Degree thesis in plant biology, 30 Credits

Contents

The course is conducted as an independent research project or study within or outside the university. During the course, students will apply their knowledge and skills to solve plant biology problems.

Expected learning outcomes

After completion of the course students should be able to:
Local goals
- show a deepening and broadening of their knowledge in plant biology by learning from both review articles and from original scientific articles.
- independently plan and conduct experiments and document and interpret experimental results.
- critically examine and analyze their own experimental results as well as other data.
- compare their own experimental results with that generated by other researchers.
- explain and discuss the obtained results both in written form (in English) and spoken (in English or Swedish).

National goals
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding within the main field of the education, including a broad as well as a deepened knowledge within certain parts of the actual research and developmental field
- demonstrate a deepened knowledge of methodology within the main field of the education.
- demonstrate ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyze, evaluate and deal with complex phenomenon, framing of questions and occasions even with a restricted amount of information
- demonstrate ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate framings of questions, to plan and with adequate methods perform qualified tasks within a given time frame, and thereby contribute to the advancement of knowledge and also to evaluate this work.
- demonstrate the oral and written ability, in a national as well as in an internationally context, to clearly explain, account for and discuss the students own conclusion and the knowledge and the arguments that lies behind this dialogue with different groups.
- demonstrate ability within the main area for the education to make judgment in relation to relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects and to demonstrate awareness about ethical aspects on scientific and developmental work.

Required Knowledge

In order for the student to be eligible to this course, the student has to take three of the four compulsory courses of the Master program in Plant- and forest biotechnology (Plant cell and molecular biology, 15 hp, Plant growth and development, 15 hp, Plant biotechnology and molecular breeding, 15 hp, Biology and biotechnology for forest production systems, 15.0 hp) or equivalent. English A and Swedish with basic competence for university studies, if the courses are given in Swedish.

Form of instruction

The student works independently but under supervision on the thesis project, which must include an assignment having links to the current research activity of either the institution, or a public administration or a company. A concise project plan containing aims, description of tasks, a workflow with specified experimental methods and a timetable must be submitted and approved before the course starts. For thesis work prepared at the university a supervisor is appointed at the relevant research institution. For those who do graduate work outside the university a supervisor from the university and one from the actual working place is appointed. These students are also be given the opportunity to participate in the daily work at the workplace. Exam work is to be presented in form of a written report and in a public seminar.

Examination modes

The degree thesis work and the thesis report are important tools to assess students’ knowledge and to evaluate their abilities in those skills that are specified as national goals of the masters program in biology. Therefore, the degree thesis work must be planned with due care and thesis report must be written such to reveal students’ skills towards national goals.

The exam work is reported in format of a scientific paper written in English, which is the basis for a seminar. Moreover, a continuous assessment by the supervisor will take place during the course of thesis work. Based on both the written report and the oral presentation the examination committee evaluates the work done. For the course the grades Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG) will be used as well as U, 3, 4 or 5. Students who fail have the right to retake the examination to receive a passing grade. Furthermore, the student who twice failed an examination for a course or part of course, entitled that the Prefect of the Department of Physiology will appoint another teachers to determine the score at the test again. Anyone who has passed an examination may not retake the test for a higher grade.

Other regulations

Supervisors as well as their students are strongly advised to allocate sufficient time for writing the thesis work report. Students have to submit thesis work report to the evaluation committee three weeks before the planned date of defense. Students will receive a short written criticism from each committee member at least one week before defense. Following their presentation students are expected to give a concise, point-by-point response to the criticisms, supervisor is fully responsible that changes are introduced into thesis work in response to criticism. Before initiation of a master thesis project students must read and understood content of this course plan.