SVF-3904 Master's Thesis in Indigenous Studies - 60 stp

The students are expected to write a master thesis between 25.000 and 30.000 words of length (approximately 60-80 pages). The master's thesis provides the students with experience of collecting and analysing their own material and presenting it in a coherent written and oral form. The thesis will manifest the student's ability to reflect and write independently on indigenous related issues, drawing broadly on the courses and seminars offered in the course of the MIS-programme.

Students are expected to write the thesis during the third and fourth semesters, but the process will begin in the first and second semesters with the development of the project idea.

The master's thesis provides an opportunity for in-depth studies of a chosen field. The topic of the thesis is chosen on the basis of the interests of the student and of issues relevant to indigenous studies.

The collection of data is included in the course and can be carried out through fieldwork, or through the collection of archive materials, secondary data or literature studies. Data collection related to the master thesis is recommended done in the period between May 15th and September 1st.

After the main data collection period, the student shall write a report on the work so far (max. 3500 words, 10-15 pages). The report is expected to give an outline of the setting studied and a discussion of the methodological challenges met and some findings. The deadline for the report is October 1st in the third semester.

Depending on the character of the topic of the thesis, the data collection and the field work, specific concern with ethical issue should be discussed. This pertains particularly to

- reflecting the power relation between the researcher and the respondents

- protecting the confidentiality and savety of respondents

- subject consent

- political issues and positioning.

Students who have successfully completed the course should have achieved the following learning outcomes:Knowledge:

• have advanced knowledge within a chosen field and issues relevant to indigenous studies
• have through knowledge of different scholarly theories and methods in the field of indigenous studies, including the challenge given by indigenous methodology
• can apply knowledge to new areas within the field of indigenous studies
• can analyse academic problems on the basis of the history,traditions, distinctive character and place in society of the academic field
• have knowledge of the basis of research ethics and of the responsibility of the researcher
• have the ability to develop and carry out a research project with a social scientific approach.  

Skills:

• develop relevant and realistic research questions in research in general and on indigenous topics in particular
• give literature review regarding the individual topic
• finding representative data
• collecting and analysing their own material
• can analyse and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments
• can analyse existing and relevant theories from the humanities and social sciences
• can analyse the situatio of indigenous peoples on the basis of the interdisciplinary approach of indigenous studies
• presenting their research in a coherent written and oral form  
• be able to discuss and write about methodological challenges of the individual project
• capable of structuring and writing an academic multidisciplinary thesis
• can find and use relevant research methods to produce the data for a project.

General competences

• be able to assess academic texts presented by others
• capable of presenting critical comments on texts
• capable of reading a big amount of text, combining it with data collected and writing an academic thesis answering relevant research questions
• can analyse academic, professional and research ethical challenges related to indigenous issues
• can apply his/her knowledge of indigenous issues and skills in order to carry out advanced assigments and projects in similar areas
• can communicate extensive independent work and use the terminology of indigenous studies
• can communicate about indigenous issues and research findings both with specialists and the general pubic
• can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes regarding indigenous and minorities.  

Seminars and individual tutoring. Individual supervision is given in accordance with the contract signed between student and supervisor.

The learning outcomes can only be achieved through active student participation, and it is expected that the students are well prepared for each teaching unit and supervision session.

The course is to be continuously evaluated by an appointed reference group as well as in an anonymous online evaluation every second year.

Coursework requirements:

Attendance at 75 % of all seminars and lectures offered in third and fourth semesters are mandatory.

Absence will be considered after application.

During the third semester, a progress report (max. 3500 words, 10-15 pages), an oral presentation in class of the report are madatory. Before the end of the third semester, students are expected to present a chapter of their thesis. In the fourth semester, students are expected to present a written thesis chapter and are given the opportunity to practice how to respond and comment on an academic text presented by others.

The deadline for submitting the work in progress report is October 1st in the third semester.

The thesis must be submitted by May 15th. The oral examination will be held within 6 weeks after submission of the thesis.