Credits: 2

Schedule: 07.01.2019 - 31.05.2019

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Camilla Groth and Ramia Mazé

Teaching Period (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Orientation period (before Period I starts) and Period I-II (autumn), 2018 – 2020.

 

During Orientation period, the course is taught as an intensive teaching module that starts about 1.5 weeks before Period I (exact dates are announced on a yearly basis). Thereafter, during Period I-II, students will work fewer hours, more independently, and with connection to their master’s program.

 

The student should attend the course at the start of their second year of master’s studies.

 

In 2018, the course runs twice – it is repeated as an intensive teaching module during the last week of Period IV. Thereafter, the course only runs once per year (during Orientation period and period I as described above).

Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:

- Comprehend contents of the Aalto Thesis Guide, including aims, plan and process for completing a MA thesis, and thesis evaluation criteria

- Demonstrate familiarity with issues of information retrieval, academic writing, research ethics and other issues relevant to carrying out their MA thesis

- Develop a Thesis Plan relevant to their thesis topic and master’s programme

Content (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The thesis seminars supports the student’s independent elaboration of their thesis project. The student is familiarized with the requirements of MA thesis work at Aalto ARTS and the process of conducting an organized enquiry into a chosen subject. They become capable of preparing and presenting a thesis plan, and they evaluate and contribute to each other’s plans. The thesis seminar ensures that the students know and respect the principles of research ethics and are capable of reporting design and research projects in manners that are academically acceptable, and convey the content in an honest, interesting and persuasive manner.

 

The seminar supports the students to solve challenges with academic and design-oriented documentation and reporting of their work.

 

Apart from the generic aims, the thesis seminar supports students’ progress in respects that are recognised to be relevant during the course of the seminar. Thus the students themselves carry part of the responsibility of the content of the seminar by raising issues that require deepening and joint exploration during the seminar sessions. As a result of presenting their thesis plans, the students plans are either accepted or asked to be revised by the responsible professors in their respective program.

 

The seminar includes a series of lectures and thesis plan presentation sessions. Aside from common parts, there are programme-specific meetings focusing on development of the thesis topic.

Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Evaluation is based on the presentation of the thesis plan, other assignments and participation.



Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

2ECTS is equivalent to a 54 hour workload, which includes:

- Participating in the kick off day (6h) and in seminar lectures 10 h.

- Preparing a research plan, presenting the thesis plan, reviewing thesis presentations and other independently completed assignments 38 h.

Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Substitutes for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

substitutes for the course mo0012 Thesis Seminar I (4 cr) and the course 10021 Thesis Seminar II (0 cr)

Course Homepage (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=MUO-E0004

Grading Scale (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Pass / fail

Registration for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

WebOodi

 

 

Description

Registration and further information