MNatSc, BSc Natural Sciences

Year 4

(Award available for year: Master of Nat Sc & Bach of Sc)

Learning outcomes

In addition to the learning outcomes in years 1 to 3, on completion of the programme students should have shown evidence of being able to:

- demonstrate in-depth, specialist knowledge and mastery of techniques relevant to the two natural science disciplines and/or to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of concepts, information and techniques at the forefront of one natural science discipline;
- show an understanding of advanced interdisciplinary topics at the interface of their two disciplines and be able to apply advanced knowledge from both of their disciplines to interdisciplinary problems and challenges.
- exhibit mastery in the exercise of generic and subject-specific intellectual abilities;
- demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship;
- take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others;
- proactively formulate ideas and hypotheses and to develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these;
- critically and creatively to evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship in the natural sciences.
- undertake and extended piece of investigative original research, applying creativity and originality to generate and analyse data, propose novel interpretation and generate new hypotheses. Research projects will usually allow the student to explore and apply ideas and concepts from multiple scientific disciplines.

These outcomes should be read alongside the appropriate subject specific outcomes for single subject undergraduate Master degrees (MMath, MChem, MPhys etc.), some of which will be met by MNatSc students, depending on their choice of subjects and whether they opt to major or minor. Students will develop the same depth of knowledge of single honours students in their two disciplines, if not the same breadth in those disciplines.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of professional practice;
- evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
- self direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
- critically to engage in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms, including ethical issues.

Assessment

Achievement for the degree of Undergraduate Master will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will involve the achievement of the students in:

- evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within the natural sciences;
- demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;
- drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;
- evaluating and criticising received opinion;
- making reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.