Master's Thesis in Business Administration (first year), 15 hp

Innehåll

The objective of the Master’s thesis is to develop the student’s knowledge of scientific work and to provide students with the understanding of how to plan, conduct, and present their work independently. A further aim is to develop skills for the critical examination of investigations and research reports and to provide the student with the opportunity for a deeper level of theoretical study within a chosen area.

Module 1. Side-oppositions, 0 ECTS
The aim of this module is to develop the student’s ability to examine investigations and reports from a critical and scientific point of view. This module of the thesis work requires the student to submit written critical analyses of two other Master’s theses and attend the seminars where these theses are presented. This is an individual assignment. The written critical analyses should be numbered consecutively (Number1 - Number2).

Module 2. Master's thesis, 15 ECTS
Thesis work should prove the student’s ability to apply a scientific approach in independently treatment of theories. In addition, the thesis should be characterized by relevance and topicality. The methodology discussions must be very clearly connected to the problem area and the different parts of the theses must be well integrated into a harmonized unity. The thesis should aim to deliver a theoretical contribution to the area.

Module 3. Main opposition, 0 ECTS
In this module, the aim is to document the student’s critical abilities through the performance of an individual written as well as an oral major critical analysis of another Master’s thesis, including the conducting of an oral examination of this thesis.

Förväntade studieresultat

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate a good understanding of the chosen topic, the area of research, and related methodological issues
• independently select a for business administration appropriate topic and formulate relevant research questions
• apply a scientific perspective in using theory and prior literature
• assimilate and evaluate scientific publications
• follow the knowledge development in the chosen area and discuss how the thesis contributes or relates to scientific knowledge in the chosen area
• evaluate different research methods and data collection methods in relation to a specific research question and convincingly argue for the choice of research method
• summarise, analyse and discuss an empirical (or equivalent) material in an independent and scientific manner using relevant methods for analysis
• discuss societal and/or ethical issues of relevance for the thesis
• communicate the main arguments, contents and results of the study in a scholarly manner
• defend the thesis at a scientific seminar
• critically examine other reports both orally and in writing.

Behörighetskrav

Universitet/högskola: Företagsekonomi C, 30 hp, inklusive C-uppsats, 15 hp eller motsvarande samt 15 hp från teorikurs på D-nivån i ämnet företagsekonomi. En A och svenska för grundläggande behörighet för högskolestudier (om kursen ges på svenska). Admitted to a Master’s Program at Umeå School of Business. University: Courses in Business Administration at the Master/D-level, a minimum of 22.5 ECTS. Previously completed courses must include studies of scientific methodology within business/social sciences corresponding to at least 7.5 ECTS, including both qualitative and quantitative methodology.

Undervisningens upplägg

The author’s independence and responsibility is emphasized in the conducting of thesis work. Thus the supervisor’s influence and control is reduced in order to create the necessary conditions for individual autonomy, creativity, and personal responsibility. Normally, the student can be expected to take active part in in-progress seminars organised by the supervisor. It is understood that the ongoing Master’s thesis work is presented to the supervisor on at least three occasions during the thesis process. Supervision is only guaranteed during the semester when the student is firstly registered on the thesis course.

Examination

Module 1. Side-oppositions, 0 ECTS
The module is examined through written ‘side-oppositions’, i.e. critical analyses, of two other one-year master theses (or Swedish ‘Magister’ theses, but not Bachelor’s theses). Written side-oppositions are always individual assignments. The side-oppositions should be numbered consecutively (D1, D2) and comprise 4-5 pages. In addition participation in each of the thesis seminars is required. Side-oppositions are graded as pass or fail.

Module 2. Master's thesis, 15 ECTS
The module is examined through authoring and defending an independent work. The grades used are: pass with distinction, pass or fail. The thesis is evaluated and graded by a grading committee, whereas the individual effort in the defence is graded at the seminar.

Information about grading criteria is found in the thesis manual, see http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/

In case the Master’s Thesis is not accepted as is, it may be revised with instructions given, or subject of a new effort. In cases of revision, the new version should be completed and delivered to the supervisor within four weeks after the final seminar/or after the date the revision was presented.

Module 3. Main opposition, 0 ECTS
The module is examined through an individual written as well as an oral main opposition (critical examination where the student is responsible for leading the seminar) on another one-year Master’s thesis (or a ‘Magister’ thesis). The oral main opposition can be conducted in collaboration with your co-author on your thesis. The main opposition is graded as pass or fail.

In total, the course demands partaking in four thesis seminars where active participation is an important requirement.

For the course as a whole, the following grading system is used: Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, VG), Pass (Godkänd, G) and Fail (Underkänd, U).

Rules and regulations concerning the production of academic texts and correct referencing will be applicable to all written assignments.
Grades on the course are awarded when students have passed all examinations and compulsory course elements.

Academic credit transfer
Academic credit transfers are according to the University credit transfer regulations.

Övriga föreskrifter

Students at the International Business Program will write their Master’s thesis (Swedish; magisteruppsats or D-thesis) in English to meet the requirements for obtaining a degree in the program. Similarly, when students at the International Business Program defend their thesis, the seminar will be held in English.

In other instances where a thesis has been written in English, the seminar should, as a general rule, also be held in English, unless all seminar participants (including side opponents) are Swedish speaking.

The thesis should normally be jointly written by two authors.

Supervision is only guaranteed during the semester when the student is firstly registered on the thesis course.
It is not possible for two students who jointly write a thesis, to be registered for different types of theses (e.g. one student writing a bachelor and the other a master’s thesis).

For students following a master’s program, the subject for the thesis should be within the scope of the master’s program. For further information, see descriptions for awarding degrees (in Marketing, Management etc.).

As a rule of thumb, the scope of the thesis should be approximately 40-60 pages.

The empirical material that is utilized in the thesis should on request be available for supervisor, main opponents and the grading committee in its original form (raw-data)

The thesis seminar (defence) should not be held until the compulsory side-oppositions have been completed.

The thesis seminar and the main opposition are normally carried out at the end of the course (usually the end of the semester). For students not completing their thesis on time, a seminar is arranged when the thesis is completed and when there are opponents available.

When the grade has been set, archive copies of the completed thesis shall as soon as possible, and within 4 weeks, be submitted in both paper and digital form. For details, see http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/printing-and-archiving/