Course - Master's Thesis in Musicology - MUSV3006
MUSV3006 - Master's Thesis in Musicology
About
Examination arrangement
Examination arrangement: Master thesis
Grade: Letter grades
| Evaluation | Weighting | Duration | Grade deviation | Examination aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master thesis | 100/100 |
Course content
The master’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, music education, or queer pop stars, the thesis gives students a chance to specialise in their own particular area of interest. Building on skills at bachelor level, students will further develop competencies in pursuing and completing a longer, independently developed, written academic text. With guidance from their supervisor, students will strengthen 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, and large-scale writing. The required length of the thesis is 36,000 to 45,000 words (without bibliography, footnotes, and appendices. For students interested in pursuing a more artistic-based study, there is the possibility of combining the thesis with an artistic project, and the thesis word-count would be adjusted accordingly. The thesis marks the summation of a student’s academic studies and provides a foundation for further independent research at doctoral level.
Learning outcome
Knowledge:
Examinees with completed qualifications in MUSV3006 will have
- In-depth knowledge of their topic of study and how it fits within the larger international field of musicology.
- Strong knowledge of relevant research methods.
- Strong understanding of relevant theoretical traditions.
Skills:
Examinees with completed qualifications in MUSV3006 will have
- Learned how to write, structure, and format a large-scale academic text.
- Developed strong skills in empirical data collection and management.
- Gained fluency in analysing primary and secondary sources.
- Learned how to integrate data, practice, theory, and reflection.
General competence:
Students who complete MUSV3006 successfully will have:
- Gained a strong understanding of disciplinary conventions and interdisciplinary inquiry.
- Developed strong skills in reflecting on their own research methods and academic practice.
- Developed a strong 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. Each student is entitled to up to 60 hours of supervision. There is a possibility of receiving 5 hours of supervision from a secondary supervisor, to be agreed upon with the Department.
Please see link for the numbers of hours of supervision eligible for your master's thesis.
Compulsory assignments
- Mid-term evaluation to assess whether students are on course to submit their thesis by the deadline
Further on evaluation
The final thesis should be 36,000-45,000 words. The table of contents, music examples, illustrations, and bibliography are not to be included in this wordcount. For those pursuing a practice-based study, the written requirement will be reduced accordingly.
Master’s theses that are written in Norwegian or Scandinavian must include an abstract in English. Master’s theses that are written in a non-Scandinavian language must include an abstract in Norwegian.
In the event of a thesis not passing, a new or re-worked thesis with substantial changes must be submitted for examination one more time.
Specific conditions
Admission to a programme of study is required:
Musicology (MMUSV)
Credit reductions
| Course code | Reduction | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUSV3006 | 60.0 | AUTUMN 2012 |
No
Version: 2
Credits:
60.0 SP
Study level: Second degree level
Term no.: 1
Teaching semester: AUTUMN 2024
Term no.: 2
Teaching semester: SPRING 2025
Language of instruction: Norwegian
Location: Trondheim
- Musicology
Examination
Examination arrangement: Master thesis
- Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
- Autumn ORD Master thesis 100/100 INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates - Spring ORD Master thesis 100/100 INSPERA
-
Room Building Number of candidates
- * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"