MGUNA501 Natural Science 3, module 1 - Specialization in natural science

Contents and structure

MGUNA501 is the first of three master's courses and aims to provide students with advanced knowledge in various current topics in the natural sciences. The specific topics may vary from year to year based on current relevance. Additionally, students will delve further into one of the topics as a specialization.

The course will primarily focus on scientific issues in the natural sciences that are relevant and current. It is natural that some topics may have an interdisciplinary nature between different scientific disciplines. Moreover, several topics will likely be connected to sustainable development, the climate crisis, environmental crises, and ethical issues. The common part of the course constitutes 10 credits.

The chosen specialization topic should be linked to the research frontier, and it may also form the basis for the academic focus in the master's thesis. The specialization part of the course constitutes 5 credits.

The course can be taught in English if three or more exchange students choose the course.

Learning Outcome

Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to achieve the following overall learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student should

• Possess knowledge of selected topics within a natural scientific research field.
• Be able to discuss the processes of natural science as the basis for trust in research.
• Discuss the use of scientific knowledge in socio-scientific issues.

Skills

The student should be able to

• Extract main content and compile knowledge from peer-reviewed research articles from a natural scientific research field.
• Apply updated natural scientific knowledge in addressing socio-scientific issues in their own teaching.
• Analyse the use of natural scientific research and expertise to investigate subjective assessments in the use of sources, results, and interpretation.

General Competence

The student should be able to

• Communicate updated natural scientific knowledge.
• Collaborate with colleagues on the development and implementation of projects related to socio-scientific issues.

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

60 credits in natural science or equivalent.

Teaching methods

This course involves a significant degree of self-study, with a specific encouragement and facilitation for the use of study groups (kollokviegrupper).

The course places a strong emphasis on students collecting, processing, and communicating scientific research through assignments related to the learning outcomes. The course expects students to utilize both learning resources that are part of the curriculum and other resources that students find relevant to the learning outcomes of the course.

The teaching will consist of:

• Lectures and student-led sessions on selected topics.
• Instructional videos and other asynchronous teaching methods.
• Writing seminars.
• Self-study within a defined chosen subject area.
• Fieldwork is a possible form of teaching, and it is expected that students participate. Students should be prepared to pay a contribution, and compensatory activities will be arranged for those unable to participate.

Compulsory learning activities

The mandatory learning activities include:

• Presentation on climate and nature crises with a particular focus on the scientific knowledge base for fellow students.
• Blog post on a scientific topic or a reflection on the role of science and science teachers in schools.
• Written assignment in the specialization topic, adapting the acquired knowledge for a relevant school level.
• Develop and execute a project with fellow students related to a socio-scientific issue, and independently evaluate the project and one's own contribution.

Approval of these mandatory learning activities within specified deadlines is required to be eligible for the examination.

Assessment

Oral exam, 30 minutes, based on both mandatory and individually chosen curriculum.

Grading scale: Pass/Fail.

Examination support material

Curriculum, personal notes related to the curriculum, and individual assignments submitted for the subject.

More about examination support material