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

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen within the humanities, social sciences or the behavioral sciences with a major relevant to the programme. 
  Examples of fields:
  - anthropology
  - education
  - history
  - communication studies
  - media studies
  - language studies
  - psychology
  - social work
  - sociology
  - political sicence
  or equivalent
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B)
  (Exemption from Swedish)
• Passed at least 75 ECTS credits from the master´s program in Child studies (F7MCH), 15 of which must be the master’s thesis in term two

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
• identify, critically review, evaluate, and integrate theoretical and empirical knowledge
• carry out a research study, including to collect and systematically analyse empirical material and evaluate the results.
• apply ethical principles in one’s own study
• report a research study within the time frame provided, using academic language
• defend and argue for one’s own study in an academic manner
• review and evaluate other studies using quality criteria for research
• in an independent manner, develop one’s own study based on others’ comments

Course content

Within the course, an in-depth, cohesive and independent thesis in child studies is planned, carried out, analysed and reported. The focus of the course is on the carrying out and writing of a thesis based on relevant research methods, theory and previous research.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching in this course is carried out online and consists of lectures, seminars and group work. In addition, the student will engage in independent studies.

The written individual assignment is normally written individually, but may be written in pairs.

The time for supervision is limited. The student has the right to supervision during the semester in which the student is registered to take the thesis course. If there are special reasons, and if the supervision time has not been used during the current semester, the course director in consultation with the supervisor can decide to offer tutoring during the next semester. 

Language of instruction and examination: English.

Examination

The examinations consist of:

• individual oral defense, grading scale: Fail/Pass
• individual oral opposition, grading scale: Fail/Pass
• active participation in seminar, grading scale: Fail/Pass
• written individual assignment, grading scale: EC

A passing grade (E) in the course requires grade E in the written individual assignment as well as a passing grade in the other examinations in the course. Higher grades are based on the written individual assignment.

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

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.

Department