Postgraduate Course: Masters Dissertation (Design Informatics) (INFR11097)

Course Outline
School	School of Informatics	College	College of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course type	Dissertation	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	60	ECTS Credits	30
Summary	The goal of this course is to make something new, that makes work, care or play better, by designing with data. The dissertation reports an in depth investigation of a significant problem in Design Informatics, according to sound scientific, engineering and design principles.
Course description	Project dependent. This is a major piece of full-time independent work which occupies the final months of the MSc course. If taken as part of a one-year masters, it accounts for all of a student's time following their course exams. If taken as part of a two-year masters, it accounts for 1/3 of student time during Semester 1 of Year 2, and 2/3 of student time in Semester 2 of Year 2. It allows students to demonstrate their ability to organise and carry out a substantial investigation into a problem in Design Informatics, according to sound scientific, engineering and design principles. The project involves both the application of skills learnt in the past and the acquisition of new skills. The project often involves the construction of an artefact, whether software, hardware, a robotic device, some other artefact incorporating computation, or some combination of these. The types of activity involved in each project vary but include most of the following: - Researching the literature and gathering background information. - Analysing requirements, comparing alternatives and specifying a solution. - Analysing and exploiting relevant theory in novel ways. - Designing and implementing the solution. - Experimenting with and evaluating the solution. - Exploring the solution as part of a product or service. - Discussing existing results and presenting new research. - Developing written and oral presentation skills. The project is conducted individually by the student under the supervision of a member of teaching staff. Students are formed into groups for the purpose of Review Meetings.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites	Students MUST have passed: Case Studies in Design Informatics 1 (INFR11094) AND Design Informatics Project (DESI11026)	Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	For Informatics and ECA PG students only, or by special permission by the School. There is also a possibility of further project dependent pre-requisites.

Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Structure and summarise a body of knowledge relating to a substantial project topic in Design Informatics Critically evaluate previous work in the area Conduct a programme of work in further investigation of issues related to the topic , and discuss and solve conceptual problems which arise during the investigation Justify design decisions made during the investigation, and critically evaluate the investigation Present their work, with demonstration of working products or services where appropriate