MASYK5900 Master's Thesis Course description

Under supervision, the students will conduct an independent empirical research or development project, or a literature study. If two students work on the master's thesis together, each student's contributions must be documented. The thesis can be written as (1) a monograph or (2) a scientific article on a specialised topic in addition to a thematic assignment.

Work on developing a project plan in preparation for the master's thesis begins and runs alongside the method courses in the spring semester, before the master's course itself starts in the autumn semester. The project plan has a scope of 3,000 words (+/- 10%) and must be approved by the student's supervisor.

All other compulsory and elective courses in the programme must be passed before the student can submit their 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 nursing as a discipline and a science and can analyse clinical issues to identify a need for research and professional development
• has in-depth knowledge of the research process

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing relevant theories and clinical issues to initiate a research or development project
• using relevant methods for research or development work in their own work
• analysing and taking a critical approach to different sources of information and using them in professional argumentation in their own research or development project
• carrying out an independent, limited research or development project in accordance with applicable standards of research ethics

Competence

The student is capable of

• communicating relevant issues, analyses and conclusions from their own research or development work to both the general public and academia
• developing patient care by implementing research and engaging in professional development

The work and teaching methods used include self-study, three master's seminars with presentations, and an offer of 20 hours' supervision.

The seminars are an arena for sharing experience from all stages of the project work. Students will take part in academic discussion and practise structuring and wording academic argumentation and communicating constructive criticism. Presenting their work, giving feedback to fellow students and receiving feedback from lecturers are important aspects of the seminars.

The following must have been approved in order for a student to be permitted to submit the master's thesis:

• Three oral presentations (up to 20 minutes +/-) at the master's seminars

The course will introduce central theories and research traditions in media production and developments in the media field in the Norwegian and international contexts. “Media field” encompasses journalism, non-fiction writing, and other forms of media production and use, including in communication work.

The course is mandatory for all candidates in the specialization of Journalism and Media Studies, but candidates can apply for an exception if they have been admitted to another PhD course that gives an equivalent introduction to the theories and research traditions within the field of specialization and the doctoral dissertation’s subfield. It is recommended that the candidate completes the course as early as possible in their doctoral period.

No prior knowledge required.

The course consists of seminars, lectures, and independent study. The pedagogical approach involves active participation in seminars and lectures, presentation of one’s own work, and providing feedback to others’ presentations on the basis of the research literature and lecture topics.

The seminar form supports the candidates’ practical training in presenting their own research and commenting on others’.

Active participation in the seminars is necessary to adequately understand the course material and themes. Participation is therefore mandatory, and candidates are expected to attend all days of teaching and required to attend at least 80 percent of teaching days. In special cases of documented illness, the course leader may accept exceptions to this requirement. In these cases, lack of participation can be substituted with alternative arrangements such as active reading of the relevant syllabus literature.

Course requirements are assessed as confirmed or not confirmed. The course requirement must be completed and confirmed within the given deadline in order to have the right to submit a final essay.