Course content

The course comprises work with the master's thesis in science education. The course has no regular teaching.

The master's thesis is an independent, academic research project which students complete as the final part of a master's degree. The work is supervised by an academic supervisor, and must be original, explicitly articulated and founded in the research field of science education. The thesis' topic and research question is chosen by the student, but in agreement with the supervisor.

The student's work with the thesis corresponds to 1,5 semesters full-time effort.

All students are entitled to write an independent thesis. In specific cases, it can be practical to write the thesis as a joint effort between two students. This must, however, be decided in agreement with supervisor and academic coordinator, and should be justified in the thesis' project description.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate

• has advanced, specialised knowledge within an area of science education or the didactics of one of the disciplines of science
• has thorough knowledge about what is required from an academic text in science education

• has knowledge about reference standards for academic texts

Skills

The candidate

• can, under guidance, design and carry out a research project according to current research ethical norms

• can use relevant methods for research in science education in an independent way
• can find one's way in and be critical of different sources of information
• can refer to information sources according to recognized standards
• can understand literature relevant for conducting research within a specific area of science education

General competence

The candidate

• can communicate a large independent research project using the subjects forms of expression
• can contribute to developing science as a subject in school

Learning methods and activities

Seminars, individual work and supervision.

Supervision is obligatory and is carried out in agreement with the appointed academic supervisor.

Participation in seminars is obligatory.

In cases of co-writing of the thesis, students must in advance sign a written agreement about the nature of their cooperation (see a specific form). The two parts in the agreement are the two students and the supervisor. A process document describing the cooperative process must be attached to the MA-thesis, and must include an overview of how the responsibility and work has been distributed between the two students. The process document constitutes one part of the basis of assessment of the thesis.

Compulsory assignments

• Oral presentation of the master thesis
• Supervision
• Participation on seminar

Further on evaluation

The MA-thesis is a written work assessed individually by an A-F assessment scale, where the grades A-E are passed grades and F is a fail grade.

The MA-thesis is assessed both by an internal and an external examiner.

In a co-written MA-thesis, the process document constitutes a part of the basis of the assessment. In principle, there is a joint assessment of the written work for both students, but the grade is individual and students therefore have individual rights to submit a claim.

The scope of the thesis should be between 25,000 and 35,000 words. When co-writing the scope should be between 35,000 and 45,000 words. The front page, preface, summary, table of contents, bibliography, tables and appendices are in addition to the word counts noted.

All courses in the study programme must be approved before the MA-thesis can be submitted for assessment.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

It is recommended that all courses from the first year of the study programme Master in education, specialization in science education, have been passed before the student starts working on the MA-thesis.

Required previous knowledge

The course requires admission to the study programme MA in education, specialization in science education.

Course materials

Individual curriculum.

Credit reductions