Høst 2024

SOA-3902 Dissertation - 30 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for samfunnsvitenskap

Type of course

The course is restricted to programme students in the Erasmus Mundus Human Rights Policy and Practice (EMHRPP) Masters Programme. The subject is normally taken in the student’s fourth semester. The exam consists of a thesis that submitted in the Spring semester.

In order to proceed to the dissertation level, the student must have passed at least two thirds of the preceding modules (60 ECTS) in the Human Rights Policy and Practice Master Programme, and the courses passed must include the methods course (15 ECTS, second semester).

Course contents

The dissertation module provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate an innovative approach to the problems of human rights and social justice practices and, in appropriate cases, to formulate policy recommendations. The thesis will be the culmination of the students’ participation in this program and as such should demonstrate a clear understanding of human rights practice, policy, culture and context. The rationale for the dissertation derives from the underpinning for the EMHRPP master’s programme as a whole, which encourages students to draw upon prior personal and/or work experiences in relation to human rights policy and practice, as well as the work placement during the third semester of the programme. The master’s dissertation can be an empirical study or a theoretical work, and offers the opportunity to produce work of originality and to contribute to knowledge and understanding in the field of human rights. It should also extend the student’s own knowledge through critical academic study and reflection.

Objective of the course

Students who have successfully completed the course should have the following learning outcome and competently and professionally be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

independently contribute to the development of knowledge in the field of human rights

Competence and skills

independently, critically and creatively identify and formulate scientific problems and issues
employ appropriate scientific methods, as well as theoretical and methodological awareness, identify and collect research material and critically and systematically compile the collected material
creatively and independently select and use appropriate analytical tools according to the research material that is analyzed
analyze, discuss and critically reflect on the research process as a whole and its advantages and disadvantages
present and discuss the results in a comprehensible way, in both speech and writing, in dialogue with different groups in national and international contexts

Judgement and approach

in an analytical, systematic and instructive way critically assess other studies using the above mentioned skills and knowledge
reflect on the implications of the results in terms of further investigations in the field and/or their policy relevance
identify and critically reflect on the ethical aspects of research and development and analyze different studies based on these aspects.

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

Individual supervision and compulsory seminars.