MA Personnel and Development (Part Time)

Course overview

The MA Personnel and Development degree at Southampton Solent University is designed to provide progression to a Master's degree for students who have completed the Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Personnel and Development| (or equivalent) at this University. Students who have a Postgraduate Certificate and/or Diploma from other institutions will have to study additional 60 credits so will be able to gain a Masters award after two years of part-time study. The course aims to develop students as effective managers of people in changing employment conditions. Conveniently structured, it will give you a great chance to develop your career and broaden your knowledge with high quality supervisory support.

This Master's course is intended for those who have studied to Postgraduate Diploma level in the field of personnel/HR and who are interested in an opportunity to engage with a specific personnel issue at a more academically rigorous level of enquiry. The course might therefore appeal to anyone involved in the management of people at a senior/strategic level. Those who are likely to benefit from the course include HR professionals, middle and senior managers, Trade Union officials and members of other professions. 

|

Course content

Research Methods

This unit will develop the skills of inquiry and research required primarily for the dissertation. It unit will cover the major theories and concepts associated with empirical and library-based research. It will also develop your ability to apply these concepts to practical research situations.

Dissertation

The dissertation represents a culmination of progression at Master's level. It builds on your skills, subject knowledge and interests by encouraging independent working, reflection and development of a specialist area of knowledge.

The dissertation is, for many students, also an important element of their career portfolio and you will be encouraged to consider the relevance of your chosen topic to current developments in both the academic and professional environment.

Assessment

25% Research Proposal (3,500 plus talk)

75% Dissertation (20,000 words)  

Attendance

The Master's course will begin with classes held on two consecutive Saturdays starting first week in October. All of the students will already be familiar with alternative research methodologies from their work on the Postgraduate Diploma and these Saturdays will be used to consolidate prior knowledge and to explore how it might be used for dissertation work. Students will be encouraged to begin thinking about a suitable dissertation topic during this time and will be asked to agree this with the Course Leader before the end of October.

Students will then be matched with appropriate supervisors and will begin work on their Dissertation Proposal. On the second Saturday in November a session will be held to address issues of concern to students and provide further guidance on the completion of the Dissertation Proposal. Students will be required to submit their Dissertation Proposal in mid-December and a further session (second Saturday in December) will be used for students to deliver a presentation of their research topic to their tutors and peers.

Following this session students will continue to work closely with their supervisor. It is envisaged that most will gather their primary research data early in the New Year. Further session will be held shortly before the Easter break (second Saturday in February and third Saturday in March) to address issues associated with the writing up of the dissertation. Students will be required to submit the dissertation in late May. 

Fees  

Fees for the 2011-2012 are:

UK and EU students: Year 1 £2,330, Year 2 £2,450, Year 3 £1,995
Overseas students: Year 1 £3,200, Year 2 £3,260, Year 3 £2,980.   

 

Follow our Business School blog|