Course syllabus - Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration

Objectives

The purpose of the course is for the students to independently with limited supervision and within a given time frame solve one specific problem within the discipline of business administration. The course aim centres on group work, and to develop the students´ capacity for literature search, formulation of a research question, methodological skills and their ability to present their findings (ability to express thoughts, problems, possibilities and results).

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of the course the students are required to
- have the capacity to identify, motivate, investigate and analyse a problem and express it in a scientific manner.
- based on a theoretical model, plan and conduct a information search, including the measuring of the phenomenon and analysis of the collected information
- evaluate, manage and analyse different types of data (manage includes the correct way of referencing)
- understand the aims of the different methods and achieve through practice an understanding of the used method, so that the study can be conducted from a scientific basis
- have the ability to present the study, evidencing writing skills (use of language, editing and layout) and verbal skills through presenting material, leading discussions, contributing to debate and defending arguments
- have the ability to work together
- be able to communicate the findings to relevant actors in society

Course content

The course consists of lectures, exercises, seminars, and supervision. The course mainly consists of seminars where the students review each other’s theses, with the tutor present. The course consists of at least four (4) seminars and the course ends with a final seminar. The thesis is a group assignment.

Tuition

Lectures, exercises, seminars, and supervision.

Specific requirements

Business Administration 60 credits with progression. At least 45 credits must be completed by course start. At least 30 credits must be on level G1N, including at least 5 credits of management accounting, and at least 15 credits on level G1F. In addition English course B is required. Foreign students are required to submit a test of English equivalent to a TOEFL test result of at least 575 with TWE score 4.5 (PBT) or 90 with TWE score 20 (iBT) or an IELTS test score for academic purposes with an overall band score of 6.5 and no band score below 5.5. The test is mandatory for all applicants except for those from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain and the USA.

Examination

Writing of thesis (PM01), 15 Credits, grade Pass (G), Pass with Distinction (VG),

The thesis that is defended in an official seminar. Students will perform a main opposition and side oppositions.

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The thesis is graded with the ECTS grading (A-F) system. After grading, the student is not entitled to further supervision. For a thesis marked with F (Fail) the student has the right to hand in another revised and completed version.

A recommendation is that this course is not started earlier than the students third year of studies. When the course starts it is suggested that the student is registered for 15hp in Business Administration at the level G2F. Although the course is scheduled for the second half of the semester, i.e. the last 10 weeks, the roll call will be early in the semester. This procedure is to enable the distribution of tutors before the start of the course and increase the possibility for the students to finish on time without having to compromise the quality of the thesis. It is of mandatory that students participating in the course attend the introduction/roll call.

The tutoring hours are limited. In the case of a non-approved thesis (the grading Fail) within the tutoring time frame the student shall not receive any additional tutoring time or a new tutor. However, the student is allowed to present the thesis in future course seminars as long as the course is given, as stated in the schedule for each semester. In the event of the thesis receiving the grade Fail after the received time for revisions, i.e. normally one week after the final seminar, the student is allowed to continue on his/her own and return for new seminars.
The thesis is written in groups of two or three students