ENT5900 Master's thesis Course description

The master's thesis is a final independent, limited research project that shall be based on the knowledge, skills and competence the student has acquired during the programme. Preparations for work on the master's thesis should begin at an early stage of the programme but is attended to mostly in the fourth semester. The master's thesis is an independent project in groups of two-three students. Students may be allowed, on application, to write an individual thesis.

The master's thesis should be an analytical work with relevance to the subject areas in the programme. 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.

Language of instruction is Norwegian and English.

All compulsory courses included in the master's degree and all four elective courses - total 90 ECTS - must be passed before the student may submit the master's thesis for assessment.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

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

Skills

The student is capable of

• delimiting a larger topic or phenomenon and making it the subject of research
• selecting and using one or more methods to explore the problem of the master's thesis
• developing a design for an empirical study
• analysing a data material using theoretical perspectives and concepts
• carrying out a systematic and critical analysis, applying key research principles and providing a clear academic presentation of the results
• assessing research ethics issues related to their own project

General competence

The student can

• read research literature critically and reflectively
• assess issues related to research ethics
• disseminate knowledge and their own research results
• apply research-based knowledge and skills in the work on the master's thesis

Students must submit a project description for their master's thesis. Each group of students is then assigned an academic supervisor. However, it is not uncommon for students to have been in contact with one or more potential supervisor while preparing the project description in the third semester.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework 1: A project plan of 10 pages (+/- 10 per cent) must be approved before work on the master’s thesis begins in the fourth semester. The project plan must describe the literature, the research question and the plan for the thesis. It also forms the basis for the assignment of an academic supervisor.
• Coursework 2: Attending a first mandatory seminar in the beginning of the fourth semester.
• Coursework 3: Attending a second mandatory seminar later in fourth semester.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the project plan is not approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by the given deadline.

A practical course in analyzing text and talk.

Approved by the Doctoral Committee October 25, 2018. Minor changes approved 27.04.2020.

This is a practical course where the students will be offered analytical tools to carry out analyses of documents, observations and/or interviews on the topics of their own research, in comparison with leading discourses as well as research knowledge and other contextual aspects. The course will also focus on strategies for discussing explanations and implications of findings. The content of the course is based on a combination of insights to discourses and power from social sciences and humanities.

On completion of the course, the student will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth knowledge about analyzing text and talk and their main research traditions.
• has in-depth knowledge of theories and conceptualisations about the relationship between discourses and power.

Skills

The student

• has gained methodological competence to skillfully outline a discourse analysis based on own empirical material, as a core content of a paper aimed at publication in a research journal.

General competence

The student

• can identify and establish constructive connections between theories, empirical data, and methods based on developed methodological competence.

The course consists of two parts. Students are expected to participate actively in both parts.

The first part consists of a two-days workshop at OsloMet with mandatory participation. In lectures and discussions the students will be introduced to relevant theories and methods.

The last part is a one-day workshop at OsloMet a few weeks later. This is also mandatory. External students will be given the opportunity to participate by electronic means.

Between the two parts, the students will write an individual paper that outlines how they may conduct an analysis based on knowledge and skills from the course and own empirical material. These papers will in part two be discussed with fellow students and teachers.

Preparations for the course

Students are expected to read the syllabus before the first part of the course to be able to participate actively in discussions.

Work requirements

Mandatory participation at the two-days workshop in the first part of the course.

Mandatory participation at the one-day workshop in the last part of the course. External students will be given the opportunity to participate by electronic means.

Attendence

80 % attendence of the time of the course is required. If a student has attended at least 60 % of the course but less than 80 %, he/she must submit an extra paper of at least 3000 words plus reference list on a given topic.