Writing an academic article

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

In collaboration with the Master-program mentor (UiB) the student will compose an independent  30 ECTS course curriculum based in available and relevant courses at UIB. In addition to 20 ECTS elective coursework at UIB departments, 10 ECTS is designated as a course in academic writing at the Department of Government. Students write an independent article and in a class-setting the text is developed and discussed with the aim of publishing the text as an academic article. 

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence. 

Knowledge

The student can...

  • Understand key choices, ethical standards and quality criteria in academic writing.
  • Recognize key theoretical perspectives and their applicability to global challenges.
  • Collect, align abstract theories and concepts, empirical knowledge about policy responses to global challenges, and the political science analysis of different governance approaches.

Skills

The student can...

  • Organize curriculum and integrate different theories and methods to an empirical analysis.
  • Make appropriate use of open data and library resources when conducting scientific research.
  • Write about a scientific topic, placing it in its scientific context, and making critical use of scientific literature.
  • Write clear academic texts with appropriate style and structure, and including results, tables and figures.

General competence

The student can...

  • Identify and manage ethical and scientific standards of academic writing.
  • Make independent and professional assessments of policies, relevant organizations and institutional arrangements.
  • Present a research project in the format of an academic paper.
  • Collect, align abstract theories and concepts, empirical knowledge about policy responses to global challenges, and the political science analysis of different governance approaches.

ECTS Credits

10 ECTS

Level of Study

Master

Semester of Instruction

Autumn
Required Previous Knowledge
Completion of 30 ECTS at masters level in political science or equivalent (subject to approval by the administration of the Department of Government). Proficiency in scientific methods (qualitative and quantitative)
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course

The course is open to students enrolled in master's programmes at the Department of Government.

Exchange students at master's level and students from other master's programmes at the University of Bergen with relevant backgrounds may be admitted upon application, subject to approval by the administration of the Department of Government.

Applications may be rejected due to capacity. The course gives priority to students accepted to the master's programmes at the Department of Government.

The maximum number of students is 15.

Teaching and learning methods
Approximately 8 to 10 sessions 
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
None
Forms of Assessment

One independent article (7000 +/- 10%, excluding the title page, table of contents, references, tables, and all attachments)

The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught. 

The exam answer can be submitted in English.

Grading Scale
A-F
Assessment Semester

Assessment in teaching semester. 

In accordance ยง 5-5 in the UiB regulations, students with valid absence can apply for an extended submission deadline (also known as a retake exam). The application must be submitted via Absence from an exam | Student Pages | UiB before the submission deadline.

A maximum of 3 days' extension is granted.

Reading List
The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.
Course Evaluation
All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.
Programme Committee
The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses. 
Course Administrator
The Department of Government at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.