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M30-ØA Master's Thesis

Credits (ECTS):30

Course responsible:Marie Gotteberg Steen

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:M0-ØA and M30-ØA are combined 750 hours.

Teaching and exam period:Autumn parallel or Spring parallel

About this course

The master thesis is an independent and scientific research project, a masterpiece meant to show maturity, reflection and analytical skills within the subjects of business administration, and your chosen profile.

The course comprises seminars under supervision in groups, you own independent work with the thesis, and feedback and discussions with you supervisor. The thesis should be a report at a high level within your thematic profile.

Learning outcome

When the master's thesis has been passed, you must have the following knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

  • You shall have knowledge of the research process and dissemination
  • You shall have knowledge of planning, organization, implementation and reporting of research work.
  • You shall have specialized knowledge of the scientific basis and methods for conducting research and assessment within your specialization.

Skills

  • You shall be able to use social science approaches and methods to collect, process, analyze and interpret information.
  • You shall be able to critically evaluate your own and others' use of methods, assessments and presentations.
  • You shall be able to write a systematic and coherent subject text.
  • You shall be able to carry out independent investigations and analyzes of issues within your area of ​​specialization, in line with current ethical norms.

General competence

  • You shall have experience in the use of methods and written presentation, which can be useful in connection with evaluation and development work in working life.
  • You shall be able to identify and analyze subject and research ethics issues within the business administration subject area.
  • You shall be able to convey a larger independent assessment work to the public.
  • You shall be able to actively participate in, develop and carry out advanced projects and work tasks in a company.
  • You shall be able to critically evaluate other people's work, so that your competence benefits working life.

  • M30-ØA is a research work under supervision.

    The master's thesis should be written by two students in collaboration. The efforts should be equally shared between the students. In exceptional cases, a student will be allowed to write alone. In order to write alone the course responsible must approve.

    Attendance at and participation in agreed supervision is required .

  • Everyone should have regular meetings with the assigned supervisor. Up to 40 hours per master's thesis are set aside for supervision. This includes joint meetings, supervision meetings with discussions and comments, reading and grading.

    In order to get started with the planning of the Master's Thesis, there will be a start-up seminar in the second semester to start the process with the master's thesis. It is important to start early to find a writing partner, a topic for the thesis, and possibly a company to work with. In the third semester, the course M0-ØA Planning the Master's Thesis will lead to a project description and provide a good basis for writing a master's thesis in line with research ethics norms.

  • It is expected that students have completed M0-ØA Planning the Master's Thesis, and around 90 ECTS before the writing of the master thesis begins.
  • Many students can benefit from a course in academic writing, such as AOS345 Effective Written Communication or LNG250 Academic Writing.
  • The master's thesis is evaluated and graded on a scale from A-F. Evaluation of the master thesis has two elements: First and foremost the grade is based on the written thesis which is evaluated by the advisor and an external examiner. In addition, there is an oral defense of the thesis. This includes the student preparing a presentation of the written work, followed by an individual discussion with the external examiner and advisor. The performance during the oral defense can result in a minor adjustment of the final grade for the thesis.

  • The degree thesis shall be graded by at least one external examiner and one internal examiner. The main supervisor is usually the internal examiner.
  • We will at all time refer to the current regulations of NMBU, and remind the students that it is their responsibility to learn and deliver on all mandatory guidelines. Such as contracts, registration, deliveries and eventual applications for delayed delivery (requires documentation). Follow the information at the homepage of Student information Centre (SiT) and contact the supervisors for questions.

  • Master students at NMBU's master program in Business Administration.

    Passed M0-ØA Planning the Master's Thesis.