MEVIT4010 – Master’s thesis seminar for media studies
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The master`s thesis seminar prepares students for writing their master`s thesis. The students will receive counselling in how to formulate a research question and develop a project description for their master`s thesis. They will receive insights in the basic requirements and genre conventions for master`s theses in media studies. Part of the course will be based on work in groups, where the students are trained in assessing academic texts using the conventions that are current in this field. Furthermore, the students will present and comment each other’s drafts for project descriptions. Students revise their drafts based on the feedback from fellow students and supervisor, before submitting project descriptions for final approval. An approved project description is the main goal of the course.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
- know the genre conventions of literature review and master`s theses in media studies
- have insight into previous research within the selected topic and field of the master project
- know the basic features of academic writing
- know the basics of privacy, research ethics and GDPR regulations
Skills
- locate relevant research literature in library and online databases
- read, annotate, and assess academic texts within media studies
- design a research project (with research question(s), empirical material, methods, and theory)
General competence
- make bibliographic references in good academic custom in standard reference systems
- distinguish between own and other’s work, and between quoting and paraphrasing
- give oral and written feedback on project proposals
Admission to the course
The course is available to students admitted to Media and Communication Studies (master) (being phased out), Politisk kommunikasjon (master) and Screen Cultures (master).
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with MEVIT4000 – Master’s thesis seminar for media studies (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with JOUR4000 – Master's thesis seminar for journalism (discontinued).
Teaching
The course will be taught as a combination of lectures and smaller groups.
The autumn semester starts with a two-day kick-off.
Students will be required to fulfill compulsory activities which will be given a pass/fail. In order to be allowed to submit the final term paper, the compulsory activities must be approved. Students who do not submit and pass the activities lose their right to submit the term paper.
The activities may vary each semester. The specifics and deadlines for the compulsory activities are published on the semester page by the beginning of the semester.
If you get ill or have other valid reasons for not being able to meet the deadline of the compulsory activity, you must apply for valid absence or postponed deadline.?Read more about compulsory activities at the Faculty of Humanities and find link to the application form.?
Examination
Term paper. The term paper is the project proposal for the master`s thesis. The project proposal should be 5 pages, excluding the list of References, and must include:
- Working title
- Theme or area of interest
- Theory/literature review
- Research questions and/or hypotheses
- Method and research ethics
- Information about empirical data
Obligatory activities must be approved in order to submit the term paper.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
The term paper will be submitted in the spring term. You have three attempts to get a passed result. If you fail in your first try, you may re-submit in the autumn term.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.