Overview
CHEM 495/496 are based on contracted study arrangements between the student and an approved supervisor. Students improve their skills to choose and define problems, obtain information from libraries or experiments, organize facts and ideas, and report ideas and conclusions in written form.
Chemistry Projects is for students who wish to carry out science-related projects in chemistry, or to obtain formal recognition through this project course, of science-related skills and training they have received on the job (agriculture, business, forestry, or industry). Students may do one three-credit project (CHEM 495) or two three-credit projects (CHEM 495 and CHEM 496).
The course may involve library, field, or laboratory work as agreed to by the student and the supervisor. Students are expected to obtain and pay for all materials used in the projects. Project supervisors may be paid an honorarium by the University for their services. Before registering, the student must submit an acceptable project proposal.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- search, critically evaluate, and summarize the primary chemistry literature relevant to a given research question.
- develop and perform experiments to test and refine hypotheses based on data.
- analyze and interpret data in order to draw conclusions.
- communicate original research findings in a variety of scientific formats.
Evaluation
To receive credit for CHEM 495/496, you must complete successfully written reports and other prepared materials based on guidelines derived from the learning contract, and a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). Typically, the evaluation will be based on the research supervisor's assessment of the student and of the assessment of a written thesis submitted to the course professor. These courses are excluded from the challenge for credit policy.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
The course materials also include a student manual.