The master programme is finished in the fourth term with a Master Thesis in which academic results from the students’ own research are presented. The thesis can be written in Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese or English and has a maximum size of 30.000 words. The thesis will be judged by both the coaching professor and a second reader.
In essence, the thesis is an academic report on research of a specific topic within the field of Amerindian culture history, language or material culture. It should include a combination of a critical evaluation of the existing literature with original investigations, preferably in the area itself. Mostly the report is a written thesis of no less than 60 pages, but also other forms are possible if proper preparatory courses have been followed, e.g. a documentary film, a computer program or CD-Rom, etc. The topic is determined in prior consultation with the supervisors. The student presents a formal application stating the research questions and aims, work-plan, basic bibliography and other relevant data. The student is expected to report regularly on the progress of the research (both in the context of the project group and on consultation hours of the supervisors) and discusses the general structure and contents of the work with the supervisors before starting the final editing. Definitive discussion and evaluation takes place during the formal thesis defense.
Timetable
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Method of Instruction
Writing a Master Thesis under supervision.
Information
Prof. dr. P. Silva ( p.silva@let.leidenuniv.nl)