Thesis in Outdoor Education, 15 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Outdoor and Sustainability Education

Entry requirements

Intended learning outcomes

After completing the thesis, the student shall have acquired knowledge and skills in the following areas

Knowledge and understanding
- reveal understanding and knowledge of the field of outdoor and sustainability education, providing an overview as well as deepened insight into a specific area of the field,
¬- show methodological knowledge relevant for the discipline of educational sciences

Skills and competencies
- show competence to independently identify and formulate research questions, plan, and with adequate methods conduct qualified tasks in a given time frame,
- be able to integrate knowledge, and analyze, assess and handle complex situations and inquiries, 
- be able to orally and in written form, describe and discuss conclusions and the knowledge they build upon

Ability to evaluate 
- show ability to within the discipline make judgments in accordance to relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects and show awareness of ethical aspects on research 

Course content

During the thesis course the student will write an individual thesis. The topic is selected by the student and should have relevance for the research and practice field of outdoor and sustainability education. Aim and research questions are developed by the student but discussed with the supervisor. The methodology course provides general background knowledge in research methods but each student needs to deepen his or her methodological knowledge during the work with the thesis. The supervisor gives advice and discusses the chosen methodology with the student.

Teaching and working methods

The student work individually with writing the thesis. The supervisor offers 15 hours of help with writing a thesis. The help from the supervisor can be a combination of meetings to discuss the thesis, sending texts to the supervisor for comment and for the supervisor to answer questions about the thesis.

Examination

The thesis is examined and graded by an examiner who is not the supervisor. Examination involves to defend one’s own thesis (i.e. being a respondent) at the examination seminar. It also involves to be the opponent on another students’ thesis. During the seminar the opponent critically comment on and discuss the other student’s thesis.  The respondent answer questions and argue for his or her choices and stand points. After the seminar the examiner give his or her response, and when required improvements are made by the student, the thesis is graded. 

Applies to all courses regardless of grading scale.

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

If the course has a three-graded grading scale (U - VG), following applies:

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

The following applies to courses that include a compulsory component:

• 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.

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 or in large parts, is taught in Swedish. Please note that although teaching language is Swedish, parts of the course could be given in English. Examination language is Swedish.
• 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).
• If teaching language is English, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.

Department