Sports Medicine: Master's Thesis, 30 credits

Contents

The course comprises the planning, execution, and reporting of an independent scientific research project within sports medicine at the advanced (Master’s) level. Students formulate a researchable question, engage with relevant theory and previous research, justify and apply an appropriate research design and methodology, and conduct data collection, analysis, and interpretation in accordance with established scientific and research-ethical principles.
The written master’s thesis constitutes the main academic product of the course and must adhere to recognised standards for scientific writing. The course includes the presentation and defence of the student’s own master’s thesis, the opposition of another student’s thesis, and the presentation of the progression of the thesis project at scientific seminars as well as through written reflection.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:
Students must be able to
1. Describe relevant research, theories, and concepts within sports medicine that form the basis of the chosen research project.
2. Justify and theoretically underpin the chosen research design, methodological approach, and analytical strategy in relation to the research question.

Skills and ability:
Students must be able to
3. Independently plan and carry out a research process leading to a master’s thesis, including the ability to justify methodological and practical decisions made throughout the project.
4. Independently analyse, present and interpret research findings in accordance with established academic standards and good scientific practice.
5. Present, defend, and discuss the master’s thesis, and critically review and discuss the work of peers.
6. Describe steps of the research process and reflect on methodological choices, trade-offs, and limitations.

Judgement and approach:
Students must be able to
7. Critically analyse ethical considerations related to the research project and evaluate ethical aspects relevant to the field of study.
8. Evaluate the research process in terms of independence, learning, and scientific integrity.

Required Knowledge

A Bachelor's degree that includes at least 180 credits or equivalent foreign degree. At least 90 credits are required in either exercise physiology/sports medicine/medicine or physiotherapy, or a degree from the Biomedical Scientist programme with specialisation Clinical Physiology, or a degree in Sports Science, of which at least 30 credits must be within the areas of exercise physiology, sports medicine, or medicine. In addition, English 6 is required.
The course Sports medicine: Science, Research methods and Ethics 15 credits, or equivalent, is required.

Form of instruction

Teaching and learning activities include presentations, workshops, lectures, peer review, supervision, and seminars. Students are assigned a supervisor. Supervision may be provided individually or in groups. Workshops and peer review are used for formative feedback. Occasional lectures may be offered. Examination is conducted through written assignments as well as a mid-term seminar and a final seminar, involving oral presentations, discussions, and opposition. Instructions and guidelines for the completion of the thesis are provided. The student is entitled to a maximum of 40 hours of supervision, including the supervisor’s preparation time. If the thesis work is not completed and approved within the regular course period, additional supervision may be offered to a reasonable extent and subject to available resources.

Examination modes

Learning Outcome 1: assessed individually through the written scientific master’s thesis and is graded as Fail or Pass.

Learning Outcome 2: assessed individually through an oral seminar and is graded as Fail or Pass.

Learning Outcome 3: assessed individually through oral seminars and is graded as Fail or Pass.

Learning Outcome 4: assessed individually through the written scientific master’s thesis and is graded as Fail or Pass.

Learning Outcome 5: assessed individually through an oral seminar and is graded as Fail, Pass, or Pass with Distinction.

Learning Outcome 6: assessed individually through the written scientific master’s thesis and is graded as Fail or Pass.

Learning Outcome 7: assessed individually through an oral seminar and is graded as Fail or Pass.

Learning Outcome 8: assessed individually through a written assignment and is graded as Fail or Pass.

To obtain the grade Pass for the course, the student must receive at least Pass on all assessed components. To obtain the grade Pass with Distinction, the student must achieve Pass with Distinction on Learning Outcome 5 and Pass on all other assessed components.

Examiners may decide to deviate from the modes of assessment in the course syllabus. Individual adaptation of modes of assessment must give due consideration to the student’s needs. The adaptation of modes of assessment must remain within the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. Students who require an adapted examination – and have received a decision on the right to support from the coordinator at the Student Services Office for students with disabilities – must submit a request to the department holding the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaptation of the examination, after which the student will be notified.