Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Research in the Mathematical and Statistical Sciences has contributed significantly to a vast range of social and economic amenities. Such research can be intellectually challenging and rewarding and generally requires a range of capabilities to be developed to a level that is not normally achieved in a bachelor degree of three years duration. This unit offers you the opportunity to develop and/or refine some of these capabilities by undertaking a research project that is significant in the context of the social and economic outcomes alluded to above.

Aims

This unit, which is available to students majoring in Mathematics in the SC60 Bachelor of Applied Science Honours course and the postgraduate MA65, MA75 and MA85 courses aims to provide a framework for you to extend and apply the high-level mathematical theory, analytical and numerical methods and quantitative techniques learned in other units in the course to an area of research significance that is of interest to you. You will gain expertise in problem formulation, problem solving and critical thinking and written and oral communication, involving the Mathematical and Statistical Sciences.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you should:

1. Have identified a problem in an area of research significance that is of interest to you.
2. Have solved, or made significant progress towards solving, or have contributed a significant critical commentary toward the problem using an approach based on the Mathematical and/or Statistical Sciences.
3. Be aware of, understand and have critically evaluated the advanced theories, concepts and techniques that are relevant to your problem.
4. Have developed an appropriate plan for critically analysing and/or resolving the problem in the timeframe available.
5. Have improved your skills in using a planned approach to mathematical, analytic and creative problem solving so as to be able to formulate problems in mathematical terms, and perform the subsequent analysis, starting from verbal, written, experimental and/or observational information..
6. Have further developed your written and oral communication and presentation skills so as to be able to articulate and communicate ideas using high-level mathematical notation and language.

Content

Consultation with the Unit Coordinator and academic staff within the School of Mathematical Sciences is initially required to match your project preferences with staff's expertise and availability. The project may involve both academic and industrial supervisors. Projects in Applicable Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Statistical Science, Operations Research and Decision Science, Financial Mathematics and High Performance Computing and Visualisation are among those generally available. In addition, you will need to have completed or be concurrently studying units relevant to your research topic.

You will be given initial guidance as necessary, in project planning in order to develop a suitable plan to manage the project in a timely manner.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

There are no formal classes in this unit; however, you will normally meet regularly with your project supervisor(s) to promote learning through discussion on planning issues, feedback on draft reports, advice on work in progress and guidance on future developments.

Assessment

The assessment instruments applied in this unit will, in general, fall into the categories listed below. The assessment will generally include progressive assessment items within each module in order to provide you with a clear idea of your progress and areas where you may be having problems. The principal supervisor of the project will liaise with the Course Coordinator to ensure that content and assessment are appropriate and equitable in standard. It is expected that the assessment will be both formative and summative in nature.Formative and summative feedback will be provided via regular meetings with your principal supervisor.

Assessment name: Interview
Description: You will meet with your designated supervisor(s) on a regular basis to discuss plans, progress and future work. This process is formative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weekly

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: Throughout the semester you may be asked to present a summary of the progress that you have made in your project in the form of a seminar to an audience which includes your supervisor(s). You will be provided with oral feedback on your progress. This process may be summative and/or formative.
Relates to objectives: 2, 5 and 6.
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: You may be asked to present a summary of the main outcomes of your project in the form of a seminar to an audience which includes your supervisor(s). You will be provided with oral feedback on your project to assist you in developing the final draft of your project report. This process is both summative and formative.
Relates to objectives: 2, 5 and 6.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: Report
Description: A formal report should be submitted providing details of the work on the project. You will be given written and oral feedback on draft versions of your report, which should be handed to your supervisor on an ongoing basis, to assist you in developing the final report. Examination of the final project report shall be carried out by your principal supervisor and one independent examiner from within the Faculty of Science and Technology. The general criteria and performance standards that will be applied to the assessment of the project report, including a detailed marking scheme, will be provided to you by your principal supervisor by no later than the end of the second week of semester. This process is both summative and formative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Weight: 80%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Text:
There is no prescribed text set down for the unit.

References:
1. Anderson PV (1995) Technical Writing, 3rd edition, Hartcourt
2. Riordan DG & Pauley SE (2002) Technical Report Writing Today, 8th edition, Houghton Mifflin
3. Silyn-Roberts H (2000) Writing for Science and Engineering: Papers, Presentations and Reports, Butterworth-Heinemann

Risk assessment statement

While you are working on this project you should be mindful of the Health and Safety requirements of the university, your workplace and other relevant locations as appropriate. Further information on health and safety at QUT can be found at site http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/healthsafe/index.jsp

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 29-May-2012