Module ENSS3192: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DISSERTATION

Department: GEOGRAPHY (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES)

ENSS3192: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DISSERTATION

Prerequisites

• Completion of all Levels 1 and 2 modules in the Environmental Sciences programme.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop the student's ability to: study a chosen area of Environmental Sciences in depth.
• integrate knowledge and skills acquired in other parts of the course.
• design a work schedule and experiments to investigate a specified environmental problem.
• work independently.
• communicate an account of the work done in a logical and concise way, in written form.

Content

• It is anticipated that the first part of the project will involve a literature search in order to create a firm basis for the project report (dissertation), field and laboratory work as appropriate.
• The second part will essentially involve data analysis, writing up and preparation of a poster.
• The student will be required to produce a word-processed report based on the investigation.
• Many projects will involve a practical investigation and these will be based formally at UDSC, although involvement of regional expertise will be sought in the selection of project topics.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of the project modules the student should be able to: understand the fundamentals of the chosen topic.
• apply those fundamentals to the logical solution of the project under consideration.
• undertake a relevant scientific literature search to place the project in its proper context.
• demonstrate self-motivation.
• design and carry out laboratory or other investigations to address an environmental problem.
• submit a clear and concise project report.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• .

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Outline of the proposed project to be submitted to the project supervisor for approval by a date to be specified in semester 2 of year 2

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University