Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree and, in addition, at least 30 credits in earth science at Master's level, including courses at Master's level that are necessary for the project. Admission requires a project plan accepted by the department. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate deep knowledge in an individually chosen field of Earth Sciences,
• search and in a critical way interpret and compile relevant scientific literature,
• design a research plan describing a scientific question, the planned scientific study and selection of appropriate methods,
• carry out the study, interpret and evaluate results, and if applicable, generate testable hypotheses to explain the observations, within given time frames,
• present the results with a correct and relevant language for different target groups both in scientific and in popular form,
• give constructive criticism to others' texts in the main field of study.

Content

An independent project is carried out, where the knowledge from earlier completed courses are applied. The project is guided by a supervisor in close connection to ongoing projects in research or development.

To achieve the objectives, the student shall:

• under supervision delimit a scientific question and compile a research plan, i.e. search and evaluate information relevant to the chosen research question,
• scientifically analyse the research question, interpret and evaluate the results as well as present the work orally and in writing,
• participate actively in seminars and other activities at the workplace where the work is carried out,
• comment and give constructive criticism (act as an opponent) on other students' projects.

The course consist of three parts focusing on different aspects of the content. 

Part 1: Project planning and research question, 5 credits

Part 2: Midterm report 25 credits

Part 3: Final report 30 credits

Instruction

The teaching is devised individually dependent on the direction of the project. Supervision is provided individually or in group.

Assessment

Part 1 is assessed by the presentation of a complete research plan to the supervisor. Part 2 is assessed by the presentation of an oral and written report. Part 3 through oral and written final reports. To pass, a passed oral and written presentation of the degree project is required. The written final report should consist of a scientific report, and  a popular summary. To pass, the student should also have acted as an opponent on another degree project in the same main field of study.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.

Other directives

Before the course result is registered the report must be registered in the database DiVA.