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Teaching
The course consists of lectures, seminars, laboratory and methods practicals, a residential dissertation school, and a research dissertation. The residential school consists of an intense few days of individual and group learning, focused on developing the dissertation proposal and poster, as well as oral presentations. A 15,000-word dissertation requires students to identify, design and independently execute a small, empirically-grounded research study related to the course. Students will be supervised through the process from initial question identification through to the design and execution of research.
| One to one supervision | Students will have 2 hours of small group supervisions during each of Michaelmas and Lent Terms and up to 3 hours of one-to-one supervision in Easter Term for their dissertation. |
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| Seminars & classes | In Michaelmas and Lent students will have between 6 and 8 hours of seminar classes per term, ie small group learning, often self-directed but always with a tutor present; encouraging peer-to-peer learning. |
| Lectures | Students will receive between 4 and 6 hours of formal lectures per week during Michaelmas and Lent Terms, introducing substantive subject material (eg climate proxy characteristics, climate reconstruction methods, climate model simulations, time-series analyses, climate forcing theories, climate dynamics concepts, case studies on climate-human interactions, and more general controversies related to the Earth's climate system). |
| Practicals | Natural Science Laboratory and Natural Science Methods courses/lectures, workshops and practicals, approximately 4 two-hour lectures in the first term and optional lectures in the second term. |
| Posters | Students will participate in a few days of intense individual and group learning in the residential school, focused on developing their dissertation proposal, poster and oral presentations. |
Feedback
Students will receive written and oral feedback on their formative essay submitted during Michaelmas term. They will receive written feedback on their assessed coursework essay and on their dissertation. Students will also receive written termly progress reports.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
A dissertation proposal, an oral presentation and a 15,000-word dissertation. An oral examination will take place at the discretion of the examiners.
Essays
One essay of up to 4,000 words.
Written examination
One 2-hour written examination.