Overview
In ESSC 679, you are expected to complete your thesis and submit it to your supervisory committee for review and feedback prior to the final thesis examination.
A final thesis examination is held upon completion of the research project and conducted as part of ESSC 700. Each examination includes an oral defence in addition to the written report, both of which are assessed by an examination committee.
Overall, the outcomes of the thesis will indicate a deeper understanding of Earth system science and prepare the student for further academic research or professional career.
Outline
The MSc ESS thesis consists of two zero-credit elements (ESSC 600 and ESSC 700) and five 3-credit elements (ESSC 675–679). 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 courses in order:
- 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 requirements and is ready to enroll in ESSC 700 (Research Review and Examination) in the thesis-based route.
Materials
The thesis handbook provides guidance to students completing the thesis requirements 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 Research Fund is available on the Research Centre's website.