Master’s Thesis in Child Studies (two year), 15 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Child Studies

Entry requirements

A bachelor’s degree in the humanities, social sciences or the behavioural sciences with a major (or its equivalent) in a field relevant to the programme, e.g. anthropology, communication studies, education, history, language studies, media studies, political science, psychology, social work and sociology.

Successfully completed at least 75 ECTS credits on the master´s program in Child studies (F7MCH), 15 of which must be the master’s thesis in semester two.

English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B).

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should on an advanced level be able to:

•  independently identify and formulate a well-argued research problem relevant to Child Studies;
• systematically and critically describe and integrate relevant theoretical and empirical knowledge;
• collect and systematically analyze empirical material and evaluate results;
• in an independent manner, using scientific terminology, conduct the research study within a feasible time frame; 
• use and discuss ethical principles for one’s own study;
• describe, argue for and critically discuss relevant aspects of a research study (epistemological perspectives, research design and conclusions) in an academic manner
• account for a research study both orally and in writing.

Course content

The student will write a thesis dealing in depth with a problem in Child Studies, and will conduct supervised research leading to the completion of a thesis. The choice of subject, methods, epistemology and literature will be discussed in dialogue with the student’s supervisor. The thesis is to be presented and defended at a seminar. Both the process and the result – the thesis – should be characterized by a high degree of insight into theory, epistemologies, and method. Students will also learn to act as critical discussants (peer reviewers) in relation to each other’s projects. 

Teaching and working methods

Independent individual study and active participation in seminars, both online and on campus, are the teaching methods used. Individual online tutoring is an integrated part of the course. In addition to the scheduled time, the student is expected to engage in self-study.

The student must have access to e-mail and Internet. The course is presented in various multi-media formats. In order to guarantee a positive learning situation online, and, in order for the student to be able to actively participate in the course and communicate with fellow students and the teacher, it is therefore important that the student have access to the correct hard- and software. Information concerning the specifications of the equipment necessary for the course can be found in the study guide.

Supervision time is limited.

English is the language of instruction.

Examination

The independent individual study will be presented and defended at a seminar on campus. The student is also required to act as discussant for another student’s work and actively participate in at least one additional seminar at which papers are presented. More detailed information on the examination can be found in the study guide.

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 instead 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.

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 carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department