Geography in Practice

2019/2020

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

At the 3rd Semester the student can choose between several options:

Option 1: Project Semester – with or without Integrated Internship

The students can choose to carry through a traditional project semester which normally carries on the subject knowledge in which the student has specialized at the 1st and 2nd semesters and/or prepare for the subject about which the student wishes to write his/her thesis. The semester comprises the preparation of a project report or a scientific article.

The student can choose to integrate an internship either in Denmark or abroad in his/her project semester. The internship is typically of 3 months’ duration and has to be approved by the semester coordinator on behalf of the Study Board of Planning, Geography and Surveying in advance. For each individual internship, specific learning goals have to be drawn up, clearly reflecting the professional problem of the project. The specific learning goals have to be approved by the semester coordinator.

Students who choose not to integrate an internship can combine a 20 ECTS project module with

2 x 5 ECTS course modules, chosen from existing master’s programmes, eg. Water and Environment, Biology, Urban Planning and Management, Environmental Management and Sustainability Science.

Option 2: A UEEP 1st Semester

A student who has followed 1st semester under the Geography programme may choose to follow a 1st semester under the Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning master’s programme. In that case the student follows the course and project modules at this semester and acquires the knowledge, skills and competencies which are stated in the curriculum for the concerned semester. A 5 ECTS assignment must be prepa­red as replacement for the course module “Theories of Science and Research Designs” to meet the 30 ECTS semester load.

Option 3: International or National Credit

After previous approval by the Study Board, the 3rd semester may be transferred to another educational institution in Denmark or abroad. Previous approval (pre-credit) may be expected if the studies at another educational institution can give the student appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies.

Option 4: Extended Master’s Thesis

Students may choose to carry through the 3rd and 4th semesters as en extended master’s thesis (60 ECTS). Extended master’s thesis is especially advised to work with project topics, where an extraordinary great generation of data is necessary. Master’s theses have to be approved in advance by the Study Board of Planning, Geography and Surveying, and the student has to fulfil the knowledge, skills and competencies as indicated for master’s theses. See description of 4th semester.

Students completing the project module acquire the following:

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • Conceptual and professional knowledge based on international research of relevance to geography
  • Knowledge of the analytical methods used in geography
  • Can understand and relate critically to the knowledge of the field and be able to identify practical geographical problems in a given complex context

Skills

  • Can master the scientific methods and tools of geography in relation to the solution of the chosen geographical problem
  • Can identify a relevant and specific geographical focus for the chosen subject
  • Can work independently and discuss professional and scientific problems with both colleagues and communicate these to non-specialists

Competences

  • Can describe a specific geographical problem and apply relevant solution models based on relevant geographical tools and data
  • Can participate in professional and interdisciplinary cooperation of geographical problems
  • Can carry out academic reflections on the chosen geographical subject and implement the attained knowledge in models
  • Can take responsibility for own professional development and specialisation

Type of instruction

Problem-based project work, possibly with internship integrated.

Exam

Exams

Name of examGeography in Practice
Type of exam
Oral exam based on a project
ECTS30
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleGeografi i praksis
Module codePGLGEOK18303
Module typeProject
Duration1 semester
SemesterAutumn
ECTS30
Language of instructionEnglish
Empty-place SchemeYes
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Study BoardStudy Board of Planning and Surveying
DepartmentDepartment of Planning
FacultyTechnical Faculty of IT and Design