Philosophy - Master's Thesis
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 60
- Teaching semesters Autumn, Spring
- Course code
- FILO350
- Number of semesters
- 2
- Teaching language
- Norwegian or English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
After completing the thesis, the candidate should have:
- Knowledge and understanding of the central scholarship relating to their chosen topic;
- Familiarity with the broader scholarship relevant to their chosen topic;
- Understanding of how their chosen topic fits into philosophical scholarship more generally, and how it relates to other fields;
- Understanding of research methods and methodologies appropriate to philosophical inquiry.
Skills
After completing the thesis, the candidate should be able to:
- Choose a suitable research question with an appropriate scope, formulate it clearly, and explain why it is interesting or important to answer;
- Find relevant literature and identify the sources that are most important in answering a chosen research question;
- Reconstruct, analyse, and evaluate relevant ideas, arguments, theories, etc. found in these sources;
- Develop and articulate original positions and provide arguments in support of them;
- Defend theses against challenges or objections ;
- Recognize theoretical or practical implications of the position(s) they defend, identify and articulate limitations of their research, and identify further questions that arise from their research;
- Articulate the aim(s) of a research project, identify and apply appropriate methods or methodologies, and explain how the research projects contributes to existing scholarship related to their chosen topic;
- Communicate both in writing and orally in accordance with scholarly conventions in philosophy.
General Competences
After completing the thesis, the candidate should be competent to:
- Plan and carry out a substantial research project in philosophy (with guidance);
- Make an original contribution to scholarship in philosophy;
- Communicate research findings to a scholarly audience, both in writing and orally.
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Place of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
Work on the master's thesis equals 2 semesters and is normally taken in the last two semesters of the study program
It is a prerequisite that the student at regular intervals discusses the Master's thesis with their academic supervisor
See master contract for the master's program for the number of tutoring hours and other rights and obligations which are attached to the study
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
An approval of compulsory requirements is valid for three semesters, including the semester in which the approval is given.
Student and supervisor enter both sign a binding supervision contract in which rights and duties are clarified.
Forms of Assessment
The thesis must be between 70 and 110 pages (25000-40000 words). See supplementary regulations for the Faculty of Humanities. Master thesis shall be delivered digitaly.
The student shall have an oral exam, after which the grade for the Master's thesis can at most be raised or lowered by one letter grade. Both parts of the exam must receive a passing grade in order to get a passing grade in the course.
Exams in the course are held every semester.
The compulsory activities have to be formally approved before one can take an exam in the course.