Master by Research in Human Sciences, 120 credits

Aim

The programme’s purpose is to gain a deep understanding and thorough knowledge of a chosen topic through planning and conducting a research project together with a senior researcher (professor, associate professor or equivalent) and possibly external partners.

Programme objectives

In accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, Annex 2, the Master by Research in human sciences programme has the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master the student shall
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both an overview of the field and significantly specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
- demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills
For a Degree of Master the student shall
- demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge as well as analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information,
- demonstrate the ability to critically, independently and creatively identify, formulate and plan topics, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and thereby contribute to the development of knowledge and to the evaluation of the work,
- demonstrate in speech and writing - and both nationally and internationally - the ability to report and discuss comprehensively his or her conclusions including the discussions and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences/stakeholder groups, and
- demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or in future related employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and ethical approach
For a Degree of Master the student shall
- demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study incorporating relevant disciplinary, social and ethical aspects and to demonstrate awareness of the ethical aspects of research and development work,
- demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of science, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
- demonstrate the ability to identify his or her personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her continuous learning.

Learning outcomes specific to the specialisations

Sports Sciences
Upon completion of the programme, the student shall be able to:
- Develop/select, assimilate and test experimental methods appropriate to the field in consultation with experts in the field of sports sciences.
- Select population, experimental design and analysis based on available methods within sports sciences and independently or in a team conduct systematic data collection and analysis.
- Apply good research ethics within sports sciences by discussing questions of research ethics with his or her supervisor and apply ethical considerations to the selected methodology and data management
- Together with the supervisor, apply for ethical approval for research studies when needed
- Take the test subject’s perspective when planning and conducting experiments

Social Work
Upon completion of the programme, the student shall be able to
- Use advanced theories and research methods relevant to the global and national field of social work
- Independently plan and conduct a small research project and communicate the relevance of acquired research results in its global and local context
- Demonstrate familiarity collaborating on a research project
- Analyse and evaluate scientific questions within a selected field of research that concerns social problems and their local, structural and institutional context
- Apply critical intersectional and analytical thinking
- Demonstrate advanced understanding of social work’s ethical codes and universal values such as social justice and human rights

Tourism Studies
Upon completion of the programme, the student shall be able to
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both an overview of the field and significantly specialised knowledge with regard to central concepts in tourism as well as current research and development in fields related to tourism
- Through independent work, demonstrate the ability to integrate and generate knowledge, to be able to handle highly complex problems and formulate conclusions based on scientific work
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific work, both to practitioners in tourism and to the general public both nationally and internationally
- Demonstrate the ability to study and work both independently and as part of a team and to be able take part in and develop advanced scientific research
- Demonstrate the ability to combine scientific and methodological skills and expertise in the field
- Be able to combine critical dialogues and interdisciplinary approaches creatively to both create and develop tourism-related research

Content

Sports Sciences specialisation

Elective courses GR/AV, 30 credits, with specialisations appropriate for the individual student’s project
Sports science AV, Development of theory and experiments, 15 credits
Sports science AV, Research tools and methodology, 15 credits
Sports Science AV, Project part I, 15 credits
Sports Science AV, Project part II, 15 credits
Sports Science AV, Independent project, 30 credits

Social Work specialisation
Elective courses GR/AV, 30 credits in Social Work
Social Work AV, Research overview, 7.5 credits
Social Work AV, Research methodology, 7.5 credits
Social Work AV, Independent project, 15 credits
Social Work AV, Project I, 15 credits
Social Work AV, Project II, 15 credits
Social Work AV, Independent project, 30 credits

Tourism Studies specialisation
Elective courses GR/AV Tourism Studies / Human Geography, 30 credits
Tourism Studies AV, Quantitative methods in tourism, 7.5 credits
Tourism Studies AV, Qualitative methods in tourism, 7.5 credits
Human geography / Tourism Studies AV, Project I, 15 credits
Human Geography / Tourism Studies AV, Project II, 30 credits
Human Geography / Tourism Studies AV, Independent project, 30 credits

During the study period the names of courses and course elements, contents and localization may be subjected to certain changes.

Specialisation

Sport science
Idrottsvetenskap, 120 hp

Social work
Socialt arbete, 120 hp

Tourism
Turism, 120 hp

Entry requirements

• English course 6/English from Swedish upper secondary school or equivalent.

Eligibility requirements specific to the specialisation:

- Sports Sciences: Bachelor’s degree of at least 180 credits in sports sciences, physiology, medicine, biology or equivalent, including 15 credits independent project (degree project)
- Social Work: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work of at least 180 credits, including 15 credits independent project (degree project)
- Tourism Studies: Bachelor’s degree of at least 180 credits in Tourism Studies, Human Geography or other subject in the social sciences field, including 15 credits independent project (degree project)

• Applicants competence in relation to the chosen subject area, scientific quality and analytical ability. This eligibility requirement is assessed based on:
1 Personal letter containing:
a) brief description of the chosen project (ie. which research topic / research project the applicant is interested in)
b) motivate the interest in the chosen project
c) describe qualifications / experiences relevant to the project / research topic

2. Previous independent written work
3. Interview

Description of programme

The programme is full-time for two years and consists largely of supervised research in a research team.

Selection rules and procedures

Alternative selection, see heading "Other information".

Programme with restricted admissions

Specific prior knowledge requirements for courses in the programme are stated in the respective course plan.

Teaching and examination

Teaching is normally full-time and is given in the form of collaborative research in a research team. The programme is given in Swedish and/or English. The forms of teaching and examination are stated in the respective course plan.

Title of qualification

Degree of Master of Arts/Science (120 credits)

Sport Science:
Masterexamen med huvudområdet idrottsvetenskap
translated into Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Sport Science

Social Work:
Masterexamen med huvudområdet socialt arbete
translated into Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Social Work

Tourism:
Masterexamen med huvudområdet turismvetenskap alternativt kulturgeografi
translated into Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Tourism Studies or Human Geography

Other information

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR ALTERNATIVE SELECTION
In the selection of applicants, great emphasis is put on competence in relation to the chosen subject area, scientific quality, analytical ability, ability to work independently and in groups and ability to express themselves in writing in English. The selection is based on an aggregation of scientific quality on previous independent work, personal letter and interview.