HUMR5190 – Research Methodology and Thesis Development
Course description
Course content
The course will give you insight into research methodologies in legal and social sciences relevant for writing a thesis in the field of human rights. It will discuss basic issues and controversies in the conduct of scholarly research, and will offer you necessary tools and guidelines for researching and writing a good scholarly thesis based on independent thinking and sound argument.
Students writing their thesis in the field of social sciences should also be given insight in legal methods, and students writing their thesis in the field of law should also be given insight into social science.
The course will further allow you to develop and discuss your thesis topic. You will be expected to develop a preliminary draft that includes your thesis problem stated succinctly, its background and importance, its relation to international human rights, an introduction to your research agenda, any preliminary conclusions, a draft outline, and a bibliography.
Learning outcome
This course has a dual objective;
- (a)assisting you in further refining your own thesis project
- (b)provide good understanding of methodological issues
The preparation of your thesis project will demonstrate your ability to critically analyze and address methodological questions. When this course is finished, you will have further developed your project and improved your ability to complete it.
Admission
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.
Admission is limited to students undergoing the study programme The Theory and Practice of Human Rights (master).
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
No obligatory prerequisites beyond the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway.Teaching
Lectures, mock exam.
Examination
Written assignment of maximum 10 pages.
Examination support material
Resources allowed
Language of examination
English
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
A student can sit for this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do this in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit for the exam.
A study programme may have rules that further limit the number of times a student may re-take this exam. In such instances the rules of the study programme will have priority.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Please se Detailed regulations for the Faculty of Law, Chapter 3 regarding application, responsibilities and special measures.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.