Courses: ENG350 English - Master's Thesis - Autumn 2017
Credits
60.0ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Master
Language of Instruction
English
Teaching semester
Place of Instruction
Objectives and Content
The master¿s thesis is a scientific work in the discipline of the student¿s specialisation, and may be written on the basis of one of the Selected topics.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Master degree:
Knowledge
The candidate
- will have further developed the knowledge s/he has gained previously via specialised courses in English linguistics and/or English literature or/and culture.
- Will have gained broad knowledge of the field in general and detailed knowledge of a limited subfield.
- Will have gained basic knowledge of central problems and methodologies in the selected discipline.
Skills
The candidate
- is able to work independently and in the long term on solving problems based on his/her knowledge of the discipline.
- is able to engage with and critically assess theories, methods and interpretations within the discipline.
- is capable of acquiring and applying knowledge of new subfields within the discipline.
- is capable of carrying out a limited supervised research project in accordance with the relevant research-ethical norms.
- is familiar with the norms of academic writing.
- is capable of using the ICT tools which are necessary in order to carry out independent work within the discipline.
General competence
The candidate
- is capable of continuing to develop his/her competence and specialisation in an independent manner.
- can express problems, analyses and conclusions within the student¿s selected discipline in English.
- is familiar with relevant communicative genres.
- can contribute to discourse in the public arena in areas relevant to the discipline.
Required Previous Knowledge
Bachelor degree with specialization in English, or the equivalent.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Before starting work on the master¿s thesis, it is recommended that the student has achieved 60 credits in Selected topics in English linguistics or English literature/culture.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
The course is open to students enrolled in the Master programme in English and the master's programme in Foreign Language Teacher Education at the University of Bergen.
Teaching Methods and Extent of Organized Teaching
The master thesis is usually written during the third and fourth semesters of the Master degree.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Students are required to attend supervision during work on the master¿s thesis. A contract detailing rights and duties is to be signed by the student, the supervisor and the Head of the Department.
It is recommended that students select a topic for the master¿s thesis as early as possible in the second semester. The master¿s thesis is usually written during the third and fourth semesters.
Students are obliged to give three presentations ¿ subject to approval by the Department ¿ at one of the Department¿s Work-in-Progress seminars for Master students. Students must present:
- a project outline with a short bibliography,
- a chapter of the master¿s thesis in draft form,
- a response to another student¿s chapter draft.
The first presentation, a project outline, is to be given in the course of the second semester at a time determined by the leader of the Work-in-Progress seminar. The second and third presentations are to be given in the third or fourth semester. It is expected that students attend and participate actively in Work-in-Progress seminar sessions, both by giving presentations of their own work and by participating in discussions of the work of others. It is especially important that students participate in the Work-in-Progress seminar during the two semesters in which they work on their own master¿s theses.
Forms of Assessment
Selected topics must be passed before examination. Likewise, all obligatory requirements must be met before examination.
The final examination for the Master degree (i.e. submission of the master¿s thesis and subsequent oral examination) can be carried out at the beginning and end of each semester. Deadlines for submission of the master¿s thesis is 1 February and 15 May in the spring semester, and 1 September and 20 November in the autumn semester.
The master's thesis is to be written in English, and should comprise 70- 110 pages (the total word count of the thesis must be between 25 900 and 40 700 words.).
The subject for discussion at the oral examination is the student's master's thesis. Following oral examination, the final grade for the master's thesis may be adjusted up or down by one on the grading scale.
Examination Support Material
Grading Scale
The Department uses a grading scale ranging from A to F. F is a failing grade.
Assessment Semester
Examination in ENG350 is offered in the spring and autumn semesters.
Reading List
Course Evaluation
The course will be evaluated in accordance with the quality assurance system of the University of Bergen.
Programme Committee
The Program Board is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study program, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.
Course Coordinator
Course Administrator
The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.
Contact Information