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MUS41210

Academic Year 2026/2027

Graduate Colloquium (MUS41210)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Matthew Thomson
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The Graduate Colloquium is an important milestone in the MMus programme where students have an opportunity to present a twenty-minute paper to peers and faculty in a collegial environment. Especially for those whose final project is a dissertation, the topic for presentation is usually related to that final project, which provides a valuable opportunity to test ideas and receive constructive feedback. For students whose final project is a composition portfolio, they may choose to give a research paper in the Colloquium about their own creative practice, or about the work of others. They should discuss these options with Dr Seán Clancy.
The Graduate Colloquium takes place towards the end of trimester two and is a full-day event. Students will receive guidance on the colloquium from the Graduate Programmes Director during trimester two. During trimester two, each student will choose a project supervisor from among the full-time members of staff of the school and will work closely with that person in preparing the dissertation or composition portfolio for submission in August. Students should also consult the same supervisor and avail of that person’s expertise and knowledge when preparing the colloquium paper.
Students will be guided by their respective supervisor with regard to the possible integration of AI in their work.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module students should be able to:
- write and structure a formal academic paper of 20 minute's duration
- work within the time constraints imposed by the Colloquium format
- deliver an oral presentation/paper in a clear and audible manner
- distinguish between essential and less-relevant aspects of a topic for presentation purposes
- read, assess, digest and summarise large quantities of existing research/practice and express complex ideas and concepts with clarity and brevity
- converse with confidence on the major questions and debates of contemporary discourse in musicology, ethnomusicology, and composition.

Indicative Module Content:

- developing presentation skills
- determining the difference between written and oral academic delivery
- practicing academic discussion after an oral presentation

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Proficient

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Proficient

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

120
Online Learning

40
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- active / task-based learning
- reflective learning
- enquiry & problem-based learning
- debates
- student presentations

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Individual Project: Students are assessed on the delivery of an oral presentation at the School's Graduate Colloquium. Week 14 Graded Yes
100
 Yes

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Sean L Clancy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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