Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 26/27.R.2.00

Description Period: 2026./27 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Pre-defense of Master's Thesis

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
JF_470
Branch of Science
Law
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Civil and Military Defense; Juridical Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Marta Urbāne
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

To ensure the evaluation of the scientific quality, research methodology, legal argumentation and compliance with academic requirements of the master’s thesis before submitting the work for defence. To develop students’ ability to present the results of the research in a structured manner, to justify the chosen research methods, to answer questions in a reasoned manner and to critically evaluate the received recommendations for improving the master’s thesis.

Preliminary Knowledge

Acquired knowledge and skills in the methodology of legal research, analysis of scientific sources, legal argumentation and academic writing. Completed the study courses provided for in the study programme in accordance with the study plan. Prepared a master’s thesis for pre-defence in accordance with the requirements of RSU, including a fully developed introduction, the main part of the research, conclusions and proposals.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Explain the requirements for scientific quality, research methodology, academic integrity and legal argumentation of the master’s thesis.

Individual work and tests

Individual work

2.Describe the process of evaluation, pre-defence and defence of the master’s thesis, as well as the quality criteria of the scientific research.

Individual work and tests

Individual work

Skills

1.Presents the relevance of the master’s thesis, the research problem, the aim, the methodology, the main results, conclusions and proposals in a structured manner.

Individual work and tests

Individual work • Examination

2.Justifies the choices made in the study, the research methods used and the results obtained, answering the questions of the committee.

Individual work and tests

Examination • Individual work

3.Evaluate the recommendations provided by the committee and determine the necessary improvements to the master’s thesis.

Individual work and tests

Individual work • Examination

Competences

1.Independently assesses the quality of his/her scientific research, identifies methodological and substantive shortcomings and makes informed decisions on the improvement of the work.

Individual work and tests

Individual work • Examination

2.Demonstrate the ability to defend the results of the research in an academic discussion, observing the principles of scientific argumentation and academic integrity.

Individual work and tests

Examination

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
-
-

The student independently, in consultation with the supervisor of the master’s thesis, prepares the master’s thesis for pre-defence. Evaluates the structure of the research, theoretical and empirical justification, appropriateness of research methods, legal argumentation, compliance of conclusions and proposals with the results of the research. Prepares an academic presentation and an argumentative defence of his/her research. After the pre-defence, evaluates the recommendations of the commission and makes the necessary improvements.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
-
Test

The student presents the master’s thesis and discusses the relevance of the research, the problem, the aim, the methodology, the main results, conclusions and proposals. The student answers the questions of the committee and justifies the choices made in the research. The committee assesses the scientific quality of the master’s thesis, its compliance with academic requirements and its readiness for further progress, providing recommendations for improvement.

Assessment criteria

  1. Consistency between the research problem, aim and tasks.
  2. Quality of the theoretical basis and the sources used.
  3. Relevance and justification of the research methodology.
  4. Depth of legal analysis and quality of argumentation.
  5. Justification of conclusions and proposals.
  6. Structure of the presentation, academic discussion and quality of answers.

The committee decides on the readiness of the work for further progress or on the necessary improvements in accordance with the current regulations of RSU.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Evaluation of the scientific quality of the master’s thesis
Description

Evaluation of the research problem, aim, methodology, theoretical basis, results and conclusions.
Preparing the master’s thesis for pre-defence
Description

Structuring the results of the research, preparing an academic presentation and developing the argumentation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Evaluation of the scientific quality of the master’s thesis
Description

Evaluation of the research problem, aim, methodology, theoretical basis, results and conclusions.
Master’s Thesis Pre-Defence
Description

Presentation of the study, academic discussion, questions from the committee and evaluation of the quality of the work.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
4 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test (Semester)
PART-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Evaluation of the scientific quality of the master’s thesis
Description

Evaluation of the research problem, aim, methodology, theoretical basis, results and conclusions.
Preparing the master’s thesis for pre-defence
Description

Structuring the results of the research, preparing an academic presentation and developing the argumentation.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Evaluation of the scientific quality of the master’s thesis
Description

Evaluation of the research problem, aim, methodology, theoretical basis, results and conclusions.
Master’s Thesis Pre-Defence
Description

Presentation of the study, academic discussion, questions from the committee and evaluation of the quality of the work.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
4 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test (Semester)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

RSU Sociālo zinātņu fakultātes metodiskie noteikumi maģistra studiju programmās studējošajiem "Studējošā rokasgrāmata"

Additional Reading

1.

Zinātniskā rakstīšana un pētījumu rezultātu izplatīšana