VERB3900 Bachelor Thesis Course description

The research question for the bachelor's thesis is prepared on the basis of an evidence-based project work, training and/or care measure implemented in cooperation with the service recipients and others in the supervised practical training course VERPRA30. The research question and the thesis outline are approved in the course of VERPRA30. The bachelor's thesis is a specialisation in a topic and research question chosen by the student him/herself. The bachelor's thesis will document that the student has acquired important and fundamental knowledge and skills in project, care and/or change processes, or quality-enhancing measures.

The bachelor’s thesis is written over a period of eight weeks of full-time work.

The required coursework for VERPRA30 must have been approved before a student can start the course. Part 2 in VERPRA20 and the course VERPRA30 must be passed before the bachelor's thesis can be submitted for assessment.

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can explain different data collection and processing methods and different forms of reporting in line with ethical and legal requirements
• can explain different principles for assessing scientific quality
• can explain the specific area of specialisation he/she has chosen

Skills

The student

• can ensure protection of privacy, cf. the General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR), obtain consent and observe the duty of confidentiality
• can formulate a reasoned research question of relevance to the area of specialisation in accordance with the general requirements that apply to research questions
• can carry out relevant literature searches
• can make a critical assessment of the scholarly contributions made by others in his/her chosen area of specialisation
• can assess data collection methods, principles and concepts relevant for assessing scientific quality
• can use the relevant thesis structure and cite references in accordance with the applicable APA standard
• can apply relevant research results
• can document a project, care or educational intervention or a quality-enhancing measure
• can apply academic knowledge in a critical discussion of his/her own work, including the findings described in his/her own bachelor's thesis.

General competence

The student

• can engage in critique of the discipline and has insight into professional, ethical and legal challenges and dilemmas in social education
• can document and communicate social education work

The teaching and learning methods include lectures, supervision and independent work on the bachelor's thesis. Up to five hours of supervision is available per bachelor's thesis. A supervisor is appointed for each thesis. It is the student's responsibility to contact his/her thesis supervisor and provide him/her with the material necessary for the supervision.

The following required coursework must be approved before a student can receive a final assessment:

• A multiple-choice test with a minimum of 90% correct answers by the given deadline
• 1 hour individual supervision in connection with the bachelor's thesis

Individual written bachelor's thesis in accordance with set criteria, up to 8,000 words

On reasoned application and following a special assessment, students can be allowed to write their bachelor’s thesis in pairs. The maximum length of the thesis is still 8,000 words even when two students write a thesis together. Each of the two students must enclose a description of his/her own contribution to the thesis. They are both responsible for the content of the thesis.

All material allowed.

Grade scale A-F

If the bachelor’s thesis is awarded a fail grade, the student has the right to submit a reworked version twice. If the student wishes to improve a passed grade on the bachelor’s thesis, the thesis can be reworked once. Since the thesis is written based on a completed practical training, a new project description is not required for the 2nd and 3rd attempt. Up to 2 hours of supervision is given for grade F. No supervision is given for improving grades.

All answers are assessed by two examiners.

An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

VERN3900/VERND3900/VERNL3900 equivalent