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Regular version of the site
Master 2022/2023

Research Seminar "Department of Political Science and International Relations"

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Type: Elective course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)
Area of studies: Political Science
When: 1 year, 1-4 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Instructors: Andrey Semyonov
Master’s programme: Comparative Politics of Eurasia
Language: English
ECTS credits: 3
Contact hours: 8

Course Syllabus

Abstract

(1 a.y.) The seminar aims to introduce MA students with state-of-the-art research in social sciences by providing an opportunity to participate in regular academic seminars organized by the Department. The seminars invite junior and senior scholars to share their current research projects and discuss them with the faculty members and wider research community. By attending the seminars, the stu-dents will develop skills in critical assessment of the central arguments and research design as well as in public presentation of the research output. They will produce position papers based on presen-tations and discussions, and present their research in internal sessions. In addition, students will also be able to propose their work-in-progress projects to be included in seminar series. (2 a.y.) The seminar continues the first-year DPSIR's academic seminar, which aims to introduce MA stu-dents with state-of-the-art research in social sciences by providing an opportunity to participate in regular academic seminars organized by the Department. The seminars invite junior and senior scholars to share their current research projects and discuss them with the faculty members and wider research community. By attending the seminars, the students will develop skills in critical assessment of the central arguments and research design as well as in public presentation of the re-search output. They will produce position papers based on presentations and discussions, and pre-sent their research in internal sessions. They will also participate in seminars on communicating the research output. Finally, students will also be able to propose their work-in-progress projects to be included in seminar series.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • - to develop critical assessment and academic presentation skills
  • - to present students with state-of-the-art research projects in political science and international relations
  • - to provide students with an opportunity to take part in academic seminars
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • - understand the requirements for participation in the Department's academic seminar;
  • - know the current academic agenda and key research directions in political sirens and international relations;
  • - familiarize with essentials of the Department's academic activities, DPSIR's structure, priorities, topics, and methodological approaches;
  • - develop critical assessment and academic presentation skills;
  • - produce position papers that critically assess the content and the results of academic seminars.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Seminar overview & introduction
  • Feedback and discussion sessions
  • Research Project presentation
  • Seminar overview and introduction
  • Communicating research output
  • Research project presentation
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Seminar participation
    1 a.y. Students are required to participate in feedback and discussion sessions to share their thoughts on the substance and presentation style of DPSIR's academic seminar participants.
  • non-blocking Position papers 1-2
    1 a.y. Each student is required to prepare two position papers assessing the thesis, methodology, results, and quality of presentation of the academic seminar's invited speakers. Papers should be submitted due two weeks after the date of the seminar via email to the instructor, they should be 1500-2000 words long with standard margins. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
  • non-blocking Presentation of the work-in-progress
    1 a.y. Following the critical assessment of the seminar series, each student should prepare an internal presentation of their work-in-progress organised by the course instructor.
  • non-blocking Seminar participation
    2 a.y. Students are required to participate in seminar sessions to discuss principles and guidelines for aca-demic communication.
  • non-blocking Position papers
    2 a.y. Each student is required to prepare two position papers assessing the thesis, methodology, results, and quality of presentation of the academic seminar's invited speakers. Papers should be submitted due two weeks after the date of the seminar via email to the instructor, they should be 1500-2000 words long with standard margins. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.
  • non-blocking Presentation of the work-in-progress
    Following the critical assessment of the seminar series, each student should prepare an internal presentation of their work-in-progress organised by the course instructor.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2022/2023 2nd module
    0.3 * Seminar participation + 0.7 * Position papers 1-2
  • 2022/2023 4th module
    0.2 * Seminar participation + 0.4 * Position papers 1-2 + 0.4 * Presentation of the work-in-progress
  • 2023/2024 2nd module
    0.2 * Seminar participation + 0.4 * Position papers + 0.4 * Presentation of the work-in-progress
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Eco, U., Farina, G., & Mongiat Farina, C. (2015). How to Write a Thesis. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=963778

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Hancké, B. (2009). Intelligent Research Design : A Guide for Beginning Researchers in the Social Sciences. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=299002