Course - Bachelor's Thesis BWU - IDG3920
Bachelor's Thesis BWU
About
About the course
Course content
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the competence to develop and carry out an extended, independent, written, and academic project.
The course formally begins in the autumn semester, when students form groups (2-4 students) and select a project within their own discipline.
It is the students’ responsibility to find an external client and to identify and define a relevant project in collaboration with this client. In some cases, the department may suggest a project, but all projects must have an external client.
Students who are studying abroad during the fifth semester are encouraged to establish their bachelor project group before departure and should maintain close communication with group members during the preliminary project phase.
Students are encouraged to form interdisciplinary groups or projects. Any potential challenges or opportunities related to forming an interdisciplinary group with students from another department must be discussed with the course coordinator.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Upon completion of the course, the students have:
- acquired new knowledge within a self-chosen area of their discipline, and a comprehensive understanding of methodological work, including the ability to reflect and make systematic and scientific assessments
- knowledge of how to plan and carry out an independent project, formulate research questions, and analyse these on the basis of both theoretical and empirical material, applying appropriate methodological approaches
- knowledge of how sustainability, societal relevance, and creativity/innovation constitute central perspectives in academic development and practice, and can reflect on how their own work can contribute to and be assessed in light of these perspectives
Skills
Upon completion of the course, the students are able to:
- develop and communicate a clear and relevant research question within their field
- identify, evaluate, and apply relevant literature, theory, and scientific methods as a foundation for their work
- define, develop, and explore research questions in depth, and propose concrete solutions
- plan, document, and report a large-scale project in a systematic and scientific manner, in collaboration with others
- communicate the project’s process and results through written and oral presentations
General competence
Upon completion of the course, the students can:
- plan, carry out, and document a long-term project in collaboration with others, with academic quality, responsibility, and initiative, in accordance with relevant methods and ethical guidelines
- critically reflect on the project’s process and results, and assess its relevance and impact for clients, users, and society in a sustainable and ethical perspective
Learning methods and activities
- SupervisionLectures
- Seminars
Mandatory activities:
- Establish a bachelor project group, find an external client, sign a contract with the client, project outline, and supervisor pitch
- Formal project description with working title, project plan, and submission of the signed client contract
- Midterm seminar
All mandatory coursework must be approved in order for the students to submit their bachelor thesis.
Compulsory assignments
- Group and project establishment
- Project outline and plan
- Seminar
Further on evaluation
Grading
The assessment is based on the final project report with appendices and an oral presentation. Students receive a single overall grade from A to F.
- The project work must be documented using relevant scientific methods, discuss the impact of the project on people and/or society, and use the UN Sustainable Development Goals as the basis for this discussion.
- All group members must participate in an oral presentation of the work before the end of the semester, in front of an audience consisting of internal and external examiners, among others.
Students are expected to draw on the combined learning outcomes from their previous courses when carrying out the project.
Retake
If the bachelor thesis is assessed as failed or grade F, the student(s) must submit a new answer. Improvement/reworking is not sufficient. The thesis can present the same topic area with the same empirical/data basis. A bachelor's thesis that has been assessed as passed cannot be submitted for a new assessment, even in a revised form. In the case of voluntary repetition, a completely new assignment must be submitted. Students who want a voluntary repetition of a passed bachelor thesis are not entitled to teaching / supervision in connection with the submission of a new thesis.
In all cases of retaking the course, all compulsory activites must be resubmitted.
Specific conditions
Admission to a programme of study is required.
Required previous knowledge
The students must have passed 100 ECTS credits from semester 1-4 within September 1st in the year the bachelor project starts before they are eligible for the bachelor course.
Course materials
Suggested literature:
- Aage Rognsaa, Bacheloroppgaven, Universitetsforlaget 2015
- Lotte Rienecker, Peter Stray Jørgensen, Den gode oppgaven, Fagbokforlaget, 2013
Subject areas
- Design Methodology