Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Students may choose to complete the 3^rd and 4^th semester as one extended master’s thesis (60 ECTS). An extended final project is especially recommended in the project work which requires an extraordinary collection of data. A long master thesis has to include experimental work and the amount of experimental work must reflect the allotted ECTS. Final projects must be approved in advance by the Study Board of Planning, Geography and Surveying, and the student must meet the requirements indicated for master’s theses in terms of knowledge, skills and competences (see below).

A student who has completed the module:

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• Has thorough knowledge of relevant theories and methods in relation to the chosen problem and can reflect on these
• Can describe the theory or theories used in such a way that the special characteristics of the theory are brought to light and thereby document the understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the theories applied within the concerned field of problems
• Has knowledge of the scientific and methodical basis of the used theories and can reflect on these
• Has thorough knowledge of the research basis of the chosen problems, including knowledge of the most important national and international research in the field. 

Skills

• Can independently plan and carry through a project course at a high professional level
• Can account for possible methods for solution of the problem presented in the project and describe and assess the suitability of the chosen method, including an account of the chosen limitations and their impact on the results of the product
• Can account for the relevance of the chosen problem for the study programme, including a precise account of the core of the problem and the professional context in which it appears
• Can analyse and describe the chosen problem by using relevant theories and empirical data
• Can analyse and assess the results of empirical studies, both the student’s own investigations and those of others, including an assessment of the impact of the investigation method on the validity of the results
• Can point out relevant future strategies, possibilities of change and/or suggested solutions
• Can communicate knowledge of the problem to both professionals and non-professionals. 

Competences

• Can form a synthesis between the professional problem and theoretical and empirical studies and make a critical assessment of the synthesis formed and the other results of the project work
• Can independently, based on the chosen problem, participate in interdisciplinary discussions and development work
• Can independently acquire the most recent knowledge in the field and is, on this basis, able to continually develop his/her professional skills and competences.   

Type of instruction

Problem-oriented project work in groups

Exam

Exams