1. Bachelor’s degree with a major in social- or behavioural science or medicine.

2. English B.

3. Passing grades in semester 1 and 2 of the Criminology Master's Programme or equivalent (transferable credits)

The aim of the course is for the student to acquire advanced knowledge about the field of criminology, research methodology and research ethics.

The course addresses the knowledge and the skills necessary for the student to be able to conduct and defend a degree project of high quality, which entails methodological, scientific and research ethical issues.

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to

1. conduct and document a degree project relevant to the study of criminology,

2. identify criminological research questions,

3. analyze scientific models, theories and methods,

4. apply principals of research ethics and regulations for an ethical review of an academic paper,

5. publicly defend the degree project, and

6. review other student degree projects as an opponent.

The teaching takes the form of lectures, seminars and supervision, individually as well as in groups. At every meeting the student will present their material for review and discussion. At the final examination the student will defend the paper and serve as opponent on another students’ paper.

Student performance is assessed through activities in seminars, lectures, oral presentations and through the degree project. The attainment of the course goals are assessed based on the following assignments:

-active participation in discussions of different scientific approaches, research ethics and research methodological considerations at seminars and group tutorial sessions,

- explanations of and active participation in discussions regarding different theories, research ethical issues and research methodological considerations at seminars,

- present individually written material that are discussed and assessed at each seminar, and

- as an opponent on a fellow student’s paper.

A student who fails to achieve a passing grade in the course examination will be given the opportunity to be re-examined twice according to same course content and with the same requirements. In addition, students also have the right to be examined on the same course the next time the course is offered according to the same regulations. If the course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student has a right to re-examination on two occasions within one year, based on the syllabus that was in place at the time the student registered for the course. Examination and re-examination take place at the times specified in the course guide.

Lag (2003:460) om etikprövning av forskning som avser människor. Key issues from current literature will be discussed in class.

Additional articles from scientific journals will also be included.

The course coordinator/examiner is responsible for ensuring that a summary course evaluation is conducted at the end of the course. The coordinator will relay these results to the students at a prearranged time. Memory notes from the feedback , including proposals for changes to the course, will be documented and made available on the course website, and will also be relayed to the students who begin the course the next time it is given.