Overview
Research work formally begins after you have completed the required core and elective courses. MSc ESS students in the thesis-based route may enroll in ESSC 600, a zero-credit course that provides an introduction to the research process and an opportunity for you to complete preliminary research activities and make an early start on the thesis proposal.
In ESSC 600, you will work closely will your supervisor to develop a comprehensive research plan. This includes identifying required resources, outlining the literature review, defining research deliverables, establishing a research schedule, and preparing a research ethics application, if required. The course serves both as an introduction to thesis research and as an opportunity to complete foundational planning tasks before proceeding to the thesis course (ESSC 675).
Outline
The master thesis consists of two zero-credit elements (ESSC 600 and ESSC 700) and five 3-credit elements (ESSC675–679). Although these elements are not conventional courses, they are administered as such for registration and progress tracking purposes.
MSc ESS students who choose the thesis route must complete the following elements in sequence:
- ESSC 600 Research Orientation
- ESSC 675 Thesis I (Proposal Writing)
- ESSC 676 Thesis II (Research Stage 1)
- ESSC 677 Thesis III (Research Stage 2)
- ESSC 678 Thesis IV (Research Stage 3)
- ESSC 679 Thesis V (Thesis Writing and Defence)
- ESSC 700 Research Review and Examination
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- frame scientific questions and conduct interdisciplinary research that utilize technology to address problems.
- apply an interdisciplinary approach to address intricate issues attendant to increasing intersections of scientific disciplines.
- employ scientific numeracy and quantitative approaches when searching for solutions to Earth system issues.
- communicate effectively to an interdisciplinary audience about issues concerning the Earth system.
- demonstrate superior skills in data collection and analysis, information handling, digital literacy, and communication.
Evaluation
A PASS grade in this course signifies that the student has successfully completed the preparatory requirements for the research thesis and is ready to enroll in ESSC 675 (Thesis I) in the thesis-based route.
Materials
The thesis handbook provides guidance for students completing the thesis requirement for the MSc ESS program. It outlines the stages of the thesis process and includes templates, policies, and formatting guidelines.
Students are responsible for obtaining and covering the costs of any materials required for their research. The MSC ESS program does not currently offer funding for students to conduct their projects; however, information on the Athabasca University Graduate Student Research Fund is available on the Research Centre's website.