Examination arrangement

Course content

The bachelor's thesis in musicology is based on an independently chosen topic and designed in consultation with a supervisor. Whether it’s a study of Nordic hip hop, music therapy, Baroque opera, Sámi music, Norwegian music education, or queer pop stars, the thesis gives students a chance to specialise in their own area of interest. This course provides students with foundational competencies in pursuing and completing a longer, independently developed, written academic text. Through this course, students will develop a range of academic skills, such as bibliographic searching, information retrieval, research ethics, empirical data collection, interviews, archival research, data management, musical analysis, source criticism, discourse analysis, applying theory, interdisciplinarity, large-scale writing, and oral presentation. For students interested in pursuing a more practice-based study, there is the possibility of combining the thesis with a short internship at a relevant musical/cultural institution as long as an agreement can be made between the Department and the chosen institution by week five. The thesis marks the summation of a student’s studies throughout the bachelor programme and provides a foundation for further studies and independent research such as our master’s programme.

The bachelor thesis must normally be written in Norwegian. If the bachelor thesis is written in English or another non-Scandinavian language, it must have a Norwegian summary.

Learning outcome

A candidate with a completed bachelor's thesis in musicology has the following knowledge and skills

Knowledge:

Students who complete MUSV2032 successfully will have:

• Deepened their knowledge of their topic of study and how it fits within the larger field of musicology.
• Gained insights into different research methods.
• Gained knowledge of a particular musical vocation or institution (for students pursuing a practice-based study)

Skills:

Students who complete MUSV2032 successfully will have:

• Learned how to write, structure, and format a large-scale academic text.
• Developed skills in empirical data collection and management.
• Gained fluency in analysing primary and secondary sources.
• Learned how to integrate data, practice, theory, and reflection.
• Developed skills in presenting their work orally.

General competence

Students who complete MUSV2032 successfully will have:

• Deepened their understanding of disciplinary conventions and interdisciplinary inquiry.
• Developed skills in reflecting on their own research methods and academic practice.
• Developed a sensitivity toward research ethics and academic citizenship.

Learning methods and activities

The main form of teaching for this course is individual supervision with an assigned supervisor. In addition, there is a seminar series that offers general training in academic writing, finding source materials, and research ethics. Finally, there will be a seminar where all students present and give feedback on each other’s projects.

The seminars are compulsory and demand minimum 80% attendance. For students pursuing a practice-based study, there will be a brief internship of one to two months at a relevant musical/cultural institution, to be agreed between supervisor, student, and institution.

Compulsory assignments

• Attendance and participation in seminars (at least 80%)
• Supervisions and completion of thesis in line with guidance from supervisor
• Mid-term evaluation
• Oral presentation of project at the final seminar

Further on evaluation

The final thesis should be 9,000-10,000 words. For those pursuing a practice-based study, the thesis should be 6,000-7,000 words. The table of contents, music examples, illustrations, and bibliography are not to be included in this wordcount. In the event of a thesis not passing, a new bachelor's thesis project must address a new topic. In addition, students will undergo a mid-term evaluation to assess whether students are on course to submit their thesis by the deadline.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Passed MUSV1011 or MUSV1031, MUSV1013 or MUSV1033, MUSV1017 and MUSV2008 or MUSV2009.

Credit reductions