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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences)

Postgraduate Course: Applied Carbon Methods (online) (PGGE11217)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course translates and expands upon the highly popular and successful existing 10-credit course 'Applied Carbon Methods' for online provision. It covers the topics of data handling, qualitative and quantitative research methods, library research, critical reading and writing, research design, carbon economics, scientific climate research and GIS using a delivery approach and format already successfully used for the online course 'Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation' as part of the Global Challenges MSc. This course also introduces students to alumni practitioners who explain how they are applying the MSc knowledge to their careers.
Course description The course covers four specific areas of research skills:
1. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods: seeks to deliver content that will aid in the use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
2. Carbon Research Skills: aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of research skills that are specifically relevant to carbon management, and most likely to be used in their future employment.
3. Research Methods and Report Structure: aims to provide a brief overview of all the main quantitative and qualitative research methods available to students, including the strengths and weaknesses of each method. It also focuses on defining topics and titles, as well as constructing good quality and achievable research questions.
4. Critical Writing Skills: Aims to explore the skills associated with conducting and then writing up a literature review (as a component of the final MSc project). Particularly it will focus on the importance of going beyond summarising, to developing insights and providing a critical commentary, and identifying inconsistencies or gaps in past research

This course has been created specifically for the online MSc in Carbon Management, reflecting the cross disciplinary nature of the programme, as well as the niche aspects of Carbon Management as an emerging discipline in its own right. This is an applied course, with expertise centred on research methods specifically aligned to Carbon Management, providing research skills that may be useful both for the final MSc project and future careers in the areas of carbon and climate change.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Identify, evaluate, select, justify and apply appropriate research methods to their research, in order to ensure that the evidence generated, its analysis and the conclusions drawn from it are valid and reliable
  2. Identify and critically evaluate literature in a given field
  3. Present the findings of research in an academic manner
  4. Prepare research proposals
Reading List
Bryman, A. and Bell E. (2011) Business and Research Methods, 3rd Edition, Oxford.
Booth, W.C., Colomb G.G. and Williams, J.M. (2008) The Craft of Research, 3rd Edition, University of Chicago Press
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill. A. Research Methods for Business Students (4th Edition)
Fielding, J. and Gilbert N. Understanding Social Statistics (2nd Edition)
Brooked, C. Introductory Econometrics for Finance, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills After completing this course, students should be able to:
- develop analytical, numerical and problem solving skills;
- critically assess existing understanding in a defined area of knowledge;
- recognize qualitative and quantitative techniques as appropriate to the analysis of particular circumstances;
- apply a range of relevant quantitative and qualitative research methods;
- understand the ways in which to work more effectively in teams; and,
- use relevant literature and data reference materials.
KeywordsQualitative Research,Quantitative Research,Library Research,Literature Review,Critical Reading
Contacts
Course organiserDr David Reay
Tel: (0131 6)50 7722
Email: David.Reay@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Alice Heatley
Tel: (0131 6)50 4866
Email: alice.heatley@ed.ac.uk
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