MAPSD5900 Master's Thesis in Mental Health Care Course description

The master's thesis is an independent and systematic piece of scientific work. The master's thesis should have a clinical and/or organisational focus on mental health, mental disorders and mental health care. The student(s) can be affiliated with internal and external research environments and development projects in the field of mental health.

Passed course MAPSD4300/MAPSD4310 (where the project description is prepared). All the exams in the compulsory and elective courses must be passed in order for a student to submit his/her master's thesis for assessment.

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

• advanced knowledge of mental health, mental disorders and mental health care
• in-depth knowledge about theories of science and research methods of relevance to the completion of the master's thesis

Skills

The student is capable of

• carrying out a limited research or development project under supervision in accordance with applicable research ethics standards
• using relevant methods in research and development work

Competence

The student

• has competence in research and development work and can assess the methods used and results from scientific investigations and evaluations
• is capable of taking an analytical and critical approach to the research process and knowledge development
• is capable of reflecting on the ethical aspects of the research process and knowledge development

Seminars will be held where the students submit drafts of the master's thesis text, which will be reviewed and discussed at the seminar.;

Ten hours of individual supervision is available for the master's thesis.

The master's thesis shall be submitted as a monograph or as an article script. Up to two students can co-write a joint master's thesis. A note must accompany the submission of the thesis, stating the parts of the thesis that each student has had main responsibility for.

Individual assignments in monograph form are expected to have a scope of 50 pages (+/- 20%). Monograph theses written by two students are expected to have a scope of around 70 pages.

Individual theses in article form shall comprise one scientific article. The student(s) must also write an explanatory text, in which they shall present and discuss thematic and methodological aspects of the master's thesis that are not adequately covered in the articles. Theses in article form written by two students shall consist of two scientific articles that are thematically linked, and an explanatory text. In the explanatory text, the student(s) shall present and discuss thematic and methodological aspects of the master's thesis that are not adequately covered in the articles. The article and the explanatory text shall together constitute a maximum of 50 pages for individual theses and a maximum of 70 pages when two students write articles together.

The course covers theories of science, qualitative and quantitative research methods and research design that are relevant for mental health, mental disorders and the field of mental health care. The course covers all steps in the research process, formulation of research questions, ethical reflection and principles for scientific work. The course forms the basis for the master's thesis and is therefore not a course in which exemption and recognition can be granted.

Admission to the programme.

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

• advanced knowledge of the importance of theory of science positions to research on mental health, mental disorders and mental health care
• knowledge about theoretical, methodical and practical challenges in scientific work
• advanced knowledge about the connection between theory of science and choice of methods within mental health care
• in-depth knowledge of the various steps in the research process/ scientific work
• in-depth knowledge about ethical principles in scientific work

Skills

The student is capable of

• taking a reflective and critical approach to theory of science and understanding the link between views of knowledge and methods
• applying theory of science and research methods based on research issues and research questions
• analysing and interpreting empirical material
• preparing research questions and project descriptions

Competence

The student is capable of

• applying theory of science in the development of design, methodology, analysis and interpretation
• understanding theory of science and how different perspectives on humanity, views of knowledge and values govern the research
• applying research methods in an independent and critical manner
• assessing and taking a critical approach to research in the mental health care field
• communicating scientific knowledge in an independent and critical manner

Lectures, group work, seminars and self-study.

The syllabus amounts to approx. 800 pages.

The following must have been completed and approved in order for a student to be permitted to take the exam:

Project description outline

• individual or in groups of two students
• the outline should be presented at a seminar with opponents with an opportunity to discuss and make changes before the final submission
• Scope: 1,000 words (+/- 20%)

Attendance in compulsory activities

• of 80% in study groups and seminars