LAW 8172 Master of Commerce Dissertation - Law - Part Time

STAFFING:

OTHER-REQUISITES:

SYNOPSIS:

The Master of Commerce Dissertation comprises the research and writing of a thesis. Students examine a professional or academic area of interest, usually related to their work environment and are assisted by one or more supervisors with appropriate background. Each candidate is required to submit a research proposal for approval and endorsement by the Dean or the Dean's nominee prior to the commencement of research. This is the first course to be taken when undertaking the dissertation on a part-time basis.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. identify research topics;
2. undertake independent critical research activity using appropriate methods;
3. report and publish research outcomes;
4. demonstrate appropriate communication skills.

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

NOTES:

1.

Examiner to advise submission date.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   If you are an international student in Australia, you are advised to attend all classes at your campus. For all other students, there are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   Not applicable.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 20% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   Students who receive a Satisfactory Progress for this course will enrol in the second course LAW8173 to complete their dissertation. To obtain a passing grade in the dissertation students must perform satisfactorily in all aspects of assessment. A grade of Satisfactory Progress (SP) or Fail (F) may be awarded.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   Not applicable.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Not applicable.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm. Students should also read the Faculty of Business Guide to Policies and Procedures of the Faculty which can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/buspolproc.html.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. The dissertation may consist of any type of research work approved by the Faculty, for example: (i) an article suitable for publication in a refereed legal journal approved by the Faculty; or (ii) an empirical study of the operation of particular legal doctrines or legislation; or (iii) draft legislation with an appropriate commentary. Depending on its nature, the length of the dissertation may range between 15 000 and 25 000 words (including tables and figures but not including appendices). A dissertation which takes a position and marshals available legal materials in support of that position is preferred to one which simply describes the law.
2. The style guide used for the dissertation shall be consistent with the tradition of the discipline. Students are referred to the University Calendar Guidelines on the Preparation of Dissertations for the cover, fly page, body of dissertation and spine.
3. Submission of dissertation (i) Two copies of dissertation in temporary form shall be presented by the date for submission of thesis. (ii) Three permanently bound copies of the typed and bound dissertation shall be presented to the Chair, Faculty Research and Higher Degrees Committee before the award of the degree. The binding of these copies will be in red cloth with gold lettering. Students are referred to the University Calendar Guidelines on the Preparation of Research Dissertations.
4. A dissertation supervisor will be assigned by the Dean to each student in this course.
5. Commerce Masters Dissertation Committees will be appointed by the Dean of the Faculty. Each committee will consist of at least three appropriately qualified staff members from the discipline area, drawn from the staff within the Faculty. The committees may contain supervisors of dissertations. The Commerce Masters Dissertation Committee for the relevant major shall receive the Dissertation Proposal. The committee may approve the Dissertation Proposal and advise the student that he/she may proceed with the research and dissertation, or may refer the Dissertation Proposal back to the student (with appropriate commentary and feedback) for resubmission.
6. The Dean will appoint two examiners (the supervisor of the dissertation may be appointed as an examiner), who will grade the typed Dissertation.
7. In the case where the two examiners are in disagreement concerning the grade to be awarded for the course, the matter will be referred to a third examiner who will make a casting decision
8. No oral defence of the dissertation is required, however students in the region are encouraged to do an oral defence.
9. Dishonest Actions: (i) Any student who is alleged to have performed a dishonest action relating to any assessment in the course will have a course of action taken against him/her as outlined in the Academic Regulations. (ii) Pieces of assessment should be the work of individual students. Joint pieces of assessment are not permitted unless written approval has been obtained from the Examiner. (iii) Dishonest action in relation to assessment includes: copying or attempting to copy the work of others; use of or attempting to use information prohibited from use in that form of assessment; submitting the work of another as your own; consciously committing acts of plagiarism, ie taking and using another's thoughts or writings as one's own with intent to deceive, which occurs when paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence which are copied directly, are not enclosed in quotation marks and appropriately footnoted or referenced in the text; direct quotations are not used, but text is paraphrased or summarised, and the source of the material is not acknowledged by footnoting or other reference in the text.
10. Students are required to communicate with the thesis supervisor at intervals and in the manner approved by the supervisor. This communication may be by way of email, telephone, or in person.