Postgraduate Course: Dissertation in Soils and Sustainability (PGGE11182)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 60 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The dissertation is to allow students to focus on an aspect relevant to the Soils and Sustainability degree programme and by completing a piece of research and presenting it in dissertation form to enhance their knowledge and skills to a professional level in the discipline.
The dissertation is self study based with academic supervision. Research skills training will be included to support the production of the dissertation in Soils and Sustainability. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Full Year, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
16/09/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Analysis: critical analysis and synthesis of information to support research themes. Reviewing existing knowledge based on reports from previous studies.
2. Execution: generating new knowledge to through experimentation or interpretation of previous studies. Planning, completion and reporting on investigations. Collecting, recording and analysing data.
3. Communication: production of scientific report (dissertation) including appropriate referencing. Written and verbal communication skills.
4. Professional competencies: using the library and internet as sources of information. Computer and numeracy skills. Time management and organisation skills. |
Assessment Information
| Completion of a 10,000 dissertation as outlined in the Programme Handbook. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
The course provides an opportunity for students to develop and demonstrate their investigative and analytical abilities with in the field of sustainable soil and environmental management, project work. |
| Syllabus |
Each student will conduct an individual project on a subject chosen in conjunction with the Course Organiser an a prospective supervisor. It may take the form of a scientific experiment, a literature review, a management plan or any other exercise approved by the Programme Director and examination board to ensure learning outcomes have been met. |
| Transferable skills |
Evaluation and critical appraisal of data and other scientific information.
Synthesis of information from a variety of sources.
Numerical skills and competence with data analysis and interpretation.
Scientific communication skills, including writing and data presentation.
Time management and organisational skills. |
| Reading list |
Additional Readings:
Barrass, R (2006). Students Must Write: a guide to better writing for scientists, engineers and students (3rd Edn). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. [808.066 Bar]
BREACH, M. (2009). Dissertation Writing for Engineers and Scientists. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Ltd. [808.0665 Bre]
BRISCOE, M.H. (1996). Preparing scientific illustration. 2nd Edn. Springer-Verlag, New York. [808.0665 Bri]
BUZANT, T. & BUZANT, B. (2010). The Mind Map Book: unlock your creativity, boost your memory, change your life. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Ltd 217pp.
CREME, P & Lea, M.R (2008). Writing at University a guide for students (3rd Edn). Maidenhead, Berks: Open University Press. [808.042 Cre]
KATZ, M.J. (2006). From Research to Manuscript: a guide to scientific writing. Dordrecht, NL: Springer: [808.0665 Kat]
KIRKMAN, J (2005). Good Style for Science and Technology. New York:Routledge. [808.0666 Kir]
LEVIN, P. (2005) Excellent Dissertations! Student-Friendly Guides. Maindenhead, Berks.: The Open University Press. 122pp [808.066378 Lev]
MATTHEWS, J.R., BOWEN, J.M. and MATTHEWS, R.W. (1996) Successful scientific writing: a step-by-step guide for the biological and medical sciences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge [808.0665 Mat]
McMILLIAN, K., & WEYERS, J. (2010). How to Write Dissertations and Project Reports. Harlow, Essex: Pearson education Ltd. [808.066378 McM]
MURRAY, R. (2006) How to Write a Thesis. 2nd Edn. Maidenhead, Berks: The Open University Press. 301pp. [808.066 Mur]
PEARS, R. & SHIELDS, G. (2005). Cite Them Right: the essential referencing guide. Durham: Pear Tree Books. 102pp [808.02 Pea]
Scientific Units
JERRARD, H.G. & McNEIL, D.B. (1980). A dictionary of Scientific Units. 4th Edition, New York: Chapman and Hall. 212pp. [503 Jer. Reference Section]
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| Study Abroad |
Postgraduate Assessment (Taught) Regulations apply. |
| Study Pattern |
Self study with academic supervision with research training. |
| Keywords | Soils, Sustainability |
Contacts
| Course organiser | |
Course secretary | Mrs Elspeth Martin
Tel: 0131 535 4198
Email: |
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