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Course syllabus - Higher Seminars in Business Administration, 7.5 credits

Information about the course

  • Course code: FOES030
  • Third-cycle subject: Business Administration
  • School: School for Business, Society and Engineering
  • Responsible department: Marketing and Strategy
  • Valid from: Autumn term 2025
  • Established by: Dean of School
  • Decision date: 2025-05-22
  • Last modified: 2025-05-20
  • Level of education: Third cycle level

Course objective

The overall purpose is to provide doctoral students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge of research in the subject Business Administration, and about how research is developed through seminar work. The goal is that upon completing the course, the doctoral students will have broadened their insights about research in Business Administration and practiced independent critical review and assessment of new and complex issues. Furthermore, the doctoral students must be able to show the ability to give and receive constructive criticism.

The purpose of the higher seminars is to help doctoral students advance in their dissertation work. Each doctoral student is expected to present at one (1) seminar per year during their doctoral studies. This may include the doctoral student’s presentation of a thesis proposal or a final seminar presentation (mock defence).

Course content

Actual research topics in Business Administration.

Intented learning outcomes

After passing the course, the doctoral student should be able to:

  1. Show understanding of the processes of different types of academic seminars and what functions (roles) drive the discussion in the academic conversation by actively participating in seminars.
  2. Show deepened knowledge of the content of the subject Business Administration, and broadened insights into the research problems and practical applications that occur in these research subjects.
  3. Read, critically reflect on, and discuss the contents of the seminars.
  4. Demonstrate their ability to critically examine research material presented at seminars and respond to presentations of others' research by asking critical questions and giving constructive comments.
  5. Demonstrate their ability to present and discuss their own research results with other seminar participants.

The intended qualitative targets in relation to the Higher Education Ordinance, appendix 2.

Knowledge and understanding

For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate:

  • A1: broad knowledge and systematic understanding of the research field as well as advanced and up-to-date specialised knowledge in a limited area of this field, and
  • A2: familiarity with research methodology in general and the methods of the specific field of research in particular.

Competence and skills

For the Degree of Doctor, the doctoral student shall demonstrate

  • B1: the capacity for scholarly analysis and synthesis as well as to review and assess new and complex phenomena, issues, and situations autonomously and critically,
  • B4: the ability in both national and international contexts to present and discuss research and research findings authoritatively in speech and writing and in dialogue with the academic community and society in general, and
  • B5: the ability to identify the need for further knowledge.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Doctor the doctoral student shall demonstrate

 

Teaching formats

Seminars.

Examination

SEM, seminars, active participation in fifteen (15) seminars, 2 cr, concerning learning goals 1, 3-5, grade fail (U) or pass (G).

INL1, individually written assignment, 2,5 cr, concerning learning goals 1, 3-5, grade fail (U) or pass (G).

INL2, individually written assignment, 3 cr, concerning learning goal 2, grade fail (U) or pass (G).

Grade

Examinations included in the course are assessed according to a two-grade scale, fail or pass.

Grades are to be decided by a teacher specially appointed by the university.

A person who has not passed the regular examination shall be given the opportunity to retake the test.

Requirements

To participate in the course and the examinations included in the course, the applicant must be admitted to doctoral studies.

Selection criteria

Selection of applicants will be made in accordance with the ranking below.

  1. Doctoral students in Business Administration at Mälardalen University.
  2. Doctoral students in related fields of study at Mälardalen University.
  3. Doctoral students in related fields of study at other universities.
  4. Doctoral students at other universities.

Transitional and other provisions

This course overlaps with the courses Higher Seminars and Higher Seminars in Industrial Economics and Organisation cannot be included in a degree together with these courses.