Research skills in environmental science II, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Science for Sustainable Development

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in one of the following areas: 
  - natural sciences, 
  - social sciences,
  - health sciences 
  - humanities
  - engineering
  or equivalent
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B)
  (Exemption from Swedish)
• 45 ECTS credits of semester 1 and 2 from the programme (including the courses Critical Perspectives on Sustainable Development (7.5 ECTS), Environmental and Resource Use Challenges (7.5 ECTS), and Climate Science and Policy (15 ECTS)

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- perform a pilot study on a specific environmental issue making use of research skills and methods
- demonstrate a deeper understanding of the skills and methods used in the specific task
- assess strengths and limitations of the skills and methods and
- report, analyze and discuss the obtained results.

Course content

During the course the students will deepen their knowledge in at least one skill or method applicable to study environmental issues. The individual work could also be an extension of the work performed in Research Skills in Environmental Science I. These could include database analysis, field monitoring and analysis, laboratory techniques, experimental design and performance, interviewing, text analysis and literature review.

Teaching and working methods

The students will individually work on a research task that is determined in consultation with and carried out under the supervision of an experienced researcher.
Language of instruction: English

Examination

The examination consists of two parts:
1. an individually prepared project report presenting the main findings from the application of the method, literature review or pilot study within the chosen area and
2. an individually prepared reflection paper demonstrating awareness of the skills developed and the opportunities and limitations of the chosen methodology, literature review or pilot study.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department