BA Thesis Seminar III - JPB105

• Title: BA Thesis Seminar III
• Czech title: Bakalářský seminář III
• Guaranteed by: Department of Political Science (23-KP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2025
• Semester: both
• E-Credits: 4
• Hours per week, examination: 0/2, C [HT]
• Capacity: winter:unknown / 150 (unknown); summer:unknown / unknown (unknown)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Belongs to the student work of type: bakalářská práce
• Note: enabled for web enrollment; you can enroll for the course in winter and in summer semester
• Guarantor: Mgr. Jakub Franěk, Ph.D.; Ing. Petr Špecián, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Jakub Franěk, Ph.D.; Janusz Salamon, Ph.D.; Ing. Petr Špecián, Ph.D.
• Pre-requisite : JPB104

Annotation

BA Thesis Seminar III is the final, supervision-only stage aimed at producing a defence-ready bachelor’s thesis (or a near-final draft). The course takes the form of individual student–supervisor consultations. It provides structure, deadlines and assessment to maintain and support students’ final steps in thesis completion.

Last update: Špecián Petr, Ing., Ph.D. (15.09.2025)

Aim of the course

1. Complete the core analysis and writing under supervision.

2. Integrate supervisor feedback into a polished (near-)final draft.

3. Finalise formatting, referencing, annexes and submission logistics.

Last update: Špecián Petr, Ing., Ph.D. (15.09.2025)

Course completion requirements

Credit is granted by the supervisor for satisfactory progress toward a defence-ready thesis.

In particular:

• Continuous work across the semester.

• Consultations with the supervisor (≥ 3 consultations per semester expected by default).

• Coherent and correctly referenced thesis manuscript as agreed with the supervisor. Options:
  • finalised thesis submission via SIS; or
  • a near-final thesis dratf submitted within deadline for supervisor assessment.

• Compliance with faculty rules on academic integrity and permitted use of AI tools.

Last update: Špecián Petr, Ing., Ph.D. (15.09.2025)

Literature

 Students use literature and informational resources recommended by their supervisor, based on the specific topic of their bachelor’s thesis.

Last update: Špecián Petr, Ing., Ph.D. (15.09.2025)

Teaching methods

AI Use Policy for This Course

Writing a thesis is a significant undertaking. AI can be a powerful assistant in this process, helping you manage your research and improve your writing. However, it is key to discuss the permitted use with your supervisor and the intellectual ownership of the thesis must remain entirely yours.

Potential Uses (conditional on supervisor approval):

• Brainstorming and refining your research question.
• Identifying relevant literature and sources (you are still required to read, analyze, and cite them properly yourself).
• Summarizing articles to aid your comprehension.
• Improving the grammar, clarity, and academic tone of text you have already written.
• Formatting your citations and bibliography.

Core Competency & Limitations: The core competency of a thesis is demonstrating original research and analysis. You may NOT use generative AI to write the core components of your thesis. This includes, but is not limited to, the thesis proposal, literature review, methodology, analysis, and conclusion. The arguments and analysis presented in your writing sample and final thesis must be your own.

Requirement: Transparency & Supervisor Consultation
You need to maintain an open dialogue with your supervisor about your use of any AI tools. All submitted work must include a brief statement detailing which tools were used and for what purpose. Tools need to be specifiet precisely, such as ChatGPT 5 Thinking, not just ChatGPT.

Supervisor's Use of AI and Student Rights

• For Providing Guidance: In the course of providing feedback, your supervisor may use AI tools as an assistant to help identify areas for improvement in clarity, structure, or argumentation in your drafts.

• Commitment to Mentorship and Privacy: The use of any tool is intended to supplement, never replace, the supervisor's personal intellectual engagement with your work. Your original research will not be used to train AI models, and your privacy will be protected at all times.

• Student's Right to Opt-Out: Given the collaborative nature of the thesis process, you have the right to request that your work not be processed by any AI tools. You should communicate this preference directly to your supervisor in your ongoing consultations (a simple email or verbal request is sufficient). This request will be fully respected without any penalty to the assessment of your progress.

Last update: Špecián Petr, Ing., Ph.D. (25.09.2025)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the semester students will have a supervisor-approved near-final draft or a finalised thesis manuscript submitted via SIS.

Last update: Špecián Petr, Ing., Ph.D. (16.09.2025)