Course
Masteroppgave i barnevernsarbeid (MBAMAS)
Facts
Course code MBAMAS
Credits (ECTS) 30
Semester tution start Spring
Language of instruction Norwegian
Number of semesters 1
Exam semester Spring
Time table View course schedule
Literature Search for literature in Leganto
Content
Learning outcome
The purpose of the master's thesis is to provide training in independent scholarly work and in-depth exploration of topics within the field of child welfare. Upon successful completion of the course, the student is expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
The candidate has:
- In-depth knowledge of the formal and substantive requirements of an academic scholarly thesis.
- In-depth knowledge of key concepts, theories, and previous research relevant to the topic addressed in the thesis.
- In-depth knowledge of research ethics and related guidelines
- Advanced understanding of methodological approaches to data collection and analysis
- Advanced knowledge of how to communicate and critically discuss research findings
- Advanced insight into critical and analytical approaches to assessing quality in child welfare research.
Skills
The candidate can:
- Formulate a research question within the field of child welfare.
- Situate a self-selected research question within a relevant theoretical and research-based framework.
- Reflect on and describe choices related to research design in relation to the thesis topic.
- Discuss and critically assess the validity, credibility, reliability, and—where applicable—generalizability of the master's study.
- Conduct analyses and present findings in a systematic and scholarly manner.
- Discuss the study’s findings in relation to methodological choices, relevant theory, and previous research.
- Discuss the implications of the study’s findings for future research and practice in child welfare.
General competence
The candidate can:
- Conduct literature searches and apply source criticism to texts and research relevant to the field.
- Uphold and communicate key principles of research ethics.
- Write and structure an academic scholarly text to an acceptable standard.
Required prerequisite knowledge
Barnevernsrettslige tema (MBA102)
Forskningsmetoder, innovasjon og fagutvikling i barnevernet (MBA103)
Profesjon, organisasjon og ansvarlig lederskap (MBA104)
Exam
Master thesis
Weight 1/1
Marks Letter grades
The examination is written and consists of the master's thesis. The thesis is normally submitted in the form of a monograph, but may alternatively be delivered as a publication-ready article accompanied by an integrative summary ("kappe").
Scope for a master's thesis in monograph format: 20,000-22,000 words, including table of contents and footnotes; excluding reference list and appendices. Reference style: APA 7. The requirements for submitting the thesis in article format are outlined in the master's thesis guidelines.
All other components of the study program must be completed and passed prior to submission of the thesis. The final version of the thesis must be presented to the supervisor before submission.
The master's thesis is assessed as a research project and is evaluated by both an internal and an external examiner.
Coursework requirements
Both mandatory activities must be approved for the student to be eligible to take the exam. Approval status of mandatory activities is published on Studentweb, normally no later than 14 days before the exam. Students who lack approval for one or more mandatory activities will be withdrawn from the examination.
Project Plan: Work on the project plan begins in the second semester. A preliminary project plan is submitted at the end of the second semester and serves as the basis for assigning a supervisor. The plan is further developed during the third semester, and the final version is submitted at the end of that semester. The final project plan must be approved by the supervisor in consultation with the course coordinator. Length: 3-5 pages.
Attendance Requirement: Attendance is mandatory in seminars. Students are expected to participate as discussants and present their own work during seminar sessions.
Method of work
The main portion of the master's thesis work is carried out during the fourth semester. Prior to this, the student prepares a project plan to structure and organize the work.
The thesis is completed through individual work with supervision. The allocated supervision time is 10 hours, which may be conducted individually or in groups. Supervision may be shared between a primary and secondary supervisor in cases of international exchange or other special circumstances.
In addition, seminars will be held where students present ongoing work on their master's thesis and provide peer feedback.