Independent Study

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course involves an independent research project on a self-chosen topic in the broad field of Chinese Studies.

An independent study provides students with the opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty member on a particular topic or creative project. Often the idea for an independent study arises in a course. Students may also develop creative projects in areas related to Chinese language, literature or society.

Students must apply to take the course and find a supervisor for the independent study. The supervisor should be preferably an academic employee at a Norwegian or Chinese higher education institute. The course must be first discussed with and approved by the UiB Chinese faculty.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course:

Knowledge

The student

- will have advanced knowledge of a self-chosen area in the broad field of Chinese Studies

- will have good knowledge of theories and methods in the field

Skills

The student

- will be able to use the knowledge from the field in independent investigations of a specific research topic

- will be able to use professionally relevant methods and commonly used digital tools

- will work independently with scientific research

General competence

The student

- will be able to reason on subject-relevant ethical issues

- will be able to present and discuss research material clearly and comprehensively

- will be able to acquire new knowledge at an advanced academic level

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Master

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
Bachelor degree with specialisation in Chinese language, Sinology, or the equivalent. Proficiency in Chinese language is necessary in order to understand the Chinese data for analysis.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
None
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course
The course is open to students enrolled in the Master programme in Chinese Studies at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods
This is basically a project to be completed by independent study. There will be up to six hours of guidance from the supervisor. Students and the supervisor investigate whether it is possible to link the study to research seminars and courses locally or other places that will improve the learning outcome.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

It is mandatory to submit and have the reading list/syllabus approved before a set deadline announced in Mitt UiB.

The draft of the term paper must be approved as well. The student is responsible for finding a supervisor, and must submit a short project description that contains: a title, a research question, and a syllabus of 800 - 1000 pages that the student has not been examined in previously. The supervisor will approve of the project description.The application and attachments must be submitted to the Department of Foreign Languages for approval before 1 March in the spring semester. Compulsory activities are valid in the teaching semester only.

Forms of Assessment

A term paper of approximately 3,000-3,500 words (not including appendices, footnotes and the reference list/bibliography) developed from the self-study project shall be submitted for assessment. The term paper must be written in English and follow the conventions of academic writing. The descriptive adequacy and explanatory adequacy of the paper will be the key aspects for assessment.

The student should familiarize him/herself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If the rules are violated, the student may be suspected of cheating or attempted cheating.

The term paper is assessed in the independent study semester only. No retake assessment is arranged.

Grading Scale
The Department uses a grading scale ranging from A to F. F is a failing grade.
Assessment Semester
Spring
Reading List
An individual reading list/syllabus is drawn up in consultation with the supervisor. The syllabus should contain reading materials of about 800 to 1000 pages of normal difficulty. The syllabus must not overlap with the curriculum from other courses that the student has taken previously. The syllabus must be approved by the Chinese Programme Board.
Course Evaluation
The course is evaluated in accordance with the quality control system of the University of Bergen.
Examination Support Material
Not relevant
Programme Committee
The Programme Board for Chinese Studies is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study programme, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.
Course Coordinator
The Programme Board for Chinese Studies
Course Administrator
The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.