Master’s Thesis in Public Environmental Humanities (PEH330)


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

See course description and exam/assesment information for this semester (2024-2025)
Facts

Course code

PEH330

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

30

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Note

Course does not start before autumn 2027

Content

In the Master’s thesis, students will write an extensive academic thesis that builds on previous research with the goal to produce new and reliable knowledge about a topic chosen in dialogue with their supervisor and potential practice partner. The thesis will be situated within the field of environmental humanities, including relevant subfields where qualified supervision is available. Students can work with empirical, theoretical, historiographical, or educational approaches or a combination of these approaches. Students determine their topic and approach under individual supervision and will have the support of a seminar through the entire research and writing process. In the spring prior to students writing their thesis, students will be offered a match-making seminar with supervisors and potential practice partners.

Learning outcome

A candidate who has completed and passed the course

Knowledge

  • has extensive knowledge on how to work with academic problems through using libraries, archives, and other resources
  • has a well-reflected relationship to research traditions and perspectives in environmental humanities

Skills

  • can define an appropriate research question and identify appropriate sources to answer it
  • can choose and use scientific methods to develop new knowledge in environmental humanities
  • can critically evaluate academic texts and research results

General Competence

  • can work independently
  • can apply knowledge and skills to answer new research problems within the environmental humanities field
  • can communicate extensive independent work with the language and terminology of environmental humanities
  • can communicate orally and in writing about academic issues, analyses and conclusions in the field with specialists

Required prerequisite knowledge

Completion of first year of the Master’s Program in Public Environmental Humanities (60 ECTS). If a student is missing 10 ECTS from completing the first year, the student can apply to the department for permission to start this course.

Exam

Master's thesis and oral assessment

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Master's thesis and oral exam 1/1 1 Hours Letter grades
Master's thesis 0/1 1 Semesters Letter grades

Master’s Thesis: written dissertation 20,000 words, +/- 10%, excluding front page, preface, summary, table of contents, tables, bibliography, and footnotes; and an oral examination of the written work which can adjust the preliminary grade based on the written work one letter grade up or down.The Master’s thesis will have a front page, a summary in English (max 300 words), a preface (not mandatory), a table of contents, a list of illustrations and images, the text of the thesis itself, and a bibliography featuring all works cited and discussed in the thesis as well as an overview of primary sources. Any images and illustrations used in the thesis must be used with permission and must be properly attributed.No use of generative AI is permitted.Should the student complain about the grade and the result is a different grade than the original, the student will have a new oral exam. The Master’s thesis is expected to be written in English, but may be written in Norwegian by agreement with the supervisor.

Coursework requirements

75% participation in writing seminar, including oral presentatin and peer revi

75% mandatory participation in the Public Environmental Humanities writing seminar, including oral presentation and peer review. Students may be excused from parts of the seminar in the case of international fieldwork/archival visits.

All other courses in the Master’s program must be completed in order to submit the Master’s thesis. Alternatively, remaining courses may be completed the same semester as the thesis is submitted.

Course teacher(s)

Course teacher:

Eike-Christian Heine

Course teacher:

Ingrid Løland

Course teacher:

Melina Antonia Buns

Course teacher:

Dolly Jørgensen

Course coordinator:

Finn Arne Jørgensen

Course teacher:

Eric Dean Rasmussen

Course teacher:

Marie-Theres Fojuth

Study Adviser:

Signe Ekenberg

Method of work

Students will participate in a writing seminar, which includes lecture, discussion and group work. Students will receive supervision from a thesis supervisor and work independently on their thesis.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto