Master´s Thesis in Cognitive Science (two years), 15 Credits

Contents

The student shall under supervision conduct and report an independent research project at an advanced level. This means that the student should deepen his or her knowledge within one of the research areas represented at the department. The course gives training in formulating research questions and hypotheses, planning a study, collecting data, analyzing and evaluating data, and report results in a written form an at a seminar.

Expected learning outcomes

After the course the student should with a large degree of independence be able to:
- formulate one or several research questions and hypotheses that emerge from recent empirical and theoretical knowledge within the areas of the work chosen
- choose appropriate design and measurement instruments for the work
- collect data appropriate to the design and instruments chosen
- conduct an appropriate analysis of the data
- draw reasonable conclusions
- write an research report according to APA-standard
- defend the empirical thesis at a seminar which means that the student shall be able to discuss its strengths and weaknesses and also be able to relate to the own perspective and the context of the thesis topic.
- present and critically discuss someone else’s thesis in terms of strengths and weaknesses

Required Knowledge

Courses corresponding to 90 credits (hp) in cognitive science or equivalent, including 60 credits at an advanced level in cognitive science or equivalent. The courses in cognitive science can be in behavioural science, computer science, philosophy, linguistics or neuroscience out of which 7,5 ects must be in each of the five listed subjects and 15 ects must be in two of the listed subjects. A written thesis at the advanced level corresponding to a minimum of 15 ECTS is also required (which can be included in the 60 ECTS that are required at an advanced level). 15 hp at the advanced level in methods and/or statistics is also required.

Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper Secondary course English A/6.
Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.

Form of instruction

The student works closely with the supervisor and/or an research group. The research subject is chosen from one of the research subjects represented at the department. The course also includes a number of seminars. Supervision is given within the time fram of the thesis course.

Examination modes

Examination contains four parts: a thesis memo, the written report, a defense of the thesis, and a presentation and a critical discussion of another thesis. A thesis memo is presented at a seminar and examined. The independent report will be examined by an examination committee. The defense presentation and critical discussion is examined at a seminar. The grading scale includes failed, passed, and passed with distinction for the thesis. For  defense, presentation and critical discussion only the grades failed and passed are applied.

A student who has failed twice on an examination can request from the Board of Under-graduate Studies in Psychology that another teacher is appointed to grade the project work. The student is entitled 5 examinations within two years after the first registration occasion. To pass the entire course all tests and compulsory parts must have been passed. The grade is an integrated judgement of the results from all examination parts, and is given when all parts have been passed.

Credits for previous studies
Students have the right to request that previous studies, or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in a professional, work-related capacity, be validated and transferred into credits on an equivalent course or programme at Umeå University.  Applications for credit transfer should be addressed to Student Services/Degree Evaluation Office. More information can be found at the Umeå University student web site (www.student.umu.se/english)  and in Chapter 6 of the Higher Education Ordinance.  Appeals may be made to the Higher Education Appeals Board (ÖNH) against a decision by the university not to approve an application for credit transfer (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12), even in cases where only a part of the application has been rejected.