Linguistics - Master's Thesis

ECTS Credits

60 

Level of Study

Master

Teaching semester

Fall and spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen

Objectives and Content

The student chooses a linguistic theme for scientific study. The result of the study must be presented as a master's thesis.  It is not required that the thesis presents new materials or conclusions in order to be approved, but the thesis must meet criteria of scientific method, treatment of the matter, ethics and presentation.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate can:

• explain and discuss scientific issues in linguistics
• link these issues to theories and previous research

Skills

The candidate can:

• carry out an independent, limited-scope linguistic study under supervision
• analyze and critically assess various data, methods and information sources and use these to structure and formulate linguistic argumentations.

General competency

The candidate can:

• analyze linguistic issues
• present an independent work and master linguistic style and terminology
• communicate linguistic issues, analyses and conclusions
• follow ethical guidelines and practice responsible data management where relevant

Required Previous Knowledge

Not relevant

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Not relevant

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

Not relevant

Access to the Course

Open to all who have been admitted to the master's program in linguistics at UiB.

Teaching and learning methods

The choice of theme for the master's thesis must be approved by the scientific staff. It must fall within the linguistic disciplines in which the staff has or can provide the necessary competency for supervision. In work with the master's thesis, the student will be assigned a scientific supervisor. The staff decides who will supervise which student.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Both the student and the supervisor sign a supervision contract.

Before the final oral exam, the student most hold a seminar for the department. The seminar can present parts of the thesis project or can be an introduction to a discussion about a related work.

Forms of Assessment

The master's thesis must be handed in before one of the stated deadlines. After the thesis has been approved and assessed, the candidate will be given an oral exam related to the thesis. The oral exam can adjust the given grade for the thesis with up to 1 grade up or down.

The thesis should have between 70 and 110 pages (not counting references, appendices, used data, etc.) It should use terminology, language, genre, argumentation, textual elements, etc., as can be expected from a good paper in the linguistics tradition.

Examination Support Material

Not relevant

Grading Scale

Grading scale A-F.

Assessment Semester

Spring and fall

Reading List

A literature list of about 1500 pages will be put together by the student and the supervisor.

Course Evaluation

Evaluation of this part of the program will be conducted in accordance with the University of Bergen's quality assurance system.

Course Coordinator

The scientific staff in Linguistics.