Master’s thesis seminar for media studies

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

The course is available to students admitted to Media and Communication Studies (master), HFM2-POLK and HFM2-SCUL.

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.

The course will be taught as a combination of lectures and smaller groups.

The autumn semester starts with a two-day kick-off.

Participation in lectures is not mandatory. However, students will be required to fulfill:

• 3 compulsory activities. 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.
• Attendance at two of the deep-reading workshops scheduled throughout the fall semester

The compulsory assignment will be assessed as approved/not approved. In order to be allowed to submit the final term paper, all the compulsory activities must be approved. Students who do not submit and pass the activities lose their right to submit the term paper.

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.

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.

Term paper. The term paper is the project description 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.