Master’s Thesis in Outdoor and Sustainability Education, 30 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• International master's programme in Outdoor and sustainability education

Entry requirements

• A Teacher or Pre-school Teacher Degree of at least 180 ECTS credits 
  or 
  Bachelor's Degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, with a major in one of the following subjects Education, Pedagogy, Pedagogical work, Biology,  Ecology, Geography or Sustainable development 
  or
  Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, and additional clearly documented work experience of at least one year, full time, in outdoor or sustainability education or the equivalent.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6 eller Engelska nivå 2).
• 60 credits completed at the Master's Programme in Outdoor and Sustainability Education.
• Exemption from Swedish.

Intended learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to

• independently, critically and creatively formulate a scientific problem, a purpose and research questions relevant to the subject area
• densely describe and compare what international research has concluded with relevance to the research problem
• describe and compare some relevant theories used in previous research
• account for and use theoretical perspectives appropriate for the purpose
• accurately describe and argue for the chosen research method
• account for and reflect on the steps the implementation of the research process
• consider and apply research ethics principles in relation to their own study carefully and in a nuanced manner
• discuss and problematize the results of the inquiry and knowledge contributions in relation to previous research
• critically review and discuss the study regarding its quality
• write a scientific text of high linguistic quality
• clearly defend their scientific work
• critically review and constructively discuss a scientific work
• complete the scientific work within established time constraints.

Course content

The content of the course consists of knowledge deepening and knowledge production within the chosen subject area for the thesis work. Courses include qualified knowledge of positions in theory of science and perspectives in outdoor education research. The chosen topic of the thesis must be relevant in relation to the degree subject, where and the concept of relevance is given a broad interpretation. The course includes independently planning, carrying out and presenting a longer scientific work where all the necessary parts are included and form a consistent whole. The scientific writing process as well as critical review and analysis of scientific texts are studied and practiced. The course includes reading, critically reviewing and constructively discussing other students' work.

Teaching and working methods

The thesis work involves individually carrying out and presenting a research project. Supervision takes place individually and/or in groups. Lectures and seminars occur. The project ends with a presentation where the essay is critically reviewed together with the opponent and examiner.

Examination

The master's thesis shall be presented at a seminar that includes an opponent. In addition, the student is required to serve as an opponent for another thesis and to take an active part in further thesis seminars.

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

Department