GEO3000 ¨C Bachelor Thesis in Geosciences

Course content

This course is taken as a completion of the bachelor's degree or as preparation for master's degree studies. Students have to work on their own project thesis, preferably individually, within the subject areas covered in the bachelor's programmes Geologi og geografi (bachelor) and Geofysikk og klima (bachelor). The course will also introduce the student to what research means, different academic genres, and to the IMRaD model.

Learning outcome

When you have taken this course, you will

• be able to carry out a simple project thesis on your own
• understand what characterizes academic writing and?scientific texts
• be able to apply both simple and more advanced methods within subject areas in geosciences to elucidate a specific problem
• know different academic genres
• be able to follow good reference practice and be familiar with dealing with scientific literature
• understand how to plan and write a scientific report, especially the IMRaD model

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

The course is eligible only for admitted students to one of the following programs:

• Geologi og geografi (bachelor)

• Geofysikk og klima (bachelor)

and?the programme options?Matematikk - geografi/geofag?and?Geografi/geofag - matematikk in Realfag (studieretning), Lektorprogrammet (master ¨C 5 ?r).

Special admission requirements

In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:

• Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)

And in addition one of these:

• Mathematics R2
• Physics (1+2)
• Chemistry (1+2)
• Biology (1+2)
• Information technology (1+2)
• Geosciences (1+2)
• Technology and theories of research (1+2)

Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.

The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).

Formal prerequisite knowledge

• GEO1100 ¨C Evolution of the Earth +?GEO1110 ¨C Earth Processes / GEO2300 ¨C Geophysical Modelling

Or:

• GEO1010 ¨C Physical geography (discontinued) +?GEO1020 ¨C Geological processes and materials (discontinued) +?GEO1030 ¨C Winds, currents and climate (discontinued) /?GEF1100 ¨C The Climate System (discontinued)

The project work can involve fieldwork and laboratory work. You have to pass two HSE courses:

• HMS0503 ¨C Laboratory Safety

• HMS0504 ¨C Field Safety

Recommended previous knowledge

• Compulsory courses in the bachelor's programmes in geosciences.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with GEO3340 ¨C Bachelor thesis in physical geography, geomatics and hydrology (continued).
• 10 credits overlap with GEG2340 ¨C Bachelor thesis in physical geography, geomatics and hydrology (continued).

Teaching

Lectures on academic writing and research. The lectures will be followed up by mandatory seminars where the students will?work on their own texts and give and receive feedback from peers. Students will also receive?individual supervision of their research project. This work will end in a compulsory dissertation on the project which, after it has been accepted, is the basis for a final?oral examination.

We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.

If the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.

Examination

• The written project thesis from the research project is given a?grade before the student is allowed to sit the final oral examination. The preliminary grade will not be announced before the oral examination.
• The oral examination is related to the?project thesis, and an overall grade is given after it has been completed.
• The project thesis and the oral examination count 100% towards the final grade.
• Both parts of the exam must be passed separately to pass the course.

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:

• GEG2340 ¨C Bachelor thesis in physical geography, geomatics and hydrology (continued)
• GEO3340 ¨C Bachelor thesis in physical geography, geomatics and hydrology (continued)

Examination support material

Approved calculator.

Language of examination

You may write the project thesis in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.?

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.