Master’s Thesis in Ageing and Social Change (two year), 30 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Ageing and Social Change

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
• At least 5 ECTS credits passed in Quantitative Methods or Statistics
• At least 5 ECTS credits passed in Social Sciences
• 75 ECTS credits passed from the Master's programme in Ageing and Social Change with at least 22,5 ECTS credits from: Ageing and Social Change as Interdisciplinary Social Science (7,5 ECTS credits), Researching the Ageing Society I - Methods in Ageing and Social Change (7,5 ECTS credits) and Policies and Policy Consulting in the Ageing Society (7,5 ECTS credits)
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

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

• demonstrate and integrate contemporary in-depth knowledge and understanding on a topic of choice in Ageing and social change 
• independently identify and formulate a well-argued research question relevant to the field of Ageing and social change 
• systematically and critically describe and integrate relevant theoretical and empirical knowledge 
• design and implement a research plan in order to answer the research question within a given time frame using adequate research methods 
• conduct research, including the collection and analysis of material, as well as evaluating one’s own results orally and in writing, using scientific terminology, independently report the research study within a feasible time frame 
• apply, describe, and discuss ethical principles for one’s own research project 
• describe and argue in defence of the study in an academic manner both orally and in writing 
• in an academic manner, describe, argue for, and critically discuss others’ research studies 

Course content

During the course an independently written thesis is planned and carried out, in depth dealing with an independently formulated problem in Ageing and Social Change. The focus of the course is on the implementation and composition of a master thesis which includes relevant previous research, an epistemological perspective, and methodological and theoretical justification. Both the process and the result – the thesis – should be characterized by a high degree of insight into theory, epistemologies, and method. 

Teaching and working methods

Teaching methods are through independent individual study and active participation in online and on campus seminars. In the course a mandatory on campus period is included. Individual online tutoring is an integrated part of the course. In addition, the student should conduct self-study.  

The thesis will be presented and defended at a seminar where critical review of others’ thesis occurs. 

Supervision time is limited. The student is entitled to supervision time during the semester in which the student is registered and completes the master’s thesis. If there are special reasons, and if the supervision resource has not been consumed during the current semester, the course coordinator may, in consultation with the supervisor, decide to offer supervision during the next semester. 

The language of instruction and examination is English.  

Examination

Students admitted to the online programme are examined online, students admitted to on campus programme are examined on campus. In addition, there are on campus weeks, where all the students are examined on campus, see note CAMPUS. 

• Active participation in seminars, grading scale: pass/fail 
• Active participation in seminars, CAMPUS, grading scale: pass/fail 
• Active participation in a final seminar, CAMPUS, grading scale: pass/fail 
• Oral opposition in group, grading scale, CAMPUS: pass/fail 
• Writing, presentation and defence of an independently written thesis, grading scale: ECTS 

For a passed final grade (E), a pass is required on all examinations and an E on the individual written thesis. Higher grades are based on the individual written thesis.  

Detailed information about the examination 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.

Department