Course syllabus spring 2018
Course syllabus spring 2018
Title
Urban Studies: Master's (Two-Year) Thesis
Swedish title
Urbana studier: Examensarbete
Course code
US660E
Credits
30 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2014-09-24
Syllabus valid from
2017-01-16
Entry requirements
At least 60 credits at the second-cycle level within the main field of study Urban Studies.
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Urban Studies
Progression level
A2E
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course forms part of the main field of Urban Studies at the second-cycle level.
Course objectives
The purpose of the course is that students should develop expertise in an area of their choosing and develop their ability to conduct and present an academic study within the main field of Urban Studies. A further of the course is that students should develop and deepen their ability to critically examine and evaluate qualified research work. In their studies students have to demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge.
Course contents
The course consists of independent work with a Master’s thesis under qualified supervision.
The course consists of several mutually supportive elements:
- Elaborative work with scientific methods
- Independent study and written work
- Group supervision where students critically discuss each other’s ongoing work
- Presentation and defence of independent work
- Critical discussion of other student’s independent work
Learning outcomes
Following successful completion of the course students should demonstrate
- a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as a deepened insight into current research and development work
- specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of Urban Studies
- such skills as are required to participate in research and development work or employment in some other qualified capacity within the Urban Studies field
- a further developed ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues within the main area of Urban Studies.
- the ability to choose and apply relevant methods in an interdisciplinary field
- a further developed ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
- a further developed ability to plan and implement and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and thus contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
- the ability to clearly report and discuss in speech and writing their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences within the framework of both national and international contexts
- the ability to critically discuss other persons’ academic work
- a further developed ability to make assessments in the main field of Urban Studies informed by relevant disciplinary, societal and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
- the ability to critically discuss the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used
- the ability to reflect upon a need for further knowledge and take responsibility for one's own learning
Learning activities
Learning activities include literature studies, thesis writing and the assembling of research material, group supervision and opposition seminars.
Assessment
- Completing a research project within Urban Studies in the form of a written Master’s project as well as its oral and written presentation (20 credits, grading scale (A-E, U)
- Criticism of another student’s equivalent work (5 credits, grading scale UG)
- Active participation in group supervision, including active participation in seminars (5 credits, grading scale UG)
All intended learning outcomes (1-12) are assessed by completing research work and active participation in supervision, seminars and criticism/reviewing.
Course literature and other study material
Students are expected to independently identify, evaluate and use literature relevant to the chosen topic.
Course evaluation
The University provides students participating in or upon completion of a course with the opportunity to relay their experiences of and opinions on the course through a course evaluation which is administered by the University. The University compiles and summarises the course evaluations and informs students of the results and any decisions relating to measures made on the basis of the course evaluations. Results are made available to students (HF 1:14)
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students shall be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes