master thesis nmbu

• NMBU student

M30-IR Master's Thesis

Credits (ECTS): 30

Course responsible: Kirsti Stuvøy

Campus / Online: Taught campus Ås

Teaching language: Engelsk

Course frequency: Annually.

Teaching and exam period: Noragric master thesis seminar for M-IR students are conducted in the spring term.

About this course

In international relations students are required to write a master thesis/dissertation on a topic within the field of international relations approved by the student's supervisor. The student can choose amongst the broad spectrum of social scientific methods and theories that are part of the master study programme to develop and conduct the thesis. The master thesis is an independent academic work. A key part of this work is the independent collection of relevant academic literature, reports, and other sources. The student may conduct fieldwork, but this is not required. If the student conducts fieldwork, it is required that the supervisor approves the research proposal prior to travel to the fieldwork. In cases where fieldwork includes personal sensitive data, the student registers the project with the Norwegian Centre for Research Data (nsd.no).

The student is supervised in developing a research proposal. The student is assigned a supervisor in the spring one year prior to submission of the thesis (in the second semester of the master program).

The approximate length of the master thesis should be a minimum of 20.000 words and a maximum of 28.000 words

The case of 60 ECTS thesis: The NMBU study regulations provide students with the possibility of writing a 60ECTS thesis. Students wishing to pursue this opportunity must have approval from their supervisor. This option is only feasible for students who perform particularly well in their coursework (average grade B or better). The length of the work distinguishes it from a 30-credit thesis: A 60-credit thesis can be up to 35000 words and the writing process of the 60-credit thesis extends over two semesters. The thesis should reflect a mastering of the status of research in a particular field. Each student is entitled to 60 hours of supervision for a 60-credit master thesis.

Learning outcome

A master thesis is a comprehensive working process. When completed, it provides the student with in-depth knowledge of a specific topic and relevant methods and theories. The student will have independently searched for and assessed various sources. The master thesis will have been structured according to academic standards. The student will have gained experience in planning and implementing a project over a period of more than six months. Throughout this process, the student will have gained specific knowledge, skills and competence:

• The student will have experience in searching for various sources, including academic literature, reports, etc. reading and assessing them in the relation to a specified issue within international relations.
• The student will have presented the research topic, including methodology, data collection, analysis and any challenges encountered, to peers in Noragric's thesis seminars for IR-students.
• Through supervision, the student will have gained insight into the various steps of a research process, including methodical and ethical concerns.
• If the student has conducted fieldwork and gathered primary data, practical experience will have been gained in assessing sources and collecting data in the field, in addition to analysis and presentation of research results.
• The student will have gained experience in processing feedback and can critically reflect on the results of the research and the working process.

Learning activities

1. Choice of topic: In the end of January students attend the department's information meeting for students and supervisors. This is an information and inspiration meeting in which potential supervisors present their areas of expertise and possible themes for a master thesis project. Subsequently the student suggests a topic for his/her master thesis and suggests a potential supervisor (within the department). This is the basis on which the department assigns the students with a supervisor. Submission of thesis topic and potential supervisor(s) is conducted electronically in the learning platform Canvas. Deadline: 1 March (2nd semester of master program).

2. Writing research proposal: As part of the compulsory methods course (EDS312), students are introduced to developing a research proposal. The supervisor approves the research proposal. Deadline for sumbission of research proposal in the learning platform is: 30 June (2nd semester of master program).

3. M30-IR thesis seminars: These seminars take place in the fourth and final semester of the master program, and are concentrated to a few weeks in spring (media March). In these seminars, the students present their on-going thesis projects and provides constructive feedback to fellow students. The peer-to-peer feedback is key to this seminar. Compulsory attendance is required in at least 3/4 of the seminars. The exact dates for the master thesis seminar is announced when the time schedule for the spring term is available in Time Edit (to be found under course code M30-IR).

Optional: Students may conduct field work. It is recommended to conduct field work in the autumn semester, i.e. year two of the master degree programme.

Teaching support

Supervision: Each student is entitled to 30 hours of supervision for a 30 ECTS master thesis. Students sign a contract with the supervisor. The supervisory relationship is guided by the contract as well as common understandings for supervisory responsibility. Writing a research proposal is an integral part of the thesis process and its supervision. The student has a responsibility to stay in touch with the supervisor. The main supervisor should be a Noragric staff member. A co-supervisor from another department at NMBU or at another university may be arranged, following application and subject to approval by the programme leader of the master program in International Relations. The student submits a signed supervisory contract to the supervisor and a copy to the study administration together with a research proposal.

NMBU Library: The NMBU Library assists students in their individual search for relevant sources and the use of reference managers such as for example End Note.

Recommended: It is recommended that students attent the NMBU Writing Course LNG240, if they have not previously done so. The NMBU's Writing Centre is available for consutlation on academic writing. Information about drop-in hours and sign-up for individual consultation is available in the NMBU Learning Centre in the Tower Building ("Tårnbygningen").

Assessment method

REGISTRATION: When signing up for your thesis, NMBU rules and regulations apply. See information from Student Information Centre (SIT): www.nmbu.no/en/students/sit/master

SUBMISSION OF THESIS: Prior to submission, the manuscript must be approved by the supervisor.

It is mandatory to upload your thesis in "Brage". Information about Brage and how submit is available here: www.nmbu.no/en/about-nmbu/library/publishing/brage/masters-theses

THESIS DEFENSE: The master thesis is concluded with an oral examination. The NMBU study regulation stipulates that oral defense of the thesis shall take place within six weeks after the submissino of the thesis. The student and supervisor decide a date for the thesis defence. During the defence, the student will give a 15-minutes presentation of the thesis research. Subsequently the student answer questions from the external and the internal examiner and engages in a discussion of the research, strengths and weaknesses of the thesis. The oral examination can result in an adjustment of the final grade for the thesis, yet the written thesis work is the main part of the assessment. The final grade is announced to the student and included on the transcript of grades.

Examiner scheme

Mandatory activity.

Research proposal submitted to supervisor by 30 June (end of first year of MA-studies).

Compulsory attendance in M30-IR thesis seminar in spring fourth semester is required in at least 3/4 of the seminars.

Teaching hours

Admission requirements.

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• Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet
• Faculty of Landscape and Society (LandSam)

Master's theses (Noragric)

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Nye registreringer

"why are we even learning this" : the effectiveness of using games to teach about the sustainable development goals with a focus on inequality , the united states climate alliance : a communicative action perspective , youth empowerment in a disempowered context , natural gas exploration and extraction : investigating the resilience of ecosystem services and implications for local livelihoods songosongo island, tanzania , social identity theory and internal displacement : a longitudinal case study of iraqi christians in kurdistan , the impact of climate change on cocoa production and adaptation strategies adopted by cocoa farmers in amansie west district, ghana , diversification and its impacts on smallholder’s livelihood in malawi : the economic benefits of a whole farm approach , alternative livelihoods for forest edge communities : cheese making in the democratic republic of the congo , mexican drug wars : examining the crime-conflict nexus , legal framework of ngos : the registration challenges of ngos in ghana (a case study of ngos operating in the greater accra region) , reframing petroleum : policy frames on the norwegian petroleum policies in the long-term perspectives on the norwegian economy from 2001 to 2021 , after nickel : a multiplicity of perspectives on the urban transformation in nikel, russia , “it’s just not me” : a study of non-participation in collective actions with a climate cause among young norwegians , use of dromedary in climate change adaptation in mali , exploring the causes of conflict between india and china , covid-19 pandemic and a welfare state in the global south : a case study of kerala, south in india , the impacts of covid-19 and the syndemics of epidemics on education and health on adolescent girls in malawi , a whole story perspective : norwegian youth reflections on sustainable development goal 4.7 , the black lives matter movement : understanding the impact on race and racial injustice in norway following the 2020 protest wave , how does finance impact the environment : a systematic literature review of state-of-the-art knowledge .

Are you interested in ecology, biological diversity and natural processes? Global environmental challenges such as climate change and species extinction make ecologists and their skills more important than ever.

Do you want to work with biological monitoring, conservation, and ecosystem health? Climate change, habitat loss, and pollution are straining ecosystems worldwide. Ecologists are needed to help understand these issues and come up with solutions.

This program focuses on the following:

• The world's major global ecological challenges, such as biodiversity loss and climate change
• Mitigation of these effects, for example via restoration ecology
• Sustainable ecosystem management

Ecologists play a key role in understanding how humans impact the environment. This knowledge is a prerequisite for combatting important environmental challenges of our time. It is also vital when working to reverse land and water degradation through restoration measures.

NMBU has an extensive course catalogue within ecology and related subjects, which is taught by dedicated teachers and researchers who are experts within their field.

The master's thesis gives you the opportunity to delve into a scientific topic of your choice. We give our students plenty of freedom when it comes to choosing a topic for the thesis. NMBU's ecology students do their fieldwork in many different countries in some of the most spectacular natural landscapes on the planet. Example of previous thesis topics include:

• Carnivore biology and management
• Forest biology and ecology
• Freshwater ecology
• Freshwater fish management
• Insect ecology
• Plant ecology
• Tropical flora and fauna
• Wildlife conservation and management

Job opportunities

Ecologists work in all parts of society where environmental issues are of concern. You will be qualified for tasks related to environmental monitoring, biological conservation, research, and education.

Our alumni work for a variety of employers, ranging from public government, NGOs, research institutions, and the university sector. The programme has a strong research emphasis, and can serve as a foundation for Ph.D. studies.

Here are just some examples of the kinds of jobs our graduates have obtained:

• Biological researcher. Many of our alumni continue in this direction, either as Ph.D. candidates or research assistants. Previous research projects include carnivore management, entomology, forest biology, fish biology and much more
• Consultant, working with f.ex impact assessments, habitat restoration and species mapping related to encroachment of nature
• Urban natural resource manager
• Fish and wildlife manager (at various levels of government)
• National park manager

Learning outcomes

As an ecology student you will study nature and natural processes. You will learn about the factors that regulate the structure and diversity of ecosystems. You will also learn about the interactions between humans and ecosystems, including our impacts and their mitigation.

We focus on the significance of biodiversity for ecosystems and underlying causes for the loss of biological diversity. Our goal is to give you an up-to-date knowledge on global environmental change and how it affects organisms and ecosystems.

As a graduate you will be able to plan and conduct independent scientific field work, as well as evaluate, analyse and synthesize the data afterwards. You will also be able to use ecological principles and knowledge from an applied perspective; such as in nature conservation and the management of natural resources.

The following courses are compulsory for all students:

• Conservation biology
• Ecological research
• Global change ecology
• Interdisciplinary collaboration on sustainability
• Methods in natural sciences
• Restoration ecology

In addition, you must choose a minimum of one of the following courses:

• Behavioural and population ecology
• Ecological entomology
• Ecology and management of natural resources in the tropics
• Ecology and management of rivers and lakes
• Environmental pollutants and ecotoxicology
• Forest Ecology
• Human wildlife interactions
• Landscape ecology
• Tropical rainforest ecology and conservation

To make it easier to choose from NMBU's extensive course catalogue, we have created some suggested example plans within the following topics (click on the course code to see course descriptions):

• Tropical Ecology
• Tropical Ecology and Management of Natural Resources
• Entomology and Forest Ecology
• Population and Landscape Ecology
• Freshwater Ecology and Ecotoxicology
• Environmental Pollution

These specializations will provide you with a number of additional skills and competencies.

Learning by doing: the master's thesis To facilitate extensive hands-on experience, the entire second year is dedicated the master’s thesis (60 ECTS). This enables you to gain extensive fieldwork and data analysis experience, giving you a competitive edge in the job market after graduation. Our master´s students do their fieldwork in many different countries, spread across four continents.

A detailed course structure can be found here.

Entry requirements

Higher Education Entrance Qualification and a completed bachelor's degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor's degree included a specialization worth 80 ECTS. Documented proficiency in English in accordance with NMBU regulations.

Applicants must have obtained a minimum grade point average (GPA) of C (in Norwegian scale) or equivalent in their degree.

A Bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, in natural sciences, with solid knowledge of ecology, ecological processes and statistics.

Students who have already obtained a master’s degree in Norway will not be prioritised.

Nordic applicants: April 15 EU applicants: April 15 Non EU-applicants: December 1

A relevant undergraduate Bachelor Engineering programme with minimum 25 credits mathematics, 5 credits statistics and 7,5 credits hysics topics. Basic knowledge in power electronics and electrical machines i required.

NMBU Masther Thesis

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• Spring 2024 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition: Round 2

On view April 27–May 11 .

Artists in this round:

• Aunna Moriarty
• Cody Norton
• Natalie Thedford

Join us in celebrating the opening of this exhibition on Friday, April 26 from 4-6pm at the CU Art Museum! Light refreshments will be served and all are welcome to attend this free reception.

• Spring 2024 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition: Round 1
• Currently on view
• Artist-In-Residence Program
• Course-Developed Exhibitions
• Traveling Exhibitions

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Norway's health minister resigns after plagiarism accusation in latest scandal to rock the Cabinet

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Norway’s health minister resigned Friday, the second Norwegian government member to step down this year amid allegations they plagiarized academic works.

Ingvild Kjerkol resigned a day after a probe by Nord University in Bodoe in northern Norway, where Kjerkol, handed in her master thesis in 2021, concluded that “there is a not insignificant amount of plagiarism in her master’s thesis.”

“We have come to the conclusion that Ingvild should resign as minister,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told a press conference. He said the probe had concluded the plagiarism was “intentional.”

Kjerkoll said she and a co-author “did not intend to plagiarize other people’s assignments.”

“Although it hurts not to be believed, we have to deal with the fact that (the university) is of a different opinion,” she said at a joint press conference with Gahr Støre.

The 48-year-old Kjerkol has been in office since October 2021 when Gahr Støre presented a coalition government of his own Labor party and the junior Center Party.

Kjerkol is the second government member to be entangled in academic plagiarism allegations this year.

In January, Sandra Borch stepped down as minister for research and higher education after a student discovered that parts of Borch’s master’s thesis, including spelling mistakes, were copied without attribution from a different author.

Gahr Støre’s coalition has seen the departure of several ministers in recent months over other wrongdoings. In September, it was revealed that the husband of then Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt had been trading in stocks for years behind her back and that could potentially enrich her.

In September, the ruling social democratic Labor party was defeated in local elections by the conservative Hoeyre, the main opposition party, for the first time since 1924. The party, which for decades was Norway’s largest party in local elections, came in second in the Sept. 11 elections for local councils in Norway’s 356 municipalities and 11 counties .