HY458     
LSE-Columbia University Double Degree Dissertation

This information is for the 2024/25 session.

Teacher responsible

 

Dr Tim Hochstrasser SAR 2.14

Dr Artemis Photiadou SAR 3.13

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in International and World History (LSE & Columbia). This course is not available as an outside option.

Pre-requisites

During their first year at Columbia University, students will identify a topic for the dissertation and will submit a detailed dissertation proposal form to their LSE supervisor. They will also have undertaken substantial research over the course of the summer, have written a Dissertation Research Report before arriving at LSE and be in a position to talk in a detailed manner with regards to their dissertation. These and the completion of other formal requirements for year one of the Double Degree will be needed before students can proceed to the second year of the programme at LSE.

Course content

The individual dissertation will be supervised and assessed at LSE in accordance with the Department's MSc regulations. It will be in the form of a thesis of no more than 15,000 words. HY458 is a dissertation workshop, which complements students’ individual work on their dissertations by offering group sessions focusing on methods and approaches, historiography, archival visits, and writing support for work in progress. Overall, students should be prepared to share a 3,000 word extract from their dissertations for group discussion, evaluation and analysis (Winter Term).

Teaching

See above.

 

Formative coursework

Students will be requested to submit a Dissertation Research Report for discussion in the Autumn Term. Students are also required to circulate a total of a 3000-word extract of their dissertation for discussion in the Winter Term.

Indicative reading

A reading list will be provided at the start of the course but will include the following introductory surveys: Berger, Feldner and Passmore, Writing History; D Cannadine (Ed), What is History now?; Iggers, Georg, Supriya Mukherjee and Quingjia E. Wang, ‘Historical Thought and Historiography: Current Trends’, pp. 39-47 in Wright, James D. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (2015) [doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.62028-7];  L Jordanova, History in Practice; M Bloch, The Historian's Craft; R G Collingwood, The Idea of History.

Assessment

Dissertation (100%, 15000 words) in the ST.

Key facts

Department: International History

Total students 2023/24: 22

Average class size 2023/24: 22

Controlled access 2023/24: No

Value: One Unit

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