Bachelor's Thesis Project Global Politics

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/S_BTPMP

Course Objective

The bachelor's thesis project is the conclusion of the bachelor program in political science. The goal is for the student to apply knowledge, insights and skills acquired during the program in conducting an individual political science research, and to report on it in a thesis. In doing so, the student demonstrates that he or she is truly deserving of the title "bachelor of political science. Learning objectives: Knowledge and understanding
- The student has acquired knowledge and understanding of: (1) relevant and up-to-date political science literature in the area of the chosen topic of the thesis. Skills
- The student is able to: (2) independently search, find and critically evaluate relevant and up-to-date literature on the chosen topic; (3) formulate a scientifically relevant and answerable research question based on the literature studied; (4) design an appropriate and practically feasible research design; (5) independently collect and/or analyze empirical data; (6) formulate the scientific and social relevance of the findings of the research conducted; (7) report the report of the research in writing in a thesis. Attitudes
- The student demonstrates: (8) intellectual integrity; (9) the ability and willingness to be self-critical of one's own work.

Course Content

Students can choose from themes offered by the thesis supervisors in the form of thesis projects. The projects will be announced before the Christmas break. Based on the preferences submitted, students are then assigned to one of the projects by the thesis coordinator. Within the broader theme of the thesis project, students then choose a more specific topic, formulate a research question and design a research design and plan. The bachelor's thesis is emphatically not a literature review: the answer to the research question should be based on primary data (student-collected) data or secondary data (in particular survey data).

Teaching Methods

This course consists of joint lectures, thesis group meeting, and individual meetings on demand. The course is divided into four parts: Part 1 (February): Doing political science research: A Recap.The first four weeks of the project will consist of joint lectures that serve as both a reminder as well as an expansion of knowledge of research methodology. This part will be concluded with a midterm exam. A passing grade for this midterm exam is a prerequisite for further participation in the thesis project.Part 2 (March): Thematic orientation and thesis proposal. In March, the students will meet with their supervisor in smaller thesis groups. They will read and discuss a number of research articles on the topic of their project. This period serves as an orientation on the topic, helping students to formulate relevant research questions for their thesis. This part will be concluded with an individual thesis proposal. Here too: A passing grade the proposal is a prerequisite for further participation.Part 3 (April-May): Data collections and analysis. In the months April and May the students will execute their research. Progress is supervised and supported in weekly meetings (with the whole project groups or individually). This part will be concluded with a draft version of the thesis.Part 4 (June): Writing your thesis. Finally, in the four weeks in June, the students will write and submit the final version of their bachelor’s thesis.

Method of Assessment

Midterm exam (pass/fail and conditional) Thesis proposal (pass/fail and conditional) Thesis (100%).

Literature

Halperin, S. & Heath, O. (2020). Political research. Methods and practical skills. 3rd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Howard, C. (2017). Thinking like a political scientist. A practical guide to research methods. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Additional core literature of the thesis projects (to be announced on CANVAS).

Target Audience

Third-year students in the Bachelor Political Science, specialization Mondiale Politiek.

Custom Course Registration

In this course, you cannot enroll for one of the study groups yourself, but you will be assigned by the course coordinator. The allocation will be announced via Canvas. Please note: You do have to register for the course and the other course components on VU.nl.

Entry Requirements

At least 90 EC obtained from the Political Science programme (excluding the elective space), including the courses Bachelorwerkgroep Politicologie 1 and 2.