Specialized Master'sTopic I: Area of Specialization related to the Master's Thesis in Literature

The purpose of the course is to facilitate the development a project outline for the student's master’s thesis. The project proposal should include a set of research questions, a clear delimitation of the topic, and a working hypothesis. Moreover, the outline will be expected to include a presentation of relevant methodologies, pertinent academic literature, and also include a preliminary bibliography. Additionally, a timeline for the thesis should be proposed.

The course also provides an introduction to the professional careers open to candidates of comparative literary. Parts of the course thus focus on issues pertaining to the Allmenn litteraturvitenskap's particular position at the intersection of academic institutions and the Norwegian cultural sector, giving an introduction to the politic, economy and sociology of the cultural industry as well as of Academica. Course work will thus (but not uniquely) focus on of such matter as political documents, reports and sociological studies of culture and the Norwegian public sphere.

Knowledge:

The candidate:

• has a basic understanding of the characteristics of academic writing
• has an overview of current research in the field to be studied in the master thesis
• is familiar with the standards required for academic publishing
• has knowledge of the discipline's established channels of dissemination

Skills:

The candidate:

• can outline an independent research project, formulating research questions and hypotheses
• has an understanding of methodological and theoretical issues related to research
• is able to structure a research project
• is able develop and present a project outline

• is able review research plans and draft texts

Professional Knowledge:

The candidate:

• has knowledge of the most common career paths for the discipline's candidates.
• has an overview of the Norwegian cultural sector's public and private actors
• is knowledgeable about the Norwegian publishing and journal landscape
• understands key concepts, principles, and institutions in Norwegian cultural policy (such as cultural funding schemes) as well as ownership structures within the publishing and media sectors

Teaching Format: The course is seminar-based (with some individual supervision). Mandatory activities include one draft project outline and one approved seminar presentation on an academic or cultural policy topic.

Normal study progression requires the project outline to be approved by the end of the first semester. An approved outline is a prerequisite for continuing work on the master’s thesis.

Mandatory Activities

• There are two mandatory activities : one is the project outline draft, and the other may be a presentation or a brief written text, such as a project funding application, an abstract for an academic article, or equivalent.