Examination arrangement

Course content

MV2015 The Bachelor’s thesis in media studies - practice option is a course where students of media studies apply the skills and knowledge they have obtained through their degree studies in encounters with real-life challenges. Working with external collaborators students will have the opportunity to observe and/or participate in the working life of a business or institution. Students will develop and explore a topic of their choosing via a longer written work. The course thus also further develops students’ writing skills and provides them with the opportunity to independently develop and pursue a theoretical, empirical, or practical research question in media studies. Placements are secured through the Department of Art and Media Studies, and contact between students and external collaborators is established early on in the semester. This course is a practical-theoretical option of MV2014 Bachelor’s Thesis in Media Studies.

This course is limited to 10 places in total per semester.

How to apply:

The application deadline is December 1st. Applications are sent through Studentweb. After admission, the students will receive an e-mail asking them to write a statement (max 300 words) about their academic interests. By presenting their motivation for applying to the course, relevant experience and background, as well as preferred work assignments, the Department will pair applicants with relevant external collaborators. The statement will not be shared with the external employer. More information on the statement outline, will be sent per e-mail in the beginning of December.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

​Upon successful completion of this course students will have:

• knowledge of planning and implementing a practice-oriented project in collaboration with an external client
• knowledge of how to apply theoretical insights to real-life challenge

Skills

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• plan and implement a basic project for an external client
• apply insights and skills gained from media studies in practical, work-related situations
• present and justify findings, analyses and conclusions in oral as well as written form

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars.

This course may be taught in Norwegian or English, pending staff availability.

The bachelor’s thesis can be written in Scandinavian or English. Every bachelor’s thesis must include a Scandinavian and English summary.

Students receive supervision and individual feedback on their topic and project proposal from both an external collaborator and the course leader, while individual supervisors give feedback on project outline and drafts of the written assignment.

Students will give an oral presentation of their work where the external collaborator and the course leader will ask questions on the implementation of the project. This presentation must be performed and approved before the student can take the final assessment in this course.

Students are required to check the result of their assignments and to stay updated on any information provided by the department or course leader via Blackboard.

Compulsory assignments

• Submission of a research question of the student’s choosing and a project description
• Three weeks of practice
• Oral presentation

Further on evaluation

The final assessment is based on a written assignment of 4000-6000 words and is adjusted by an oral exam of about 30 minutes. In the oral examination, the student will have the opportunity to defend their written assignment and give their own assessment of their work.

In case of retaking the exam, either to improve the mark or because of a failed exam, students can retake only the written assignment / oral examination (no need to retake the practical work placement). There will be an obligatory submission of a new project description early in the semester. The new project description must cover a different reflection over the previous practical work placement. No new supervision will be given on the new project and written assignment. The course can only be retaken in a semester when it is taught.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

60 credits in Media Studies.

Course materials

The reading list consists of approx. 300 pages of set literature. In addition, literature relevant to the chosen topic is selected by the student in consultation with the supervisor.

Credit reductions