Degree project in global health

The course is included in the master program for global health and is given in semester 4.
The course can be part of the following programme: 1) Master's Programme in GlobalHealth (V2GLH)

Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion

School of Global Studies

Department of Economics

Department of Social Work

To be admitted to the course, the student must have obtained approved results in the method course MGH102 Quantitative and Qualitative Methods, 15 credits. In addition, the student must have obtained approved results in at least two of the program's main focus area courses, such as MGH101 Global Health Issues in an Interdisciplinary Context, 15 credits; MGH201 Governing health and illness in a global perspective, 15credits; MGH202 Global Health Economics, 15 credits; or MGH302 Health promotionand disease prevention in at risk groups: strategies and methods, 15 credits.

The focus of the course is a thesis project where the student, with guidance from thes upervisor/s, conducts a scientific study of a selected topic relevant to the academic field of global health. The course will allow the student an opportunity to specialize and broaden within the main field and hereby practice on searching for, critically reviewing and compiling research information including research in global health.

The thesis project gives the student the opportunity to assess, analyse and integrate knowledge, skills and judgements of theoretical and methodological concepts achieved in the previous courses. The students will thus demonstrate an understanding of the main field of global health and specialised knowledge in the specific field of global health, as well as insight into current research and development work.

Each student, for their individual thesis project, formulates aim and research questions, completes a study based on collected primary and/or secondary data, alternatively a policy analysis or a systematic review and/or a meta-analysis, and presents the results orally and in writing, in the form of a thesis.

At the end of this course, students should demonstrate an ability to plan, carry out and present an in-depth study of a specific global health topic as well as demonstrate how it is anchored in the broader global health academic discipline.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a selected area of research, and present its empirical relevance to the academic field of global health;

Competence and skills

• independently and innovatively identify and formulate a scientific question focused on a topic that is relevant to the field of public health;
• identify and apply the appropriate theoretical and methodological framework to answer the scientific question posed in the thesis work;
• independently and under the guidance of a supervisor, organize and conduct, within given time frames, the degree work and present the findings both in writing and orally;
• discuss and clearly motivate the rationale underlying a research process and conclusions derived from the study;
• critically review a scientific work, present both its strengths and weaknesses, as well as make suggestions for improvement;

Judgement and approach

• Independently and systematically evaluate and analyze empirical materials in order to achieve valid results and conclusions;
• reflect over and appraise relevant scientific, ethical and sustainability aspects of research and development work.

The course is sustainability-related, which means that at least one of the learning outcomes clearly shows that the course content meets at least one of the University of Gothenburg's confirmed sustainability criteria.

The main part of the course consists of independent work carried out by the student with guidance from the supervisor(s). 30 hours of supervision are guaranteed. The course begins with introductory lectures on campus during the first week of the course. During the following weeks, the student prepares and discusses a study plan with the supervisor and submits it for approval by the course coordinator. Students have to submit a mid-term report describing the progress of the thesis. The course ends with examination seminars where each student publicy presents the thesis, both written and oral, in front of the grading teacher and a fellow student who acts as an opponent. In addition, the student reviews and provides feedback on another student's thesis.

Before the student submits the thesis for examination, it is recommended that the supervisor is consulted and makes an assessment for the course coordinator, whether the thesis is of sufficient academic quality to be examined.

After the final seminar, the student must take into account all comments from the grading teacher and the opponent and submit a revised thesis. The examiner and the grading teacher review the revised thesis and may then approve the thesis or request further changes.

Language of instruction: English
Data collection can be done in a language other than English, but all assignments, including the thesis itself, will be presented in English.

The course is examined on the basis of:

• Written study plan
• Written half time report
• Written thesis
• Oral presentation and defense of thesis
• Oral opposition of other student’s thesis

A student who has taken two exams in a course or part of a course without obtaining a pass grade is entitled to the nomination of another examiner. The student needs to contact the department for a new examiner, preferably in writing, and this should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg for special educational support, where it is compatible with the learning outcomes of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, the examiner may decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, but no more than two years, after the course has ceased/been changed. The same applies to placements and professional placements (VFU), although this is restricted to just one additional examination session.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). In order to earn a Pass (G), the student must pass all the examination components.

In order to achieve a Pass with Distinction (VG), the student must pass all the examinations and earn Pass with Distinction (VG) on the individual thesis work

All parts of the course must be passed in order for the final grade to be awarded.

Course evaluation takes place in written format and orally in dialogue with the students and course coordinator. The course coordinator compiles the analysis of course evaluation and provides suggestions for development of the course. Analysis and suggestions are shared with the students.

The result and possible changes in the course structure are communicated to both students who completed the evaluation and to the students who start the course.