NIGK13014U Field and Methods Course

Volume 2014/2015
Education
MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics
MSc programme in Geology-Geoscience
Content

The fundamental goal of the course is to enable the student to independently organize and carry out larger-scale geographic or geologic fieldwork and to be able to analyze, evaluate, document and communicate the results of a scientific study.

The course is designed as preparation for a Master’s thesis and therefore takes place during Master’s courses and prior to carrying out a Master’s thesis. In this course students will gain hands-on experience in a varied range of qualitative and quantitative methods that are considered to have a broad application in both research- and industry-related fields.

The course comprises three parts: i) block 3: theoretical and methodological studies, classroom teaching and preparation for fieldwork; ii) between block 3 and 4: 10 days of fieldwork, iii) block 4: processing of data, report writing and possibly additional classroom teaching.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

Organize and carry out fieldwork, analyze, evaluate, document and communicate the results of a scientific studyy

Skills:

Can identify, propose and prepare suggestions for solving more complex scientific problems in relation to theoretical, methodological and empirical observations with a background in high-level geographical knowledge.

Can critically evaluate a choice of methods as well as propose procedures aimed at investigating and assessing the accuracy and possible sources of error of a method.

Can evaluate the suitability of a specific method for investigating a scientific problem, e.g. through use of statistical analysis of data.

Can compile results from several, and preferentially different, methods and apply these in to specific discussion and evaluation of their own results.


Competences:

Can use scientifically-correct language, present scientific arguments and justifications, participate in scientific discussions as well as communication science at various levels.

Can integrate, evaluate, discuss and put into perspective, theoretical, methodological and empirical choices including exhibiting a reflective and critical sense for these choices together with their scientific possibilities and limitations in relationship to a specific scientific problem.

Please see Absalon course page.

BSc. programme in Geology-Geoscience or equivalent.
BSc. prgramme in Geography and Geoinformatics or equivalent.
The form of teaching is theory exercises combined with ad hoc lectures and a 12 days field trip. For the teaching plan, please see Absalon
The following courses have so far been planned for the period 2014-2017:

Physical Geography

Period: 2015, academic year 2014-2015 block 4 + academic year 2015-2016 block 1.
Destination: Disko, Greenland
Responsible: CENPERM (Bo Elberling)

Period: 2015, academic year 2014-2015 block 3+4
Destination: Ghana
Responsible: Henrik B. Madsen

Period: 2016, academic year 2015-2016 block 3+4
Destination: Vietnam
Responsible: Thorbjørn Joest Andersen

Human Geography:

Period: 2014, academic year 2014-2015, block 1+2
Destination: Nepal
Responsible: Jytte Agergaard

Period: 2015, academic year 2014-2015, block 3+4
Destination: Toronto, Canada
Responsible: Høgni K. Hansen

Period: 2016 academic year 2015-2016, block 3+4 (tentative)
Destination: Colombia
Responsible: Ole Mertz

Period: 2017 academic year 2016-2017, block 3+4 (tentative)
Destination: Tanzania
Responsible: Niels Fold, Marianne Nylandsted Larsen, Torben Birch-Thomsen

Geology:

Period: 2015, academic year block 3+4 academic year 2014-2015.
Destination: Cap Verde
Responsible: Lars Clemmensen and Paul Martin Holm

Period: 2015, academic year 2014-2015, block 3+4
Destination: England
Responsible: Kresten Anderskouv

Please note that the Department will arrange information meetings for students who are interested in these course prior to the formal registration.

Students shall pay for their own travel to and from the field-work area, as well as 125 DKK per day for food and lodging.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Excursions
  • 120
  • Preparation
  • 152
  • Project work
  • 70
  • Theory exercises
  • 70
  • Total
  • 412
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 minutes
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.
Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Criteria for exam assesment

Please see learning outcome