Duration
Number of credits
| Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS) | 15 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The final stage of the degree for political science students is the thesis. In order to properly prepare students for this piece of work, the Department of Political Science organises a Thesis preparation seminar, an essential complement to the Guide du mémoire (Thesis Guide) available to students.
Several theme-based sessions will be organised within the framework of this seminar, which students are required to attend.
These sessions relate to the following themes:
- Thesis in political science;
- Choice of subject;
- Choice of jury;
- Elaboration of a research question;
- Choice of the methodology;
- Bibliographical references;
- Planning your work;
- Looking for legal documents;
- Reading methodology;
- Field visits;
- Data analysis;
- The use of a word processor;
- Writing a scientific text;
- Defending your thesis.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By the end of the seminar and the thesis, students should be able to:
- carry out research in political science;
- collect data;
- analyse data;
- write a thesis;
- defend a thesis.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The Thesis preparation seminar is a prerequisite.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The seminar is divided into different theme-based sessions. Every session is comprised of a lecture followed by a discussion. The aim of the discussion is to allow students to talk about the difficulties they have encountered regarding their thesis and find ways to overcome these difficulties.
The following theme-based sessions are offered to students enrolled in Block 2:
- How to use MaThéO;
- Looking for legal documents;
- Reading methodology;
- Using a word processor;
- Doing interviews;
- Analysis of interviews;
- Writing a scientific text;
- Defending your thesis.
At the end of the academic year, compulsory sessions are organized on the following subject : "Ethic and Politics".
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face. There is an online option for students abroad, to be decided upon with the person organising the seminar.
Recommended or required readings
Compulsory reading:
Grandjean Geoffrey, Guide du mémoire, 120 p., available here: http://orbi.ulg.ac.be/handle/2268/201293.
The thesis rules are available on the Department of Political Science's website, available here: http://www.droit.ulg.ac.be/cms/c_268000/reglements-et-formulaires.
Assessment methods and criteria
The thesis is assessed according to the conditions set out in the thesis rules.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
See the thesis rules and the guide to writing a thesis.
Contacts
Students are invited to contact their respective sponsor and teaching assistants.
For the Thesis preparation seminar:
Prof. Dr Geoffrey Grandjean
Lecturer
Faculté de Droit, de Science politique et de Criminologie
Place des orateurs, 3
4000 LIEGE
Box 11
Office r. 16
Tel.: +32 (0)4/366.96.60
Email: Geoffrey.Grandjean@ulg.ac.be