Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Objectives 

The objective of this module is to prepare the students for the writing of the master thesis by enabling them to define and delimit a potential topic and problem field within the subject area of the study program. In addition, the aim is to enable the students to identify and collect relevant data and literature within this problem field. 

Contents 

Students are introduced to the requirements for master thesis writing. Students are expected to identify a potential problem area for their thesis, collect relevant literature related to this area of study and outline key perspectives within that field. The problem area and the relevant literature must be outlined in a synopsis. 

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• Key empirical aspects of the selected problem area 

• Central academic debates in relation to the chosen topic/problem area 

• Fundamental components of the master thesis and requirements for the thesis proposal 

Skills

• Can identify a relevant problem area within the field of international relations and argue for the relevance of the chosen problem 

• Ability to find relevant academic literature on the chosen topic  

• Can summarize the major academic debates regarding the selected subject area. 

• Can select relevant theories and methods in relation to the chosen problem area and argue for this choice. 

Competences

• Can delimit a research area and outline a research project 

• Can work independently with academic literature search 

• Can apply and explain academic and PBL principles to create a project design, which can form the basis for the MA thesis. 

Type of instruction

Online seminars and cluster supervision. The students will be expected to identify a problem field within International Relations and work independently with data collection and literature review within the chosen problem area. 

Exam

Exams