Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Bachelor’s Thesis Seminar
Course Code
KSK_119
Branch of Science
Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science; Information and Communication Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ruta Siliņa
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide necessary information and to ensure seminar discussions so that each student drafts abstracts of their own Bachelor’s thesis and defends them successfully, continuing to work on their Bachelor’s thesis after course requirements are satisfied. During the course students will be familiarised with the requirements to the Bachelor’s thesis, academic writing and academic ethics, as well as will discuss at seminars theory, methodology and data acquisition problems in the process of drafting a theoretical and creative Bachelor’s thesis related to communication, journalism, public relations, advertising, multimedia and other study directions. At seminars, when presenting Bachelor’s thesis ideas, students will clarify concepts of the Bachelor’s thesis, adapt theoretical rationale, research methodology and data acquisition process to each topic and goals of each specific works.
Preliminary Knowledge
Research Methods in Social Sciences, Qualitative Research Methods, Communication Theories, Mass Communication Theories.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.About requirements to the Bachelor’s thesis – methodical instructions. About the concept of the Bachelor’s thesis.
Skills
1.To prepare the idea of the Bachelor’s thesis, to formulate goals, tasks, novelty, topicality, theoretical foundation, select research methods or creative work concept guidelines.
Competences
1.To create an independent research or creative work in communication science, formulating an original and topical topic.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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The course will be implemented in the form of lectures, discussions, individual presentations. During the course students should attend a joint academic writing lecture and should put their names on the lists of university lecturers (10 people per group), whose topic is related to the topic, goal, research or creative tasks of the Bachelor’s thesis. Students develop topics of Bachelor’s thesis, which are related to the knowledge obtained in the study programme, having familiarised with methodical instructions of the Bachelor’s thesis. The student shall search for literature in accordance with his/her topic of the Bachelor’s thesis. Attendance of lectures and seminars is mandatory!
How to prepare for a seminar?
1) Students attend a joint lecture and put their names on the list for 1 seminar creating the concept of their Bachelor’s thesis based in methodical instructions of the Bachelor’s thesis.
2) The first version of the Bachelor’s thesis abstracts should be taken to the seminar to be presented and discussed at the seminar.
3) During the seminar the list of readings for the Bachelor’s thesis that has been prepared in advance should be discussed, presenting the overview of theoretical literature used in the Bachelor’s thesis on 5 pages. Each student should bring to the seminar a printed overview of readings so that the university lecturer could familiarise with understanding of the readings chosen for the Bachelor’s thesis.
4) 3 days before the seminar 2-3 questions for the university lecturer/-s should be posted in the e-studies environment.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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2.
Examination |
-
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-
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3.
Examination |
-
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-
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4.
Examination |
-
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-
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5.
Examination |
-
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-
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Participation in lectures – 20%.
Preparedness for seminars – 30%.
Defence of abstracts – 50%.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
|
What do you expect when writing a bachelor's thesis? (Klāvs Sedlenieks)
Course content and logic, rules
BD development terms, conditions, structure,
Introduction, relevance and novelty of the bachelor thesis
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Creative or research bachelor's thesis?
(Alnis Stakle)
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Formulating the topic of the bachelor's thesis, justifying the topicality of the thesis (Ruta Siliņa, Līga Ozoliņa)
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Selection of the theoretical framework and selection of literature for the bachelor's thesis.
Revisiting the macro, meso, and micro levels of theory.
(Ilva Skulte)
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The choice of the theoretical framework of the bachelor thesis, its justification.
(Anda Rožukalne, Ilva Skulte, Sergejs Kruks, Klāvs Sedlenieks)
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
A repeated look at the most common research methods, their application)
(Sergejs Kruks)
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Selection of research methods and development of research design
(Diāna Kiščenko, Emīls Ķīlis, Vineta Silkāne, Sergejs Kruks)
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
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Concept of creative work (Dita Rietuma)
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Designing references. Academic ethics. Plagiarism (Klāvs Sedlenieks)
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
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Scientific language. Rules for creating a scientific text. (Dite Liepa)
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Bachelor thesis concept writing, scientific languages
(Dite Liepa)
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
22 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
What do you expect when writing a bachelor's thesis? (Klāvs Sedlenieks)
Course content and logic, rules
BD development terms, conditions, structure,
Introduction, relevance and novelty of the bachelor thesis
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Formulating the topic of the bachelor's thesis, justifying the topicality of the thesis (Ruta Siliņa, Līga Ozoliņa)
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Selection of the theoretical framework and selection of literature for the bachelor's thesis.
Revisiting the macro, meso, and micro levels of theory.
(Ilva Skulte)
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The choice of the theoretical framework of the bachelor thesis, its justification.
(Anda Rožukalne, Ilva Skulte, Sergejs Kruks, Klāvs Sedlenieks)
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
A repeated look at the most common research methods, their application)
(Sergejs Kruks)
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Selection of research methods and development of research design
(Diāna Kiščenko, Emīls Ķīlis, Vineta Silkāne, Sergejs Kruks)
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Scientific language. Rules for creating a scientific text. (Dite Liepa)
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Dažādu kursu literatūra par pētījuma metodēm un komunikācijas teorijām, kā arī atsauču veidošanu
2.
Bakalaura darba veidošanas metodiskie norādījumi pētnieciskajiem un radošajiem darbiem
3.
RSU KF bakalaura darba metodiskie norādījumi
4.
How to Write a Thesis The MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England Umberto Eco translated by Caterina Mongiat Farina and Geoff Farina foreword by Francesco Erspamer
5.
Atsauču un darbā izmantoto avotu un literatūras saraksta noformēšanas metodiskie norādījumi
6.
Lipson, Ch. How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
Additional Reading
1.
An Insider’s Guide On How To Write A Thesis When You’re Short On Time
2.
Structuring a thesis
3.
How to Write a Good Bachelor Thesis
Other Information Sources
1.
How to Write a Tesis: A Working Guide R (Chandra) Chandrasekhar M, Centre for Intelligent Information Processing Systems (CIIPS) School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering e University of Western Australia Stirling Highway, Craw
2.
How to Write an Undergraduate Dissertation – Tips for Students
3.
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations