YMEM0006-1

Duration

Number of credits

	Master in speech and language therapy, professional focus in communication and disability (Réinscription uniquement, pas de nouvelle inscription)	20 crédits
	Master en logopédie, à finalité spécialisée	20 crédits
	Master in speech and language therapy, professional focus in neuropsychology of language and verbal learning disorders (Réinscription uniquement, pas de nouvelle inscription)	20 crédits
	Master in speech and language therapy, professional focus in voice (Réinscription uniquement, pas de nouvelle inscription)	20 crédits

Lecturer

Collégialité, Annick Comblain

Coordinator

Valentine Vanootighem

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The master's thesis may take the form of empirical research, based on the collection and analysis of data to answer one or more questions arising from a defined problem, or a literature review, based on the research, selection, and critical analysis of scientific publications in order to synthesize knowledge on a given subject. In both cases, the work includes the formulation of objectives and/or hypotheses, the justified choice of data collection and analysis methods, and the interpretation of results in relation to existing knowledge.

The process culminates in the production of a written report and a public oral defense, including a presentation of the work by the student and a question-and-answer session with a jury composed of at least three members, including the supervisor.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The purpose of writing a master's thesis is to introduce students to the design and implementation of scientific research. The thesis is part of a research-based program of study, drawing on recognized methods and tools in the relevant field of research as well as the skills acquired during the program.

Students must be able to design a coherent scientific approach and meet the requirements of scientific work in terms of methodological rigor, data processing, critical analysis, and compliance with research ethics. They must also demonstrate their ability to produce original work, formalized in a written report and a public oral defense.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

La validation des crédits du Travail Préparatoire à la Recherche (TPR) constitue un prérequis à la réalisation du mémoire.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Choice of subject

The topic will already have been chosen and defined during the preparatory research work (TPR). However, this preliminary choice does not prevent the definition of the topic from being adapted at a later stage.

Supervision of the dissertation

To complete their thesis, students are supervised by an advisor who provides guidance, monitors their progress throughout the process, helps them identify the main theme, and introduces them to relevant contacts. In some cases, a supervisor may assist the advisor in monitoring the thesis. The supervisor then closely monitors the thesis and is involved in meetings and discussions on the progress of the student's work. The student reports regularly on the progress of their work to all those supervising their work, unless another arrangement has been agreed between the parties. However, the supervisor remains the academic responsible for ensuring that the work is carried out and evaluated properly. The assistance provided by the supervisor(s) and resource persons may not replace the student's work in whole or in part. It is the student's responsibility to regularly inform their supervisor(s) of the progress of their research and reflections.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège
- Microsoft Teams

Further information:

Students will participate in the activities of the cross-disciplinary support program, coordinated by the Thesis Advisor. This program includes a series of seminars focusing on aspects common to all theses in the Faculty, such as methodology, thesis writing, and preparation for the oral defense. Note: seminars are compulsory. However, students who wish to do so may submit a request to their supervisor for exemption from the compulsory seminars of the thesis support program, providing justification for their request.

Additional information:

Faculty regulations for master's theses in Psychology, Speech Therapy, and Education Sciences.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report

Further information:

All sessions combined:

The thesis work includes:

- the submission of a personal and original written document;

- an oral defense lasting a maximum of one hour (including the jury's deliberation), during which the student has 10 minutes to present their work orally. This presentation should be concise and focus mainly on a brief overview of the research question, the methods used to answer it, the main results, and their interpretation. Students should not revisit the theoretical elements developed in the thesis. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the jury members.

A grid providing guidelines for the assessment of the written work and the oral defense is specified in the Regulations for Master's theses in Psychological Sciences, Speech Therapy, and Educational Sciences.

The thesis is assessed on two separate components:

the written report (representing 50% of the final grade);
the oral defense (representing 50% of the final grade).

Both parts of the work must be passed separately in order for the credits associated with the thesis to be validated. The absorbing grade system is applied, meaning that failure in one of the two parts results in overall failure of the thesis, regardless of the grade obtained in the other part.

Additional information:

Remarks concerning spelling: Mastery of the French language is one of the basic skills required for professional practice in speech therapy. As such, if the report submitted contains more than 5 spelling mistakes (in usage and/or agreement), it will result in a failing grade (5/20) in the first session and will have to be resubmitted in the second session. If the report submitted in the second session contains more than five spelling mistakes, the student will have two points deducted from their course grade (out of 20).

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Confirmation of the thesis topic must be made no later than December 15 of the academic year in which the thesis is being written, using a form available on the Faculty's intranet site (https://intranet.fplse.uliege.be), under the Teaching tab, then Fill in my master's thesis form. It is the student's responsibility to complete the online form, ensuring that its content is approved by their supervisor, and to check the box certifying that they have read and understood the agreement relating to the completion of a thesis5. The supervisor then electronically signs the form no later than December 15.

The thesis must be submitted ONLY on the MaTheO website, either in December for the January session, in May for a defense in the June session, or in August for a defense in the September session. For each of these sessions, the specific submission date is set at the beginning of the year and is listed in the faculty schedule available on the student portal of the faculty website, under the Resources tab, then Academic Calendar.

When the thesis involves the collection of data from human subjects, a request for approval must be submitted to the ethics committee in accordance with the schedule and procedures set out in the Faculty Regulations for Master's Theses in Psychological Sciences, Speech Therapy, and Educational Sciences.

Contacts

Scientific supervision: the thesis supervisor and, where applicable, a designated supervisor.

Supervision of the cross-disciplinary thesis support system: Valentine Vanootighem (valentine.vanootighem@uliege.be).

Administrative supervision: Magda Thunus, Master's program administrator (04/366. 20. 26 or Magda.Thunus@uliege.be).

Final thesis