COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: THESIS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 500	E	4	3	0	0	3	18

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Reina Shehi rzenelaj@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Reina Shehi rzenelaj@epoka.edu.al , By appointment: rzenelaj@epoka.edu.al
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations
Classroom and Meeting Time:	D-105 by appointment
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:
Course Description:	-
Course Objectives:	This course has the goal to offer students the opportunity to make independent research on any topic that falls within the disciplines of political science and international relations, under the supervision of a department lecturer. The student meets regularly with the respective thesis advisor and discusses content, research methodology, and research outcomes.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Research
2	Data analysis
3	Literature review

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introductory Meeting: Brainstorming on the Thesis Idea
2	Subject Need Assessment Analysis: Relevance and Impact of Subject Area
3	Writing the Thesis Outline
4	Research on State of Art
5	Meeting 2: A draft of the Literature Review
6	Discussion on Research Methods
7	Meeting 3: A draft of the Selected Research Methodology
8	Data Collection 1
9	Data Collection 2
10	Data Analysis
11	Meeting 4: Discussion of Findings
12	Submission of Complete Thesis Draft
13	Thesis Presentation
14	Final Submission

Prerequisite(s):
Textbook(s):	Depends on the subject agreed by the student and project supervisor.
Additional Literature:
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Students will synthesize research in their field of study within political science and international relations.
2	Students will identify a research topic in their field of study within political science and international relations.
3	Students will employ quantitative and qualitative methods to test a hypothesis
4	Students will interpret their study results in light of the literature
5	Students will adhere to academic norms in presenting their research in oral and written fashion

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	4
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	4
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	4
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	4
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	4
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	4
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	2
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	5
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	4
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	4

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Presentation	1	30
Term Paper	1	70
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	25	400
Mid-terms			0
Assignments			0
Final examination			0
Other	1	2	2
Total Work Load:			450
Total Work Load/25(h):			18
ECTS Credit of the Course:			18

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

N/A