MPH Dissertation

Course Type	Course Code	No. Of Credits
Discipline Core	SPG2PH508	8

Semester and Year Offered: 4^th Semester, 2^nd Year

Course Coordinator and Team: Samik Chowdhury & N. Nakkeeran

Email of course coordinator: samik@aud.ac.in

Pre-requisites: None

Aim: The dissertation is intended to engage students in independent research on a public health aspect and articulation and presentation of their work in a manner that conforms to established norms and standards of academic writing. The dissertation is thus a creative culmination of the MPH programme. Close supervision and mentorship is provided to the students in situating their analysis and inquiry within relevant socioeconomic, political and ecological contexts and framework, and in making cogent arguments based on their analysis.

Course Outcomes:

Demonstrate the ability to undertake original research of high quality.
Exhibit diverse and in-depth and knowledge of the chosen area of work.
Display expertise in the application of research methods and techniques learnt during the programme.
Produce a work of publishable quality based on the research

Brief description of modules/ Main modules:

This course is not organised around modules. The key components of the process are as follows:

Orientation: Students will be provided an orientation on the milestones, timelines and guidelines regarding the dissertation.

Concept note: The concept note will present a brief outline of the research project that may include a background, proposed objective, study population and methods. Students may be asked to make a presentation of this note.

Research proposal: Students must submit a detailed research proposal and make a presentation of the proposal in front of the Programme/School faculty on a date announced by the Programme Coordinator. The proposal is intended to present the research questions that one wishes to pursue, in a focused manner, position them in the context of prevailing knowledge and scholarship on the area and propose a methodological framework to carry out the research. Based on feedback from the faculty, students may be required to submit a revised proposal.

Fieldwork: After successful defense of their proposal, students undertake fieldwork. During the period of the fieldwork students are expected to be in touch with their respective supervisors.

Pre-submission presentation: The pre-submission will require students to submit and present the first draft of the dissertation for comments and feedback from faculty. This will typically be held a month after completion of field work.

Final Submission: The final hardbound dissertation following University guidelines for the same, will have to be submitted a week before the end of term.

Assessment Details with weights: