Overview
PHYS 496 is a senior research project course based on contracted study arrangements between the student and an approved project supervisor (AU academic or external). It is intended for students who wish to carry out a project in physics or a related field. The course is also a venue to obtain formal recognition of related skills and training, received through work experience, by applying them to a new project. Students improve their skills to choose and define problems, obtain relevant information, design real or virtual experiments, organize facts and information, and report ideas and conclusions.
A PHYS 496 project normally involves a theoretical, empirical, or simulation study designed to investigate or solve a problem in physics or its branches, including physics education, geophysics, and engineering physics. A project begun under PHYS 495 may be continued in a more advanced or applied form under PHYS 496.
Permission to register will be given once the student has a project proposal accepted and recognized as a Learning Contract by the Course Coordinator. The assigned project supervisor will provide mentorship and ensure the student completes what is planned.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to
- develop a relatively complex research question and critically evaluate relevant resources in primary physics literature.
- construct a theoretical or experimental methodology and collect data to test the research question.
- perform relatively involved analysis and interpretation of data and draw relevant conclusions.
- communicate the research activities and findings in a variety of scientific formats.
Evaluation
The results of this project must be presented in thesis form and in other prepared materials as outlined in the Learning Contract. The student must also present a summary of the project through a live conference-style presentation, which can be done online. The evaluation is completed by the Course Coordinator in consultation with the project supervisor.
To receive credit, the student must achieve a minimum of 50 percent on the final project report and a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The final grade is based on marks received for the following:
| Activity | Weight |
| Approved project proposal | 15% |
| Final report describing the project and its results | 60% |
| Online oral presentation outlining the project and main findings | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
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.
Students are expected to obtain and pay for all materials used in the course project.