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2011/2012  KAN-SOCKANENG  Master's Thesis

English Title
Master's Thesis

Course Information

Language English
Point 30 ECTS (900 SAT)
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study Board
Study Board for MSc of Social Science
Course Coordinator
  • PKL:
    Erik Caparros Højbjerg - Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy
  • OIE:
    Ester Barinaga - Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy
  • SEM:
    Lise Lyck - Center for Tourism and Culture Management
  • HRM:
    Per Darmer - Department of Organization
Morten Thanning Vendelø CBP
Main Category of the Course
  • Philosophy and philosophy of science
  • Globalization, International Business, markets and studies
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Marketing
  • Experience economy and service management
  • Organization
  • Political Science
  • Political leadership, public management and international politics
  • Economic and organizational sociology
Last updated on 29 maj 2012
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives of the Master’s thesis process are twofold; first, they relate to the student’s methodological benefits from working with the thesis, and second, they relate to the elements contained in the thesis.

Methodological benefits:

After having completed the Master’s thesis process, the student must be able to:

•handle an iterative process in which processing of knowledge and drafting the problem statement are interrelated;

•draft a problem statement that facilitates control and structure in the student’s work on the thesis and its content;

•argue the wording of the questions that are answered in order to solve the problem;

•explain and evaluate the methods used in answering questions and solving the problem ;

•select and process the theory used in the drafting of the problem statement and questions, analysis and conclusion;

•argue the relevance and validity of the theories used;

•select and process primary and secondary sources used to document analysis and problem solution;

•explain and evaluate the overall relation between: drafting the problem statement, choice and application of theories, collection and processing of empirics, and conclusion;

•explain the overall relation from a theoretical science perspective.

The grade 12 is awarded in cases where the Master’s thesis meets the following requirements to an excellent degree, i.e. with no or only few deficiencies:

  • the thesis is governed by a student-developed problem statement which is relevant to the programme;
  • the thesis is delimited to the effect that its analyses and discussions are relevant, necessary and adequate to answer the problem;
  • the problem statement, delimitation, outline, analysis and conclusion to the effect that the answer is logical in relation to the problem statement;
  • the thesis contains a discussion of and reason for the choice and omissions with respect to subject delimitation, theories, methodology and empirics (if empirics are included);
  • the thesis provides critical reflection on the selected theories, methodology and empirics (if empirics are included) and assesses their applicability in answering the problem statement;
  • the thesis is consistent to the effect that the choice and application of theories and empirics interact and complement the production of knowledge (applies to empirical theses);
  • allegations made in the analysis and conclusion are documented and/or argued;
  • the analysis includes deliberations on the degree to which the results of the thesis resemble and/or deviate from other similar surveys in the field;
  • the analysis focuses on a delimited problem, i.e. provides an in-depth analysis and creates a synthesis on the basis of theories and empirics, where relevant;
  • the thesis discusses the premises of the theories and the impact of those premises on the knowledge that can be created .
  • the thesis contributes to a new perspective, e.g. by applying a known theory on previously unexamined or "only" for theoretical thesis
  • empirics or new (combinations of) theories applied on a known problem.
Prerequisite
The Master thesis must be the last element finalizing the programme. Before handing in the Master's Thesis contract, students may lack a maximum of 15 ECTS from the block of electives.
Examination
Oral exam based on a written thesis
Oral exam based on a written thesis:
Assessment Thesis
Marking Scale 7-step scale
Censorship External examiners
Exam Period Summer Term
Aids Without preparation
Duration 60 Minutes
Examination
The assessment is carried out by the supervisor (if there is more than one supervisor, only the primary supervisor participates) and an external examiner. The grade awarded must reflect an overall assessment of the written thesis (including the abstractof max. 1 page ), the oral defence and the student’s spelling and style - although more emphasis will be placed on the academic content. A Master’s thesis may be written and assessed either individually or in collaboration with another student.

Make-up exam/ Re-exam : In case the student is ill at the oral defense of his or her Master's Thesis a new oral exam will be arranged based on the thesis already handed in.If a student recieves a non-passing grade at the regular exam he og she must hand in a revised version of the thesis, or a thesis based on a new or revised subject, after conferring with the supervisor.
Prerequisites for Attending the Exam
All other elements of the programme must be completed before the thesis is handed in. The Study Board may grant a dispensation from this rule in cases of special circumstances.
Course Content

The thesis block comprises the preparation of a written thesis (the Master’s thesis), which serves as a test of the student’s ability to engage in in-depth study and independently describe, analyse and process a complex issue at Master’s level.The student chooses the subject of the thesis from within the concentration’s overall theme and academic profile. Under special circumstances, the Study Board may approve an exemption from this provision.The topic delimitation of the Master’s thesis must be approved prior to the start of thesis supervision. At the time of approval, a deadline for submission of the thesis is also determined together with a plan for supervision. See detailed information on the MSoc.Sc.'s homepage on e-campus.

While working on the Master’s thesis, the students are entitled to receive a pre-determined amount of guidance from their supervisor. Students who choose to write an individual thesis are entitled to 21 hours of supervision whereas students who write together with another student will be given 32 hours of supervision.

The Master’s thesis must be max. 80 standard pages (one standard page consists of 2275 characters including spaces) if written by one student, and max. 120 standard pages if written by two students.

On the English-medium programme concentrations, the Master’s thesis must be written and submitted in English. Students on the Danish-medium concentrations have the option to write their thesis in English, if they wish.

Teaching Methods
The students have the right to supervision - for more details see the above.