Writing Course and Project Description
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters
- Autumn
- Course code
- GEO-SD310
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student
- knows the characteristics of quality research publications and data
- knows different types of theses and different research strategies in system dynamics and their implications for research aim and questions as well as research design
Skills
The student
- knows how to carry out a systematic search in the library, in scientific and other data bases
- can interpret and evaluate data and literature critically
- can argue scientifically, structure the argumentation and follow good scientific use of references
- can identify ethical issues in a research project and register the project for ethical clearance
- can serve as peer reviewer of other project drafts and proposals
- can document a system dynamics model according to state-of-the-art guidelines
- can define and frame an independent research project under supervision
General competence
The student
- can choose relevant knowledge in system dynamics related to their field of interest and/or specialization within system dynamics.
- can choose a topic for a master thesis, develop and narrow it down to a clear, researchable question that can be investigated within the given time and resource limits.
- can communicate the design of a system dynamics research project with related aim, research questions, and research design, and masters language and terminology of the field of system dynamics.
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
Live-streamed, recorded and stored lectures and seminars with active participation by students in a 2 week intensive course in August/September.
Total: 4-5 lectures à 2 hours per week - 9 lectures in the first two weeks.
Assignments and milestone meetings (on campus and remotely) between September and December.
1 seminar with presentations in December
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
- During the first phase of the course, an initial project draft (3-4 pages; second week) which seeks to develop the project towards a scientific problem, including important references.
- Towards the end of the course, a full draft of a proposal and peer review of at least two other proposals.
Forms of Assessment
A project description of 5-10 pages, containing an elaborate description of theme, aim and justification of the project, scientific problem, and a brief outline of research design, methodology, and planned schedule.
The project description can be written in English or Norwegian
Grading Scale
Assessment Semester
Autumn
Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired. Maximum one week extension.