Preparation for the MSc Dissertation
Keywords |
Classification |
Keyword |
OFICIAL |
Electrical and Computers Engineering |
Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S
Cycles of Study/Courses
Teaching language
Suitable for English-speaking students
Objectives
According to the plan of studies of this master course, this course unit aims to help students choosing their dissertation themes, help them revising the state of the art of the theme chosen and help them preparing the activity plan with the collaboration of the supervisor. The preparation of the activity plan should come together with a group of preliminary tasks, such as the detailed characterization of the problem which will be handled, identification and analysis of requirements, methodology which will be implemented, technologies to be used, etc. as well as a literature survey and the analysis of the state of the art.
Program
This course unit does not comprise a common program to all students.
Each student will have an individual program, which will help them acquiring specialized knowledge in relevant topics in the area of the theme that had been chosen. Students will be supervised in this task by their supervisors.
In addition, students should acquire various skills, not only technical, in order to be acquainted with a wide-ranging knowledge in the area of telecommunications: Technology of Communications; Communication Services and Networks; Multimedia Communication; Microelctronics and Embedded Systems; Signal, Audio and Image Processing.
Teaching methods and learning activities
This course unit is oriented to prepare students to write their dissertation thesis. Therefore each student will have an individual and specific work to carry out with the collaboration of his/her supervisor (literature survey, analysis of the state of the art, organisation of the work plan, methodologies to be adopted, etc)
During the semester it will take place some seminars about non-technical themes, in order to develop students’ complementary skills.
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation without final exam
Eligibility for exams
Since there are no tests/ exams or laboratory assignments, students will be assessed based on a report, which will be assessed by a jury.
Besides, students will have to write a progress report and deliver it to the supervisor and to the coordinator of the course unit.
Calculation formula of final grade
The main assessment component is the assessment made by the jury (supervisor and one or two professors) of the final report (85% of the Final Mark). Students will earn 3 values (15% of the Final Mark), if they attend to all seminars.
Examinations or Special Assignments
There is not any kind of special assessment, because of the nature, functioning and assessment of this course unit.
Classification improvement
One of the objectives of this course unit is that it acts as a support to the dissertation thesis, so it may not be possible to improve the mark of this course unit, if the dissertation thesis has already been written. However, if students did not complete the dissertation, they have to enrol again on this course unit and they may have to choose a different theme and plan of work.
Observations
This course unit and Dissertation Thesis should take place in consecutive semesters, so that students’ work is not interrupted.
When students are writing their dissertation should not be attending to classes and exams at the same time.
Hence, students should be aware of the following situation:
- Students who can write their dissertation in the second semester of 2009/10 have to enrol in this course unit in the first semester;
- Students who can write their dissertation in the first semester of 2010/11 have to enrol in this course unit in the first semester of 2009/10, apply to the proposed themes and attend to the seminars; However, the work related to the theme that has been chosen will only be done during the second semester of 2009/10.
Each student has to inform the professors of his/her situation.