UnitLevel 5Postgraduate

APG5155 Designing research in the humanities and social sciences

Faculty of Arts

APG5155 Designing research in the humanities and social sciences is a level 5, 12-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
12
Offered in 2025
Semester 1, Semester 2
Clayton
Assessment
No exam
3 tasks
Workload
288 hours
per semester

This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Overview

This unit provides you with advanced skills in the design of research projects in the humanities and social sciences. The unit explores the core issues involved in conducting humanities and social science research and examines a variety of research methodologies and methods. Its focus on the process of research design allows you to develop skills in writing detailed research proposals for your own research topics.

Offerings in 2025

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterClaytonOn campus, block
Second semesterClaytonOn campus, block

Assessment

  • Research taskWritten
    35%
  • ReflectionWritten
    20%
  • Research proposalWritten
    45%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Critically evaluate research design principles, data collection and data analysis techniques in existing research in the humanities and social sciences;

  2. 2

    Identify and select a range of research methodologies and methods for a specific discipline, issue or topic;

  3. 3

    Identify and apply ethical principles in research practice;

  4. 4

    Initiate and design an original research project.

Workload and teaching

  • Tutorials15 hours
  • Lectures12 hours
  • Teaching approachActive learning

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 288 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities. 

Learning resources

Required resources

This unit requires access to a laptop that meets minimum specifications (https://www.monash.edu/esolutions/students/bring-your-own-device-byod). Free specialist software is available via MoVE (https://www.monash.edu/learning-teaching/innovation/learning-technologies/move).

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Professor Megan Farrelly
Dr Andy Ruddock
Chief Examiners
Dr Andy Ruddock
Professor Megan Farrelly

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for APG5155?

APG5155 has no prerequisites.

When is APG5155 offered?

In 2025, APG5155 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton.

How much work is APG5155?

The handbook expects about 288 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does APG5155 have an exam?

No. APG5155 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
12
Level
5
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Arts
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.250
Student contribution
SCA Band 4
Study abroad
Not available