SN5900 The Master's Thesis Course description

Birte Brekketo

Ingen utover opptakskrav

Emnet overlapper 15 studiepoeng mot KDK1100.

At the end of the second semester, a two page project description must be submitted and approved before the student gets a supervisor. A master's thesis preparation seminar will help the student to produce the two page project description.

A supervisor will be appointed by the programme director. Supervision is a crucial component in the preparation of the thesis. The supervisor is to assist the student when he or she is acquiring the necessary and relevant knowledge, as well as, when collecting and analysing data. The supervisor must ensure that the student-s research activity comply with accepted ethical standards within social research, including standards defined by the Norwegian Data Protection Official and the National Committees for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities

Every student is entitled to approximately 10 hours of face-to-face consultation, individually or in groups, or the equivalent if part of the supervision is conducted via email. Two students co-writing will together receive 15 hours of face-to-face consulation.

An agreement between the student and the supervisor must be signed by both parties to ensure that rights and obligations are understood. The student and the supervisor may request a substitute if either party fails to meet the obligations outlined in the agreement.

The research work (analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data or a literature review) is conducted during the fourth semester. Students are encouraged to carry out their data collection abroad.

Compulsory activities must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam:

• A two page project description must be submitted and approved.
• A signed agreement between the student and the supervisor must be submitted by a set date.

The exam consists of two parts: the Master's thesis itself and an oral examination. The Master's thesis must receive a passing grade before the student can sit for the oral examination. The oral examination begins with the student presenting their Master's thesis in lecture format (30 minutes, 45 minutes if co-authored with another student). Following this, the student will participate in an individual, oral discussion and assessment (of approx. 45 minutes).

The student can choose to receive the grade on the written master's thesis before the oral presentation of the thesis (the lecture) commences.

The oral presentation (the lecture) and the subsequent individual, oral discussion and assessment can change the grade that is given for the Master's thesis. After the oral examination, the final grade is set. The final grade is entered into the diploma.

When two students co-author a Master's thesis, both will receive the same grade for the written thesis. Each individual student will, however, individually present their part of the thesis in lecture form and subsequently participate in an individual, oral discussion and assessment. The presentation and oral discussion and assessment will be evaluated as the individual student’s contribution and will be used for possible adjustment of the final grade.

A student can deliver a new or revised Master's thesis one time if the Master thesis does not receive a passing grade. The student in this case will receive an offer of three-hours further supervision before submitting. Students receiving a passing grade on their Master's thesis do not have the right to have their thesis re-evaluated within the same study program.

In this course, we'll explore how buildings is similar to living organisms, experiencing, during its lifespan, aging and environmental and anthropological deterioration problems. This course explores the principles and practices relating to rehabilitation work in the built environment. It will provide technical guidelines to students on methodology of site inspections, evaluation of existing buildings, causes and agents of deterioration, measurement and monitoring techniques, identification of the actual defects, repair methodology and materials for rehabilitations. The context of building technology, standards, evolving building techniques, planning and implementation, information technology, procurement cost, climate resilience and designing an energy rehabilitation of existing buildings will be explored.

None

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student should have knowledge of:

• challenges facing the built environment
• causes, agents of deterioration and the impact of repair materials on the overall performance of the building
• standards, inspection techniques and rehabilitation practices
• environmental impact assessments and sustainable practices in rehabilitation.

Skills

The student is able to:

• define rehabilitation measures and plan
• select repair materials
• develop cost estimates and budgets for the rehabilitation plan
• maximize returns on investment in the field of building's rehabilitation
• apply in-depth knowledge to a case study

General Competence:

The student can:

• conduct thorough market research, or literature to gather data and information
• write clear, detailed, and technically sound reports outlining the rehabilitation plan
• work effectively in a team and skillfully deliver a compelling pitch.

A combination of lectures (digital and physical), individual study and project work. The project will be defined by the student based on real world case study on the rehabilitation in the built environement. Collaboration with either a Norwegian or international company is encouraged,adding a real-world dimension to the project. It could also involve reviweing, analysing and evaluating previous rehabilitation projects to suggest improvements or more sustainable and cost-effective approaches.