Examination arrangement

Course content

The student is required to conduct an independent research project within the field of mental health. Mental health is a broad subject area encompassing various mental health issues and disorders. The field includes multiple user groups and takes a lifespan perspective. The challenges and resources of users, everyday life, and relationships are considered in connection with health services and society. The student is expected to choose a topic and research question for the master's thesis that is relevant to this field. The master's thesis should be submitted as an individual written work. Further information is provided in the guidelines for the master's thesis at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. These guidelines are to be followed. If the master's thesis is formatted as an article, it should be accompanied by an elaborative text ("kappe") of up to 7000 words.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing and passing the course, the student should:

• possess advanced knowledge in the field and specialized insights in a specific area relevant to mental health.
• Have advanced knowledge and an overview of the research status in their chosen specialization.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of the scientific theories and methods within the field.
• Apply knowledge to new areas within the field.

Skills

After completing and passing the course, the student should:

• Conduct an independent, delimited research project under supervision and in accordance with current research ethics norms.
• Analyze existing theories, methods, and interpretations within the field and work independently with practical and theoretical problem-solving within the chosen theme.
• Use relevant methods for research and professional development independently.
• Analyze and critically relate to various sources of information and apply them to structure and formulate academic reasoning.

General Competence

After completing and passing the course, the student should:

• Analyze relevant ethical issues in the field, profession, and research.
• Communicate about academic issues, analyses, and conclusions within the field of mental health.
• Contribute to innovative processes and new thinking.
• Convey extensive independent work and master the expressions of the field.

Learning methods and activities

Scope: The course spans four semesters.

Learning Methods: The learning methods include seminars (inspirational seminar and 6 seminars), guidance, and independent studies. Up to 45 hours of guidance are provided.

Study Form: The work on the master's thesis is an independent project carried out with appointed supervisor(s), involving discussions, debates, and peer feedback in seminars. The work on the master's thesis begins in semester 5 (fall). In semester 5, the student must submit a sketch of up to 3 pages with a preliminary topic and research question for the master's thesis. The final project description must be submitted by the relevant deadlines in semester 6 and must be approved by the main supervisor before work on the master's thesis commences. The student is required to present their master project in two mandatory master seminars.

MDV6490 has 6 master seminars covering various topics relevant to the master's thesis, with the 1st and 6th seminars being mandatory. In the 1st seminar (semester 5), students present and receive feedback on their plan/sketch for the master's thesis, while in the 6th seminar (semester 8), students present their completed master's thesis.

Compulsory assignments

• Seminar 1
• Seminar 6

Further on evaluation

The deadline for submitting the master's thesis is May 15 (semester 8). The evaluation of the master's thesis is based on both the written work and an oral examination. Preliminary grades for the master's thesis are assigned before the oral examination. The oral examination may be used to adjust the grade for the written work by one grade higher or lower. The student is only informed of the final grade. If the grade for the written work is assessed as an F (not passed), no oral examination is conducted. The oral examination involves the student presenting their master's thesis in a 20-30 minute oral presentation, open to all. Subsequently, a 40-minute oral examination takes place with the master's student and the examiners present (supervisors may be present but without active participation).

Participation in mandatory activities is a prerequisite for being eligible for the examination in the course. The mandatory activity, seminar 1, is valid for 5 semesters, and seminar 6 is valid for 2 semesters.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

The student must be admitted to the Master in Mental Health (MPHLS). All courses comprising the Master in Mental Health (a total of 75 credits) must be successfully completed before submitting the master's thesis.

Course materials

The reading material primarily consists of self-selected literature within the theme of the student's master's thesis. General literature about working on the master's thesis is published on the learning platform Blackboard.