Management Center

Doctorate in Social Science     MBA     Professional Courses

Doctorate in Social Science

Overall objectives
To produce a group of leading edge practitioners who have mastered the full range of the theoritical and practical knowledge necessary for the conduct of their professional activities at the highest level.

Overall Aims
To provide the latest and most practical knowledge for practitioners; The ensure that this knowledge can be used to inform practice and that practitioners can critically engage with development in their field To equip members of the profession to work with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct and evaluate reserach pertinent to their professional interests To enhance the growing discipline areas of Work, Employment and Learning.

By the end of the course, the candidates will have demonstrated:

• A thorough grasp of the theoritical foundations of the profession. This will include advanced theory from a number of different Social Science disciplines; e.g., sociology, economics, management science, the psychology of learning, sociology of education and education and training policy.
• A knowledge of the range of research techniques available for enhancing professional knowledge.
• The ability to utilise appropriate research techniques to produce research of publishable quality.

The course is studied via distance learning and takes four years to complete.

Course Structure
The design of our taught distance-learning doctorate is based on the following principles:

• Supporting the 'remote learner' who is in employment;
• Imparting a range of preparatory knowledge in Work, Employment and Learning for doctoral research;
• Imparting mastery of the necessary advanced research tools;
• Enabling the learner to specialise in one specific area of Work, Employment and Learning;
• Integrating the above into a coherent process of learning

The taught content will be supported by the usual distance learning design with overviews of the main intellectual issues provided by the Centre's staff together with the additional reading in the form of journal articles and key theoritical texts. The course is split into three main parts. Part one of the course is the advanced research methods training module, containing four units. Part two of the course is research context and the thesis proposal. The final part of the course is the thesis.

The Doctorate in Social Sciences is divided into three modules:

Module 1: Advanced Research Methods

Students must complete four units, each assessed by a 4,000 word assignment. The overall outcome will be to demonstrate the ability to comprehend the use of appropriate research methods.

Unit 1: Introduction to Social Research
Unit 2: Philosophical and Methodological Foundations of Social Research
Unit 3: Quantitative Methods and Analysis
Unit 4: Qualitative Methods and Analysis

Module 2: The Research Context

In order to demonstrate knowledge of the chosen specialist areas within the field, students are required to select four specialist options from a selection and complete a 5,000 word assignment on each. Each option takes three months to complete and will be assessed by assignment.

On completion of the taught component of the course, course members will be asked to submit a revised thesis proposal of 2,000 words.

Module 3: Thesis

The main outcome on completion of the 50,000 word thesis will be the demonstration of the ability to apply appropriate research methodologies to analyse practical and/or theoretical problems confronting the professionals in fields such as employment, work, skills, organizations and learning. The thesis must be original work and of publishable quality.

Entry requirements
We require evidence of a relevant Masters degree, preferably at distinction level, together with a detailed outline of an initial research proposal, completed application form and two references. The viability and quality of the proposal will be of crucial significance in determining eligibility for entry. All applicants must meet the University of Leicester English Language Regulations.