Course Description

Preliminary Project including Prospectus

Before students embark on their Master’s degree projects it is important that they use time to delimit the material and topic, and clarify problem approaches and methods. This work is called the Preliminary Project, and involves students demonstrating how documented and collected material may be used with regard to developing a realistic project question. In connection with work on the Preliminary Project, students will be expected to find theoretical references that are of special relevance to their Master’s degree projects.

The work on the Preliminary Project is embarked on during the first semester. During a writing seminar, students will receive help to start work on formulating a draft prospectus. This draft will be submitted towards the end of the autumn semester.

Work on the Preliminary Project will be followed up through a more practical-oriented methodology seminar in the second semester, which will include a discussion of the various projects. The Preliminary Project should be finished during the last part of the second semester with a prospectus, i.e. an overview of 8-10 pages regarding work on the Master’s Degree Project. In addition, the prospectus should also include a progress plan for the work on the Master’s Degree Project. The presentations at the 3 seminars, as well as the written prospectus, must be approved before the student may continue with the Master’s Degree Project. The student will be allocated 2 supervisors during the work on the Preliminary Project.

The project and supervision will be adapted to the individual student and will be related to the source material the student will be working with. This source material will usually be found within the field of Norwegian traditional arts; however, students will also be encouraged to acquire insight into other traditional cultures, for instance, through study periods abroad. Further, foreign students would most likely take their own national culture as their starting point.

The content of the theoretical/written component and the practice-based component includes:

• Formulation of problem
• Choice and explanation of strategies and methods
• Elucidation of relevant material and principal concepts
• Execution of a project with the aid of sources, observations and practice
• Relevant documentation, both theoretical and practical-aesthetic
• Discussion of results

Learning Methods

All the lectures in the Joint Theoretical Component will be focused on the Preliminary Project. This will be particularly clear in the course on science theory and in the writing seminar. In the second semester 3 project seminars will be held for the students. This will involve, first and foremost, the participation of department teachers. However, guest lecturers from other colleges and universities will also occasionally be invited to participate. The main aim is to provide students with help in preparing their project plans. It is also important that the students form study groups, so they can discuss relevant topics. Individual counseling will also be included.

Assessment Methods

The three obligatory seminars will lead to the drafting of a final prospectus.
The three presentations and prospectus in the 2^nd semester comprise 30 ECTS credits.
The prospectus will be assessed as “pass” or “fail”. The prospectus must receive a passing grade before students will be allowed to continue with the Master’s Project in the 3rd semester.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean