Master’s Thesis in Ethics, Science, and Policy, 30 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Ethics, Science, and Policy

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6).
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the students should on an advanced level be able to:

• critically analyse subfields within applied ethics, philosophy of science, and policy
• independently identify and formulate research questions relevant to policy work
• systematically and critically describe and integrate theoretical and empirical knowledge, and choose appropriate epistemological and normative perspectives
• plan, conduct, and present qualified independent work within given time and resource constraints
• describe research problems, orally and in writing, related to these areas and conduct argumentation from a scientific perspective
• critically review scientific research studies

Course content

The course covers scientific and philosophical theories and scientific methods relevant to the field. Theories and methods are elaborated, applied, and discussed in connection with an independent work within the philosophy of policymaking. Issues in applied ethics, philosophy of science, and the development of policy proposals are addressed in the course. The course includes formulating a research question, conducting a normative study, and presenting the results in writing. The focus is on relevant previous research, normative and epistemological perspectives, theory and method selection, and written presentation. The course also includes an oral defense of one's own work and the review of another independent work.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching consists of supervision and seminars. In addition, the student is expected to engage in self-study.

Supervision time is limited. The student is entitled to supervision during the term in which they are registered and writing their master's thesis. If there are special reasons, and if the supervision resources have not been exhausted during the current term, the course coordinator, in consultation with the supervisor, may decide to offer supervision during the following term.

Language of instruction and examination: English

Examination

The course is examined through:

• active participation in seminars, grading scale: UG
• individual written independent work, grading scale: EC

To get Pass (E) as the final grade, at least an E is required on the individual written work and a Pass on active participation in seminars. Higher grades are based on the individual written work.

Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

• If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly, or as a whole, in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
• If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
• If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Department