Module Specifications.
Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025
All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).
As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Date posted: September 2024
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None The project module must be repeated in its entirety |
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Description The final year project is a major two semester project undertaken during the final year. Project titles are suggested and projects are supervised by staff members and usually reflect the research interests of staff. Project titles may also originate from the INTRA industrial placement. The project topic will normally be aligned with the students particular degree programme specialisation (e.g. for Applied Physics, Physics with Astronomy or Physics with Biomedical Sciences) and a suitable range of projects for the various programmes will be available and students will be advised on their choices. The aim of the project is to develop the students ability to plan and implement a project under the guidance of a staff member. Project areas include computation, construction, theory, measurement and analysis. The project work is delivered mainly via consultation with academic and other staff in terms of project planning and other background research work and the actual project work is performed during compulsory laboratory periods. The module is both skills- and knowledge-based, in roughly equal measure, as it involves the use of previous knowledge and learning of new knowledge in planning and executing the project in addition to the development of skills via the practical implementation of the project. The students will participate in a variety of learning activities, for example planning the project, using experimental or computational instrumentation, constructing experiments, writing reports, and delivering a final oral presentation. Students are expected to plan and execute a 24 week project in physics or a suitably related discipline. This will involve constant review of the plan, regular interaction and discussion with their project supervisor, setting and meeting deadlines and dealing with changes to the project plan as they arise. They are also expected to undertake a literature review on a topic of relevance to the overall project (which is categorised under the professional skills aspects of the module, as below) and to perform a risk assessment of the project. Finally they must deliver a final report and oral presentation of their project work and outcomes at the end of semester two. All these activities must be supported by suitable study of the scientific and technical topics related to the project and students must draw on their prior knowledge in these areas also. Students are expected to use on-line loop resources provided for appropriate aspects of the project. The project accounts for ~ 17 out of 20 module credits. The module also encompasses a range of professional skills development learning and assessment activities, which are mainly skills-based, and which in many cases are designed to aid the project work and/or complement it. These skills include (i) library information skills session and assignment (which helps the literature survey and final report aspects of the project; (ii) preparation of a literature review on a topic of relevance to the overall project; (iii) a science communication “pitch your project” element designed for communication of scientific outputs to a generalist audience (either orally or in written form) and (iv) the preparation of a project and CV summary according to a template for inclusion in a year 4 project booklet for the class (which allows the students to summarise their achievements and project in a form suitable for presentation to potential employers). The literature survey, “pitch your project”, and final year reports and presentations will be included by the students in their e-portfolios (unless there are confidentiality issues which preclude this, e.g. in the case of industrially sourced projects). The professional skills account for ~ 3 out of 20 module credits. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Develop and execute an appropriate time plan for a 24 week physics-based project aligned with the particular degree programme specialisation (e.g. for Applied Physics, Physics with Astronomy or Physics with Biomedical Sciences) and deal with the inevitable changes which occur during the project period 2. Display a range of professional skills in the areas of information gathering, reporting, generalist communication and directed professional communication 3. Undertake a risk assessment of the overall project including but not limited to environment, equipment, electrical, chemical and radiation safety issues 4. Execute a project producing progress reports for line manager/supervisor and meeting necessary deadlines 5. Deliver a presentation which summarises the essential scientific and practical aspects and outcomes of the project to the appropriate deadline 6. Produce a final project report which details the essential scientific and practical aspects and outcomes of the project to the appropriate deadline 7. Undertake their project and professional skills activities with clear awareness of ethical issues in relation to plagiarism | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Final year projectThere is no unique syllabus for the project element of the module as each project is different and projects are not normally repeated. Notes and other resources will be made available for the professional skills development learning activities, and will be updated yearly to reflect changes in details of activities and assignments year-to-yearLearning activitiesIn respect of the project aspect of the module, students are expected to plan and execute a 24 week project in physics or a suitably related discipline aligned with the student's particular degree programme specialisation (e.g. for Applied Physics, Physics with Astronomy or Physics with Biomedical Sciences). This will involve constant review of the plan, regular interaction and discussion with their project supervisor, setting and meeting deadlines and dealing with changes to the project plan as they arise. They are also expected to undertake a literature review on a topic of relevance to the overall project (which is categorised under the professional skills aspects of the module, as below) and to perform a risk assessment of the project. Finally they must deliver a final report and oral presentation of their project work and outcomes at the end of semester two. All these activities must be supported by suitable study of the scientific and technical topics related to the project and students must draw on their prior knowledge in these areas also. Students are expected to use on-line loop resources provided for appropriate aspects of the project.Professional DevelopmentThe module also encompasses a range of professional skills development learning and assessment activities, which are mainly skills-based, and which in many cases are designed to aid the project work and/or complement it. These skills include (i) library information skills session and assignment (which helps the literature survey and final report aspects of the project; (ii) preparation of a literature review on a topic of relevance to the overall project; (iii) a science communication “pitch your project” element designed for communication of scientific outputs to a generalist audience (either orally or in written form) and (iv) the preparation of a project and CV summary according to a template for inclusion in a year 4 project booklet for the class (which allows the students to summarise their achievements and project in a form suitable for presentation to potential employers). The literature survey, “pitch your project”, and final year reports and presentations will be included by the students in their e-portfolios (unless there are confidentiality issues which preclude this, e.g. in the case of industrially sourced projects). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other Resources 40897, Moodle, Enda McGlynn, 0, Information items for final year projects on loop, 40898, Various, Various, 0, Notes and other resources will be made available for the professional skills development learning activities, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||