Guidelines for the CCG Topic Study

The topic study is an assignment worth 5 ECTS. Compared to the project, which is 20 ECTS, the topic study is therefore a smaller task. In the topic study you have to make a problem formulation and preferably take your point of departure in “a problem” within the topic areas of the programme. The intention behind this assignment is to train students in dealing with more than one assignment at a time, and at the same time assure that students delve into more than just one research problem. The topic study can be related to the topic studied in the project, but it must be based on a different problem formulation.
 
Futhermore, your topic study should be based on the courses in the CCG programme and relate to the thematic frame in the given semester. In the Autum the theme is “Globalization and Multiculturalism” and in the Spring it is “Cultural and Communicative Aspects of Global Processes”. All written assignments have to have an international or multicultural perspective. Examples of topic studies are analyses of policy, political communication, branding strategies, marketing issues, cultural issues in relation to organisation and management – in short, all aspects of the Marster's programme may be relevant for the topic study. The idea is that you work in-depth in an academic way with a topic that you find interesting.
 
The topic study is started out in dialogue with your supervisor: the overall theme is decided, relevant theories identified, possibly empirical sources and methods decided on. You can count on one meeting with a supervisor where you discuss the assignment with him or her, and where he or she comments on the first few pages you have written, if you wish. Remember that your topic study has to be made during the semester. In December (for the Autumn semester) and June (the Spring semester), supervisors are always extremely busy with exams. Therefore do contact your supervisor early in the semester and plan your meeting.
 
The written assignment must contain elements similar to the project:
  • introduction, including problem formulation
  • reflections on methodology
  • theory and relation to existing literature within the area
  • analysis of material based on the formulated problem
  • conclusion
  • references
It is not important that words such as “methodology” are included as a section headline, but it is essential that you systematically account for the methodology you find most suitable or examining your formulated problem. The theory applied in your written assignment should be seen as an instrument to describe, understand, analyse and/or recommend actions. You should not merely reproduce these theories, but use them actively in your analysis. If you wish you can add an empirical study, but make sure to keep this relatively small due to the small size of the assignment. The assignment can be max. 10 pages.
 
The curriculum describes the Topic Study thus:
Examination 7
An internal written examination in: Topic Study I. This examination is a free, written take-home assignment (examination type: c) on a topic defined in consultation with the supervisor and approved by her/him. The take-home assignment response paper must be prepared on the basis of one or a number of courses offered in the programme.

The assignment paper must be prepared individually and in English by the student and must not exceed 10 pages.

Evaluation: grading according to the 7-point scale.
Credits: 5 ECTS

The examination should demonstrate that the student fulfils the objectives outlined above as regards knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies.

In the evaluation of the examination performance, the grade 12 will only be awarded to students who give an excellent performance and demonstrate that they fulfill the objectives for the subject exhaustively or with only few, insignificant omissions.