SFB5900 Master's Thesis in Family Therapy Course description

The master's thesis is an independent work worth 30 credits. 

The master's degree thesis should be an independent and analytical work with relevance to the subject areas in the programme (family therapy). The students must choose a topic that will be highlighted through systematic use of qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies. The research question can be of either a theoretical or an empirical nature.

The master's thesis is submitted in the form of a monograph or an article manuscript as described below.

All compulsory exams must be passed before the student can submit the master's thesis for assessment.

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge of a specialised field in the area of family therapy
• in-depth knowledge of theories relevant to the topic of the master's thesis
• in-depth insight into a topic or phenomenon from several different perspectives 
• in-depth knowledge, and application of academic requirements for analysis and written production

Skills The student is capable of

• delimiting a large topic or phenomenon and turning it into a research object
• choosing and making use of one or several methods to explore the master's thesis research question
•  developing a design for an empirical study
• analysing data material using theoretical perspectives and concepts
• carrying out a systematic and critical analysis, applying key research principles and giving a clear, academic presentation of the results
• evaluating research ethics issues related to his/her own project

Competence

The student is capable of

• reading research literature in a critical and reflective manner
• considering issues relating to academic, professional and research ethics
• communicating knowledge and own research results orally and in writing
• applying research-based knowledge and skills in areas relating to family treatment

Requirements for the master's thesis

Requirements to academic delimitations: The master's degree thesis should be an independent and analytical work with relevance to the subject areas in the field of family therapy. The students must choose a topic that will be highlighted through systematic use of qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies. The research question can be either of a theoretical or an empirical nature.

The master's thesis must follow the Faculty of Social Sciences' template for writing assignments.

Please note in particular the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet Section 7-5, regarding cheating. See also the Appeal Board's website regarding cheating on the university's website regarding exams. A total of 10 hours of supervision are offered, which can take place both individually and in groups.

Monograph:

Individual theses in monograph form are expected to have a scope of 50 pages +/- 10 % (excluding the table of contents, introduction, summary, references and appendices), written in 12-point Times New Roman with 1.5 line spacing.

Up to two students can co-write a joint master's thesis. The programme coordinator, or the person the programme coordinator has delegated the task to, must approve the project. The students must sign a co-writing contract. A note must accompany the submission of the thesis, stating the parts of the thesis that each student has had main responsibility for. Monograph theses written by two students are expected to have a scope of around 75 pages. The scope of the thesis can be adjusted by up to +/- 10%. Fifteen supervision sessions are allotted when co-writing if the students have a joint supervisor.

Article manuscript

Individual assignments in article form must consist of one ready to submit article manuscript intended for a peer reviewed journal (level one or two).

Theses in article form written by two students should consist of at least two such article manuscripts. When several article manuscripts are submitted as master's theses, they must be thematically linked.

A reflection note/introduction ("kappe") of approx. 15 pages must be handed in together with the article manuscripts/the manuscripts. Among other things, the methodology and the theoretical points of departure should be expanded upon here, in addition to topics that are not sufficiently covered in the articles. In cases where the master's thesis consists of several article manuscripts, the connections between the articles should be pointed out in the note. Submission of the master's thesis in the form of an article manuscript does not necessitate that the manuscript is submitted or accepted for publication. In collaboration with the supervisor, however, the student is advised to write with a relevant journal in mind, and with the journal's guidelines for publication. 

In the second semester will develop their own project outlines, which is a work requirement. The project description also forms the basis for being assigned a supervisor. The supervisor is assigned at the end of the second semester. In the course Master's Degree Thesis, two thesis seminars, a kick-off seminar and midway seminar, will also be held. The compulsory kick-off seminar will take place at the end of the second semester, and the midway seminar at the beginning of the fourth semester. See the description under the coursework requirements section, and the separate section about the thesis seminars.

At the beginning of the second semester, a master's degree fair will be organised where the students will be presented with research projects they can join.

The kick-off seminar is held at the end of the spring semester in the second semester. The aim is to provide information that can support the individual student in their work on the master's thesis. Regular supervision is provided in addition to the seminar. After the kick-off seminar, the students will start work on the progress schedule. See the chapter about coursework requirements.

The midway seminar is held in the sixth semester and will focus on texts from the students' work on the master's thesis.

The exam consists of two parts; a written submission and an oral examination, including a presentation of the thesis.

The student can choose to be informed of the grade on the written submission before the presentation in lecture format takes place (30 minutes). An oral examination cannot take place unless the written submission has been graded as a pass (A - E). The student will then go through an oral examination. The presentation and the examination can adjust the grade for the written submission. The final grade is then set. It is the final grade that is included in the grade diploma.

When two students work together to write a master's thesis, the written submission must be given one and the same grade. The individual student will then present their part of the thesis in a presentation, and then go through an individual oral examination. The presentation and examination shall be considered as the individual contribution, and used for any adjustment of the final grade.

A student can submit a new or revised master's thesis once if the thesis does not receive a pass grade. The thesis must then be submitted in revised by the next ordinary submission date. The student is offered three hours of additional guidance before the new submission.

It is not possible to submit a second master's thesis in the same study programme if the previous thesis received a pass grade.

In order for the master's thesis to be published and publically available, the student must approve a publication agreement prior to the submission. Assuming the student's approval and pass grade, all non-claused master's theses will be published in ODA, the university's digital knowledge archive.

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail is used.

The exam papers are graded by one internal and one external examiner. The supervisor cannot be an examiner. If the student appeals against the grade, a new committee will be appointed and the master's thesis will be re-assessed. If the assessment is changed, a new oral exam will be held.