MA Seminar

The MA seminars are held in the 3-semester cycle, each 30 hours (in total 90 hours) starting from semester II to semester IV. Each semester ends with a grade which is based on the assessment of progress in research and simultaneously on assessment of the learning outcomes.

The basic aim of the MA seminars is to inspire students' scientific interests, to engage them into research on a graduate level, and to develop their research skills. In particular, these aims serve to realization of the adopted learning outcomes for given field of study, namely: knowledge, skills and social competences.

In the 1nd semester of seminar course student cames up with a research problem and is able to justify this choice by referring to a literature review and analysis of the most important sources in the chosen field. During the 2nd semester a student continues doing literature review and source searches, prepares and presents a concept/plan and proposal for the title of his/her dissertation. The 2nd semester finishes with approval of the MA thesis’ title by the Faculty Council.

As part of the 3rd semester of the seminar course student, basing on research, in-depth interviews and sources, writes a MA thesis in accordance with the adopted concept/plan and editorial requriements, presents its subsequent chapters during the seminar, and takes into consideration the supervisor’s and the other students’ comments. The 4th semester ends with acceptance of the MA thesis by the supervisor.

During the course students will enhance their skills at all levels of the thesis-writing process, devising a topic, doing preliminary research, developing and evaluating arguments, revising and re-writing early drafts, and preparing a final thesis. All these can be ordered as follows:

1. Selection of an area of interest in accordance with the capabilities of the student and promoter.

2. Formulation of a research problem.

3. Source query – preparation of notes.

4. Selection of sources in accordance to the topic’s bibliographic description.

5. Preliminary analysis of the main sources.

6. Formulation and clarification of the title.

7. Preparation of research work plan.

8. Analysis of sources and preparation of notes.

9. Organizing notes according to the key words, chronology, work structure.

10. Development of the detailed problems, issues, questions.

11. Adoption of the final structure.

12. Writing.

13. Preparation of introduction, conclusions, table of contents and front page.

14. Text printing – final corrections

Literature is provided by individual supervisors in subsequent cycles of the course (see below).

W1 - Student has deep knowledge about the specificity of international relations (IR) science as a scientific subdiscipline and its place in the social sciences system and its links with other disciplines - K_W01

W2 - Student has an advanced knowledge about methods and paradigms of IR nal relations - K_W02

W3 - Student has in-depth knowledge of the IR researcher's workshop, including phases of research process - K_W03

U1 - Student can consider place and the role and importance of scientific reflection on international relations - K_U01, K_U02

U2 – Student can elaborate a research topic, verify sources, construct research, analyze selected issues, conclude and forecast - K_U02, K_U06

U3 – Student can use acquired skills for research purposes - K_U05, K_U06

K1 – Student is prepared for a critical understanding of a state of research in the field of IR - K_K01, K_K02

K2 – Student is aware of the many conditions and limitations of scientific research - K_K01, K_K02

K3 – Student is aware of a need for lifelong learning and protection of intellectual property - K_K01, K_K02