NIFK13003U Applied Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Volume 2020/2021
Education

MSc Programme in Agricultural Economics
MSc Programme in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Content

Assuming that the participants already have a comprehensive understanding of environmental and natural resource economics as well as basic understanding of relevant natural sciences, it is the objective of this course to provide opportunities to integrate and apply this knowledge to a specific environmental and natural resource economics topic. The main focus of the course is on writing a project report focusing on a specific topic based on the knowledge obtained in preceding courses in the M.Sc. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. This will also provide participants with an opportunity to further improve their writing skills and presentation techniques.

Participants are supposed to choose a topic for their project during the first week. As introduction to the project work, in the first week the course teachers will give lectures on the topic of writing a project in environmental and natural resource economics. A list of approximately 25-30 suggested topics for the project will be made available, though participants are encouraged to come up with own ideas for a topic to work with. Topics should primarily be within the specific fields of natural resource economics or economic valuation methods or cost-benefit analysis. After the first week, students are supposed to work on their own (or in groups) on their projects. Supervision is offered during the writing process. In addition, all students must present their problem description for the rest of the class in the 3rd course week. With this the student obtains feedback in the early part of the writing process. The written project report is to be handed in by the end of the 7th course week. The course is finished with an oral presentation and examination in the written project.

                                                                                                                         

Learning Outcome

The aim of the course is to give students the opportunity to use the knowledge they have gained so far in the M.Sc. program in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics and also to delve into topics where they have particular interests, be it methodological or policy-oriented. Furthermore, participants will acquire skills in writing a scientific project. This experience should prove useful when faced with the task of writing their master thesis at the end of the M.Sc. program. Upon successful completion of the course the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge:

-Acquire in-depth knowledge about a chosen topic

Skills:

-Analyze a chosen topic within environmental and natural resource economics using economic theory

-Organize and structure work with written projects

-Present, defend and reflect on ideas, problems and results in writing as well as orally

Competences:

-Define a scientific problem to be analyzed

-Synthesize and extend on knowledge gained in previous courses in the M.Sc. program in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

-Discuss advanced environmental and natural resource economics focusing on theories and applications

Selected books and articles

It is highly recommended that students have followed courses in Natural Resource Economics (LOJK10229U or a similar course), Incentives and Regulation (NIFK14003U or a similar course) and Economic Valuation Methods and Cost-Benefit Analysis (LOJK10248U or a similar course). Furthermore, the students must have basic knowledge within Micro Economics with calculus (LOJB10259, LLEF10218 or similar courses)

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
Project work with supervision. The product of the project is a report. The project can be done individually as well as in groups. If the students choose to do the project in a group they must clearly indicate which part each group member is responsible for.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 16
  • Project work
  • 180
  • Guidance
  • 10
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Individual
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

All students must present their problem description for the class in the 3rd course week. Peer feedback must be provided by another student orally, as well a the teachers provide oral feedback on the presentation. During the report writing, the students produce drafts of parts of their reports and book meetings with the supervisor. At these meetings, the supervisor provides oral feedback on the drafts and on the proces, planning and organization of the writing process.

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, made during the block
Oral examination, 20 minutes
The exam consists of two parts:
A project report on a self-selected topic: counts 50% of the grade.
An oral presentation and defense of the project and report followed by an oral examination of each student: counts 50% of the grade.

The grade is to be set as a weighted average of the results from the part-examinations
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

Same as ordinary

Passed elements from the ordinary exam can be resused at the re-exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

To obtain the grade 12 the student has to fullfil the learning outcomes