PhD Research Seminar

Level: 
Doctoral
CEU code: 
MS 6010
CEU credits: 
2
ECTS credits: 
4
Academic year: 
2009/2010
Semester: 
Winter
Start and end dates: 
11 Jan 2010 - 2 Apr 2010
Co-hosting Unit(s) [if applicable]: 
Department of Medieval Studies
Academic Program: 
Doctor of Philosophy in Medieval Studies
Instructor(s): 
József Laszlovszky
Instructor(s): 
Volker Menze
Learning Outcomes: 
The ability to employ higher order skills such as interdisciplinary approaches, comparative analysis, synthesis, and evaluation - Presentation of prospectus drafts, bibliographies, and thesis chapters (50%) The ability of argumentative analysis - Discussion on interdisciplinary methodology and comparative analysis (50% of grade). The ability to use critical arguments in thesis writing.- The prospectus and thesis as a whole (measured in the grade at the thesis defense).

First- year doctoral students are expected to present their dissertation prospectuses (see attached guidelines). In the oral presentation the emphasis should be on sources, methods, the main research questions, and expected results. Expected research problems should also be discussed. The text of the prospectus should be circulated before the seminar presentation and discussion (one week before the presentation via MEDEDIT). By the end of the winter semester (2 April 2010), the final version of the prospectus must be submitted and it will be sent out to the external reader(s).

First- year doctoral students will also present the bibliographies of the two comprehensive exam topics selected by and for them. The oral presentation should offer a critical overview of the field (state of research, research directions, research problems, main elements of the historiography, theoretical and methodological debates, etc.) and a discussion of the items in the bibliography. PhD students should discuss why particular items in the bibliography represent important aspects of the field, why these and not others were selected for the comprehensive exam. By the end of the winter semester (2 April 2010), the final version of the two bibliographies must be submitted.

Second- and third-year doctoral students are expected to present a detailed progress report reflecting the main results of their research. This report can also be a preliminary presentation of a conference paper or an oral version of a publication being prepared to be submitted, in both cases the subjects should be related to the problem focus of the dissertation.

Second- and third-year doctoral students are also expected to act as opponents for the prospectus and bibliography presentations of the first-year PhD students. They are expected to offer their critical comments on one prospectus and on one bibliography presentation.