Vår 2024

BNS-2040 BA Research Project - 20 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for reiseliv og nordlige studier

Type of course

The course is obligatory for the Bachelor of Northern Studies.

Course contents

The thesis is the final task of the BA Northern Studies degree. The student shall individually undertake a minor research project based on empirical fieldwork or a comprehensive problem or management-oriented literature study geared to a Northern research or development issue. In so doing, the student will use analytical perspectives from the BNS course programme. Students will gain experience in designing, executing and reporting a topic relevant for Northern society and stakeholders.

The practical and ethical aspects of student work will be based on earlier course-work. The student prepares a plan for the BA project, which is presented at the beginning of the semester. The plan should normally include:

Purposes
Use of theory
Types of data
Data collection and sampling
Analysis
Reporting: the thesis.

Individual guidance/mentoring will be given throughout the process of thesis work. The student and mentor will agree on a plan and calendar for such guidance.

Obligatory prerequisites

BNS-1001 Introduction to multidisciplinary studies, BNS-1002 Introduction to the Circumpolar World, BNS-1003 Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World, BNS-1004 Land and Environment of the Circumpolar World, BNS-1005 Contemporary issues of the Circumpolar World I: Economy, BNS-1006 Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World II: Politics, BNS-1040 Project Design and Methods, REI-1501 Entrepreneurship and Innovation, REI-1502 Enterprise Innovation Practice, REI-1503 Project Management

Objective of the course

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge

Provide in-depth knowledge on the subject of the thesis.
Explain how to develop and undertake minor empirical and analytical tasks.

Skills

Reflect on and discuss issues of theory and practice.
Handle written material of some size.
Plan and undertake collection of data, critical analysis of the data, and report the work reflectively.

General competence

Conduct research on a small or medium scale.
Deal analytically with a limited theme.
Undertake examinations of local and regional topics.
Work independently and take advantage of guidance.

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

The thesis topic has to be accepted by the mentor.

Individual guidance according to a plan set up by student and mentor.