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 his/her 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

Lectures, seminars, supervision and self-study.

In the second semester, students shall prepare the project description for their master's thesis. This work is done as part of the course's compulsory Kickoff-seminar. The project description forms the basis for assignment of a supervisor at the end of the second semester, and a supervisory agreement must be signed. Participation in the Kick-off-seminars and signing of the supervisory agreement are mandatory work requirements (see below). Within this module, also a "Mastertorg" and a "Mid-way seminar" are arranged.

The Kickoff seminars are arranged in the second semester, divided into two sessions (one at the beginning and one towards the end of the semester, each of one day's duration). Seminar participation is compulsory. The purpose of the seminar is to provide support for the student in their planning and startup of their master's thesis, including the preparation of a project outline for the master's thesis. The kickoff seminar consists of various activities and learning methods. The first session consists of introductions about the research process, development of issues, research ethics and privacy considerations. Practical information is also provided on literature search and the University Library's offerings. Supervisory agreements, duties and rights in the supervision relationship are also presented. The second session consists of group feedback on work requirements (see below, the section on work requirements), and discussion of planned master's projects in groups. Subsequent to the second session, supervisors are assigned.

"Mastertorg" is arranged at the beginning of the second semester. Here, students are presented with ongoing research projects they can relate to.

Supervisor agreement. When supervisor and student are appointed, they must, within a specified deadline, og through the content of and sign the supervision agreement.

Mid-way seminars are arranged at the beginning of the fourth semester for full-time / sixth semester for part-time. For the seminar, the students hand in a limited text that will be included in their master's thesis (see separate information for details), which is presented for discussion and input in groups consisting of fellow students and a teacher.

Kickoff seminar

Work requirements for the kickoff seminar consist of 1) attendance at its seminars and 2) written submission of a 2-page project outline of the students' master's degree project. A template has been created for what the sketch should contain, and this will be distributed at the Kickoff seminar's first seminar. The work requirement is to be delivered in Canvas at a specified deadline. The outlines are presented and discussed in the Kickoff seminar's second seminar. Students who fail to get their Project outline approved will be given a new deadline by agreement with the course coordinator.

Absence: Students who for various reasons are prevented from attending one or both sessions must apply for and justify this. They will then receive an additional work requirement (in addition to the 2-page project outline) to be delivered within a specified deadline.

Supervisor agreement: When a supervisor is assigned, the supervisor and the student must go through and sign the supervision agreement. This regulates the relationship between the supervisor and the student, rights and obligations within the supervision relationship. Signed agreement must be delivered within a specified deadline.

Exam consists of two parts; the written submission and an oral examination. The written submission (the master's thesis) must be passed before the student can present themselves for the oral examination. The oral examination starts with the student (s) giving a presentation of the master's thesis in lecture form (30 minutes, 45 minutes by co-writing). The student then undergoes an individual oral test.

The student may be informed about the grade given on the written part of the master's thesis before starting their oral presentation. The oral presentation (lecture) and the subsequent individual oral examination may adjust the grade given in the written work. The final grade is then determined. It is the final grade that is included in the student's diploma.

When two students co-write a master's thesis, the written part is given the same grade. In the oral presentation, each student should present their part of the thesis. After this, they are divided and undergo an individual oral examination. The oral presentation and the oral examination is considered the individual student's contribution and is used for any final grade adjustment.

A student may submit a new or revised master's thesis once if their thesis do not pass. The thesis must then be delivered in processed form and within an agreed deadline. In such cases, the student is offered three hours of additional guidance before the new delivery. It is not possible to have a new master's thesis evaluated in the same study program if the thesis have been assessed with a passing result.

In order for the master's thesis to be published and made available to the public, the student must approve a publishing agreement in advance of the submission. Provided such approval, passed thesis and thesis without clauses will be published in ODA (the university's Digital science Archive).

Alle hjelpemidler er tillatt så lenge regler for kildehenvisning følges.

Passed second year of the programme or equivalent.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge:

The student

• has broad knowledge of the nurse's role and responsibilities in a chosen area of specialisation
• has broad knowledge of nursing research and other relevant research and professional development in a chosen area of specialisation

Skills:

The student is capable of

• defining clinical issues of relevance to professional development in nursing
• carrying out systematic literature searches
• clarifying concepts, analysing and assessing different sources of information, and using these sources to formulate relevant argumentation
• carrying out an independent, limited literature study under supervision and in accordance with applicable standards of research ethics
• presenting specialist literature in an independent, logical and systematic manner

Competence:

The student

• is capable of critically and analytically assessing the chosen topic in light of academic and research-based knowledgea
• is familiar with professional ethical issues and can contribute to planning professional development in clinical practices