M30-IR Master's Thesis
Credits (ECTS):30
Course responsible:Kirsti Stuvøy
Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås
Teaching language:Engelsk
Course frequency:Annually.
Teaching and exam period:Master thesis seminars for International Relations-students are conducted in the spring term.
About this course
Students in the master program in International Relations are required to write a master thesis on a topic within the field of international relations approved by the student's supervisor. Students are assigned a supervisor in the spring one year prior to submission of the thesis (in the second semester of the master program). Students can choose amongst the broad spectrum of social scientific methods and theories that are part of the master program to develop and conduct the thesis. The master thesis is an independent academic work.
The length of the master thesis should be a minimum of 20.000 words and a maximum of 28.000 words.
A key part of the work on the master thesis is the independent collection of relevant academic literature, reports, and other sources. Students may conduct fieldwork, including observation, interviews, etc., but this is not required. If a student conducts fieldwork, it is required that the supervisor approves the research proposal prior to the travel to the field. In cases where fieldwork includes the collection of personal sensitive data, the student registers the project with the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research (sikt.no). You find additional information on the use of personal data in your master thesis on the NMBU website: www.nmbu.no/en/students/use-personal-data-your-degree-thesis
The case of 60 ECTS thesis: The NMBU study regulation provides students with the possibility of writing a 60ECTS thesis. Students wishing to pursue this opportunity must have approval from their supervisor. This option is only feasible for students who perform particularly well in their coursework (average grade B or better). The length of the work distinguishes it from a 30-credit thesis: A 60-credit thesis can be up to 35000 words and the writing process of the 60-credit thesis extends over two semesters. The thesis should reflect a mastering of the status of research in a particular field. Students writing a 60ECTS thesis are entitled to 60 hours of supervision.
Learning outcome
A master thesis is a comprehensive working process. When completed, it provides the student with in-depth knowledge of a specific topic and relevant methods and theories. The student will have independently researched and assessed various sources. The student will have gained experience in planning and implementing a project over a period of more than six months. Throughout this process, the student will have gained specific knowledge, skills and competencies:
- The student will have experience researching for various sources, including academic literature, reports (from governments, NGOs, think tanks, etc.), media publications, etc, and assessed them in the relation to the specified issue within international relations.
- The student will have presented the research topic, including the chosen theoretical approach, methodology, form of data collection, analysis, and reflected on challenges encountered during the process to peers during the thesis seminars for master students in the International Relations program.
- Through supervision, the student will have gained insight into the various steps of a research process, including the writing of a research proposal, deciding on form of data collection and identifying relevant sources, conducting analysis and discussion of relevant ethical concerns of the research process.
- If the student has conducted fieldwork and gathered primary data, practical experience will have been gained in assessing sources and collecting data in the field, in addition to the analysis and presentation of research results based on unique data.
- The student will have gained experience in processing feedback, engaging in discussion with supervisor and peers, and can critically reflect on the results of the research and the working process.
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