Academic Year/course:
2022/23
628 - Master's Degree in Physics of the Universe: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Particles and Astroparticles
68352 - Master Thesis
Syllabus Information
Academic Year:
2022/23
Subject:
68352 - Master Thesis
Faculty / School:
100 - Facultad de Ciencias
Degree:
628 - Master's Degree in Physics of the Universe: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Particles and Astroparticles
ECTS:
18.0
Year:
02
Semester:
First semester
Subject Type:
Master Final Project
Module:
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1.1. Aims of the course
The objective of the course is for the student to apply the knowledge, skills and techniques learned in the Master's degree in a scientific research project in one of the Master's lines of research. The Master's Thesis involves the completion of a personal research project, directed and tutored, but where the person responsible is the student.
The sudent must be able to face the resolution of a problem within the chosen line of research with a certain autonomy and independence. It will be encourage to carried out this work integrated in a research group.
These approaches and objectives are aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), in such a way that the acquisition of the results of learning of the subject provides training and competence to contribute to some extent to its achievement: Goal 4: Quality education; Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth; Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructures.
The master's thesis (TFM) will consist of a report or project that highlights the knowledge, skills, aptitudes and attitudes acquired throughout the degree.
1.2. Context and importance of this course in the degree
Completing the Final Master's Project is of fundamental importance in training at the master's level. For this reason, it is carried out, together with the course of External Internships and other activities, in the first semester of the second year, once the rest of the courses have been completed, and thus having full availability for scientific research work. It corresponds to 18 ECTs, about 450 hours of student work.
The student will work on many of the Master's competences in the TFM, especially those with a more transversal character. It is the moment in which the student is going to enter the world of scientific research, in most cases, within a research group.
1.3. Recommendations to take this course
The completion and defense of a Master's Thesis is mandatory.
In the case of full-time studies, the TFM will take place in the first semester of the second year, so the students will have already acquired a fairly complete training. The election will take place at the end of the first course, and it is recommended to have a meeting with the person(s) who direct your TFM in the first days of the course to start as soon as possible.
In the case of part-time studies, enrollment in the TFM is recommended when more than 80% of the courses corresponding to the first year have been completed.
2.1. Competences
Upon passing the subject, the student will be more competent to:
- Possess and understand knowledge that provides a foundation or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context
- Know how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new or little-known environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study
- Integrate knowledge and face the complexity of formulating judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
- Know how to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and ultimate reasons that support them to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way
- Have the learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
- Acquire a high degree of scientific and technical training that allows them to contribute to the development of science and technology.
- Understand scientific-technical reports and articles, assess their relevance and synthesize their content.
- Rigorously draft all kinds of scientific and technical documents.
- Pose and solve complex problems in a creative and rigorous way, applying their knowledge to other areas.
- Organize, plan and carry out scientific-technical work autonomously.
- Acquire skills in the use of Information and Communications Techniques (ICTs) to express, communicate and disseminate ideas and results.
- Develop skills in the search and management of information: correct use of the bibliography, publications and databases, adequate use of new technologies, etc.
- Know how to integrate and work in work teams: plan and distribute tasks, take initiatives, assume responsibilities, participate in debates, ... actively collaborating on common goals.
- Carry out their professional activity with social responsibility, following universal principles based on the value of the person, fundamental rights, equal opportunities and the values of a culture of peace and democratic values.
- Start a Doctoral Thesis in the fields of Cosmology, Astrophysics, Particles and Astroparticles
- Integrate as researchers or qualified technicians in research teams in the fields of Cosmology, Astrophysics, Particles and Astroparticles.
- Use computer techniques and tools for modelling, simulation and data analysis.
- Analyze, treat and interpret experimental data.
- Face problems and theoretical developments in the fields of the Degree.
- Manage the instruments and experimental methods used in the field of Degree.
- Delve into a research topic and learn about the most recent advances and current lines of research in the fields of Cosmology, Astrophysics, Particles and Astroparticles.
2.2. Learning goals
To pass this subject, the student must demonstrate the following results:
- Ability to develop a research project with a significant degree of autonomy and originality.
- Ability to structure and write a report that shows the work done.
- Ability to publicly defend a research paper before an expert audience.
2.3. Importance of learning goals
The master's thesis involves the completion, by the student, of a research project on a topic related to Cosmology, astrophysics, particle physics and astroparticles. All the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course are worked on and it is an effective preparation to start a doctoral thesis, or its incorporation into the labor market as technical worker.
3. Assessment (1st and 2nd call)
3.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)
An evaluation committee, made up of three members and appointed for each academic year, will evaluate the Final Master's Project carried out by the students. The defense of the work by the student will take place in the period designated for this purpose and in compliance with the regulations of the University of Zaragoza and the Faculty of Sciences.
The continuous evaluation of the student's work throughout the course will be taken into account. The student will have at least one director who will follow the development of the work. At the end of it, the director/directors will issue a report that includes a judgment on the work done by the student and references to aspects such as the student's attitude, dedication and continued effort will be considered by the evaluation committee at the time of evaluating the student's written report.
The student will present a written report of the work carried out, in Spanish or English, describing the objectives and interest of the work, the methodology followed, and the results and conclusions obtained. Said memory will be evaluated by the designated court, which will ask for their opinion from other professors in the field of the master's degree who are specialists in the line of research of the TFM. The memory will have a maximum length of 30 pages and its evaluation will contribute to 50% of the final grade.
The written report of the work will have a maximum length of 30 pages, excluding the annexes, the cover and the index, in Spanish or English. It must describe the objectives and interest of the work, the methodology followed, and the results and conclusions obtained, in addition to the bibliography used.
The format of the report will follow the general guidelines contemplated in the regulations of the Faculty of Sciences: minimum size of 11 points, line spacing 1.15, with margins of at least 2.5 cm. The index must appear just before the beginning of the report.
To the document mentioned in the previous point, the necessary annexes may be attached, where appropriate, for an adequate documentation of the work. The main document must be self-contained; the annexes are additional documentation whose information may or may not be taken into consideration for the evaluation of the work.
The director/s of a TFM must verify that the report presented complies with the established editing standards, before authorizing its deposit. If the editing rules are not respected, particularly in relation to the length of the work, the president of the committee must inform the Secretary of the Faculty of Sciences that the work cannot be defended by not abide by the rules.
This report will be evaluated by the designated committee, which could request the opinion of other professors in the field of the master's degree, specialists in the line of research of the TFM. The evaluation of the written report will contribute to 50% of the final grade.
The student must make an oral defense of the work and the members of the committee which will discuss with him different aspects of the work. In this defense, the student must demonstrate that he has reached sufficient scientific maturity to defend the work carried out in public, and is able to express himself with precision and clarity. Likewise, the student's level of understanding of the work carried out will be evaluated. The student will have up to 30 minutes for the presentation of the work. After the presentation there will be a question time by the members of the committee for a maximum of 30 minutes. The evaluation of this activity will contribute to 50% of the total final grade.
Both the evaluation of the written report and that of the defense will be carried out by means of a rubric, which will be made public previously.
The qualification of the work will be carried out on a scale of 0 to 10, with at least a qualification of 5 being necessary to pass it. Otherwise, the committee will indicate the defects appreciated and the modifications that need to be carried out for a new defense of the work.
4. Methodology, learning tasks, syllabus and resources
4.1. Methodological overview
The learning process that has been designed for this subject is based on the following:
- Oral presentations of works
- Written works.
- tutorials
- Personal work and study
- Personalized monitoring by the tutor/director of the TFM
4.2. Learning tasks
The program offered to the student to help him achieve the expected results includes the following activities:
- Deepening in topics related to the contents of the title.
- Development of a guided project
- Realization and written presentation of works
- Realization and oral presentation of works. T
- Tutoring in person or online
4.3. Syllabus
Máster (EQF/MECU 7)