Course

M30-BYREG Master's Thesis

Credits (ECTS):30

Course responsible:Jin Xue, Knut Bjørn Stokke

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk, norsk

Limits of class size:The course is reserved for students who have been admitted to the Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning

Course frequency:Each semester

Nominal workload:750 hours

Teaching and exam period:

Each semester

Starting in the autumn parallel and in the spring parallel

About this course

The Master's thesis consists of a report from an independent study carried out in the last semester of study. The assignment is compulsory in the master's degree. Guidance along the process is available, by an appointed supervisor, in some cases also a co-supervisor. Supervision ensures that students receive suggestions on literature, practical advice on possible data collection and problem solving, and guidelines for research ethics. The exam consists of the submission of the thesis and an oral examination in the form of a presentation and discussion about the thesis. The oral examination can be used to adjust the grade on the thesis. The report can also be developed as a project or written in the form of an article, with a covering essay.

Learning outcome

After completing the thesis, the student will be able to:

Skills

  • Identify relevant and actual issues in the field of Urban and Regional Planning
  • Recognize and apply relevant theories and methods as tools in your work.
  • Analyze and interpret data, and formulate the results.
  • Discuss the findings and their meanings in a critical manner, and in light of the theoretical perspectives that are used.
  • Summarize the main contributions and conclude with structured argumentation.
  • Present the master thesis in a scientific manner, through texts, and e.g. maps, graphics, and with oral presentation and discussion.

Competence

  • Conduct an independent research or project on a selected topic.
  • Follow ethical guidelines for research.
  • Learning activities
    Individual work or group work. Supervision individually or in groups. Assessment: Submission of thesis and oral examination. A contract on how the development of the master thesis is to be carried out is compulsory.
  • Teaching support
    The student is entitled to supervision, individually or in thematic groups, of up to 40 hours (where censoring and oral defense are contained in these 40 hours).
  • Syllabus
    Teaching materials are developed individually, often in consultation with the supervisor.
  • Prerequisites
    A condition for registering the thesis is that all compulsory courses in the programme curriculum are passed beforehand, the master program in Urban and Regional Planning.
  • Assessment method
    Written assignment and oral defense of the thesis counts 100%.

    Master thesis Karakterregel: Letter grades Master thesis with oral defence Karakterregel: Letter grades
  • Examiner scheme
    The external examiner will participate in the assessment of the thesis and an oral examination.
  • Mandatory activity
    Contract between student and supervisor, submitted within the registration deadline. Oral presentation of the thesis with examiners present.
  • Teaching hours
    Individual work under supervision. It is also possible for students to work together, and for supervision to be organized in thematic groups.
  • Preferential right
    The course is reserved for students who have been admitted to the Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning
  • Admission requirements
    Admission requirements like the Master's program in Urban and Regional Planning. It is assumed that all compulsory subjects in the curriculum are passed.