Vår 2018

SVF-3023 Project seminar - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Fakultet for humaniora, samfunnsvitenskap og lærerutdanning

Type of course

The course is compulsory for students of the Master's degree programme in Peace and Conflict Transformation (MPCT).

Course overlap

SVF-3023 Specialisation with methodology 10 stp

Course contents

The course offers a practical guide and a coherent framework for students to engage with the research process throughout their studies. It addresses the key components of a research design; how to write a persuasive and realistic proposal, as well as reflect upon the ethical and security issues in diverse field settings. It helps students to build the confidence and independence required during the phases of the project design and thesis writing. It also fosters a clear grasp of the theoretical, methodological and practical issues underlying research projects in peace and conflict studies.

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: June 1st for the autumn semester and December 1st for the spring semester. Applicants from outside the Nordic countries: October 1st for the spring semester and April 15th for the autumn semester.

Admission requirements

The course is restricted to students of the Master's degree programme in Peace and Conflict Transformation (MPCT).

Objective of the course

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

Knowledge:

Have an understanding of the principles and practice of social research
Have an understanding of the philosophical debates underlying research methods and practices in social research, including peace and conflict studies

Analytical understanding:

Have the ability to design and carry out a self-selected research project in peace and conflict studies
Have the ability to sort out the practicalities involved in planning research on sensitive issues and doing fieldwork overseas
Have the ability to write a master's project proposal that uses relevant methodological and theoretical frameworks

Skills and competences:

Capable of applying basic research tools to the design of a master's project that involves the use of diverse data sources
Capable of managing the ethical and security issues associated with fieldwork
Develop the confidence to present a sample of one's work at seminars and other academic gatherings
Capable of reading a text critically and giving comments
Recognise the opportunities for feedback from fellow students and a thesis supervisor
Capable of taking responsibility for one's own learning by working independently towards the realisation of the course objectives.

Language of instruction

All lectures, seminar discussions, readings, assignments and the final exam shall be in English.

Teaching methods

A mix of lectures and seminars according to a detailed plan, including 6 hours in semester 2 and 20 hours in semester 3.

The learning outcomes can only be achieved through active student participation. Students are thus expected to read and prepare before every lecture and/or seminar session.

Towards the end of semester one (autumn), there will be information meetings and individual tutorials on the academic and practical requirements of the course. These sessions will focus on how to sort out research topics and ideas, and then write a project proposal, which is a compulsory requirement in semester two.

In semester two (spring), there will be compulsory lectures to create a common platform for project related discussions and work. These lecture themes will involve (i) principles of social research, (ii) how to write a research proposal, and (iii) research ethics and security. There will also be seminars and individual tutorials to help students clarify and organize their project ideas.

In semester three (autumn), students will present aspects of their research paper at Project Seminar sessions. These seminars will give students an opportunity to jointly explore issues, discuss challenges associated with the research process and share ideas on each other's research paper.

The course will be evaluated at the SSL forum in the autumn semester, as well as in an anonymous online evaluation every other autumn semester.

Assessment

Semester two: The student shall submit a project proposal of max 4000 words (approx. 10 pages) by 15th of May for approval. The project proposal must be approved before the student leaves for data collection.

The project proposal will be evaluated on the basis of approved/not-approved by an internal committee at the CPS in coordination with the assigned thesis supervisor.

If the project proposal is not-approved, the student must work further on it and re-submit within two weeks.

Semester three: The student shall submit a research paper of about 4000 words (approx. 10 pages) after the Project Seminar sessions. The student will select the research papers topic or focus in consultation with his/her supervisor.

The research paper must address theoretical or methodological issues that will later form the basis of a chapter in the student's thesis. That is, the research paper should be planned as an independent work for assessment, and then adapted to fit into the overall scope and structure of the student's master's thesis. A project proposal can neither be submitted as a research paper nor presented at the Project Seminar sessions. The research paper will be graded Pass / Fail.

A minimum of 75% seminar attendance is a prerequisite for submitting the research paper in semester three. Penalties apply for failure to meet the 75 % attendance requirement.

The course is open for re-sit exam in the following semester.