect to the material that we covered in the first seminar season. Participants will also receive feedback on their research design and the qualitative/quantitative aspect of their proposal. All participants should therefore e-mail their 5-10 page dissertation proposal to the course by October 29th at 5pm. All participants are required to read the proposals before the October 20 meeting. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
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No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Doktorat Kulturanthropologie: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Cultural Anthropology) Doktorat Near & Middle Eastern Studies: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Near & Middle Eastern Studies) Doktorat Politikwissenschaft: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Political Science) Gender Studies: Recommendations (PhD subject: Gender Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Active participation in the workshop is required in order to fulfill the requirements. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Departement Gesellschaftswissenschaften |