MEVIT4791 – Master’s Thesis in Screen Cultures
Course description
Course content
The Master’s thesis is an independent academic study in which you investigate a theoretical or empirical research question. You carry out this study with the help of a supervisor, usually one of the Department’s employees.
The Master’s thesis is a research project that gives you a deeper insight in, and understanding of, issues and methods in the field of screen culture. You will?practice academic thinking independently, will unfold your skills of using several research methods, critically evaluate existing research in your field, as well as develop, present and defend your own analysis and interpretation. The Master’s thesis is an important exercise that demands of you to activate your analytical skills and structure your work along your own schedule. These skills will be important for your future career, irrespective of where it will take you. Furthermore, a completed Master’s degree qualifies for application to PhD studies in Norway and internationally.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
The candidate:
- has insight into and knowledge of existing research and working methods within the field of screen cultures
- has specialized insight into a chosen topic within the field of screen cultures
- has advanced knowledge of methods and theory within the thesis? field of research
- has knowledge of, and is mindful about, guidelines for research ethics and privacy
Skills
The candidate
- can formulate an academic research question
- can plan and carry out a scientific investigation
- can critically assess and use relevant scientific methods
- can find, review and synthesize relevant specialist literature
- can present and discuss research results and theory in a scientifically rigorous manner, including correct referencing?
- can follow and safeguard research ethical norms
General competence
The candidate:
- can carry out an independent research project
- can plan and work in a structured manner over a long period of time to carry out complex tasks
- can identify and analyze issues of societal and scientific relevance
- can critically assess information from various sources and knows ethical norms and guidelines for scientific work
- can present and argue for their own professional position
Admission to the course
This course is limited to students who are admitted to the Screen Cultures (master) at the University of Oslo.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
You need to have a passed result in the course MEVIT4010 – Master’s thesis seminar for media studies and you must have been assigned a supervisor
Overlapping courses
- 60 credits overlap with MEVIT4790 – Master's Thesis in Screen Cultures, with presentation.
- 60 credits overlap with MEVIT4792 – Practical Masters's Thesis in Screen Culture.
- 30 credits overlap with MEVIT4799 – Master’s Thesis in Screen Cultures.
Teaching
Supervision during the work with the master's thesis is compulsory, and can take place as individual supervision or as group supervision.
Supervisors are usually distributed in March.?See guidelines for supervision of master's theses.
Compulsory assemblies (2nd and 3rd semester)
- Second semester meeting: review of the supervision contract, work related to progression and expectations related to supervision.
- Third semester assembly: review of issues related to structuring the master's thesis, various challenges in connection with theory, method and analysis, and how to deal with possible obstacles in the work process, such as demotivation, stress and writing block.
Students are informed of the date of the meetings by email and by Canvas announcements
Read more about supervision and how to work with your master's thesis
Compulsory activities
The course has compulsory activities in the form of an oral presentation of the master's thesis. The presentation is normally held immediately before the oral exam and must be approved by the examination committee before you can take the exam.
Read more about the oral presentation of the master's thesis at IMK.
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
Your thesis is examined by two examiners, of which at least one is external (not employed by the UiO).
Master thesis submission
The Master’s thesis?should contain between 80 and 100 standard A4 pages.?
Please make sure to read and follow the routines for?submission of Master's Thesis at the Department of Media and Communication.
Your master thesis must be submitted in full text to DUO.?Read more about DUO
The final deadlines are June 1 for the spring term and? December 1 for the autumn term.
UiO uses an electronic plagiarism detection system for all submitted master theses.
Read more about supervision, submission and final examination
Oral exam
An oral examination which last up to 60 minutes, is held after the submission. The exam may adjust the grade given on the thesis.
Read more about?examination of your thesis and oral exam.
Language of examination
You may write your thesis in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
A master’s thesis that is not passed may be resubmitted only once, and then within the agreed time and in revised form. A master’s thesis that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- 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.