Master's Programme in Computational Science

120 credits

Programme syllabus, TBV2M

A revised version of the programme syllabus is available.
Code
TBV2M
Finalised by
The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 12 November 2015
Registration number
TEKNAT 2014/47
Responsible faculty
Faculty of Science and Technology
Responsible department
Department of Information Technology

Decisions and guidelines

1. Decision to offer two-year Master programmes

According to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor 2006-09-16, Uppsala University will offer two-year Master programmes in biology, computer science, physics, earth science, sustainable development, chemistry, mathematics, computational science and applied biotechnology, all from 2007-07-01. Furthermore according to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor 2008-06-07 a Master programme in bioinformatics from 2009-07-01.

2. Objectives for a Degree

2.1 Objectives for a Degree of Master (One Year) (Magisterexamen)

Objectives for a Degree of Master (One Year) according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must

- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both a broad command of the field and deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with insight into current research and development work; and

- demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must

- demonstrate an ability to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;

- demonstrate an ability to independently identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits;

- demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing; and

- demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work in other advanced contexts.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must

- demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;

- demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people's responsibility for how it is used; and

- demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

2.2 Objectives for a Degree of Master (Two Years) (Masterexamen)

Objectives for a Degree of Master (Two Years) according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must

- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both broad knowledge in the field and substantially deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with deeper insight into current research and development work; and

- demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must

- demonstrate an ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;

- demonstrate an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits, so as to contribute to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work;

- demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing, in national and international contexts; and - demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other advanced contexts.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must

- demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;

- demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people's responsibility for how it is used; and

- demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor of Science degree (equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits, i.e. three years of full-time study), in Science, Engineering,

Mathematics or Computer Science, including at least 30 credits in Mathematics, including Algebra,

Linear Algebra, Calculus and Vector Calculus, 5 credits in programming and 5 credits in numerical methods (numerical analysis or Scientific Computing).

Proof of skills in English to a level corresponding to English B in the Swedish secondary school. This is normally attested by means of an internationally recognised test with the following minimum scores:

  • IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
  • TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test and a total score of 90
  • Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Layout of the programme

4.8.1 Description of the programme

A graduate from the cross-disciplinary Master programme in Computational Science has a spectrum of knowledge ranging from some field or fields in science to the development and analysis of modern computational methods and software in Scientific Computing. The syllabus of the program corresponds to this span of fields. The program offers a range of courses that will lead to a M.Sc. degree with a major in Computational Science, and normally with a specialisation in an area in Science.

The first part of the initial semester is partly used to ensure that students with diverse Bachelor degree backgrounds arrive at a common knowledge base, for example through an individually constructed bridging course in Scientific Computing and/or Programming. During the second part of the initial semester and during the second semester, mainly courses at the advanced level in Scientific Computing, Biology, Physics, Earth Science and Chemistry are given. During the final year, courses with a strong connection to research and development in academia and in society are given. The Master's thesis project can be performed during the last semester, or in parallel with other courses during the whole second year.

4.8.2 Comprehensive aims of the education

The Master programme in Computational Science results in a combination of knowledge and skills in some area of Science and in Scientific Computing. The programme is intended for students with a Bachelor degree in Science or in Mathematics/Scientific Computing/Computer Science and provides deeper knowledge in some area of Science combined with knowledge on modern computational techniques and ability of using such techniques for solving problems in Science. The cross-disciplinary education results in knowledge and skills suitable for advanced assignments in trade and industry, public authorities and institutions, business, or for further studies towards the Ph.D. degree in a variety of fields. A graduated student from the programme should be able to organise and run research and development projects in many fields.

4.8.3 Aims as expected results of the study

Knowledge and understanding

Within the framework of objectives stated in the Higher Education Ordinance (see Chapter 2) graduated students should

- Demonstrate deepened knowledge and understanding within at least one field of Science, including a breadth of knowledge in this field as well as specialist knowledge in some parts of the field and insight into current research and development activities.

- Demonstrate deepened knowledge on principles, methodologies, and algorithms for computer simulations and computations based on mathematical models, and an ability to apply this knowledge within at least one field in Science

Skills and abilities

Within the framework of objectives stated in the Higher Education Ordinance (see Chapter 2) graduated students should

- Demonstrate an ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge from Scientific Computing and at least one area of Science, and an ability to analyse, assess, and address complex phenomena and issues in this field, also in situations where only limited information is available

- Demonstrate an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate problems and to plan and pursue advanced tasks within given timeframes, using adequate mathematical models, software and computer systems

- Demonstrate an ability to give oral as well as written reports of and discussion of their conclusions in applied scientific computing, and of the knowledge and the arguments on which these are based, and to do this in dialogue with various groups both nationally and internationally

- Demonstrate an ability to use advanced computational software and different classes of computer systems for solving computational problems in Science and Engineering

- Demonstrate an ability to understand and use mathematical models for describing phenomena in Science and Engineering

- Demonstrate skills required to participate in research and development activities and to work independently in other qualified settings within Computational Science

Judgement and approach

Within the frame of objectives stated in the Higher Education Ordinance (see chapter 2) graduated students should

- Demonstrate an ability to validate and assess results from computer simulations and numerical computations

- Demonstrate an ability to make judgements within Computational Science, taking into account relevant scientific, societal, and ethical aspects as well as demonstrating an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development

- Demonstrate insight about the potential and limitations of Computational Science, its role in society and human responsibility for its use

- Demonstrate an ability to identify their need for further knowledge in Computational Science and to assume responsibility for further developing their own knowledge

4.8.4 Programme outline

The programme results in a specialisation in Biology, Physics, Earth Science, Chemistry or Computational Science. Some of the courses are taken jointly with students from other programmes.

4.8.5 The courses of the programme

The order of courses in the programme can be seen from the outline.

Degree

3.1 Regulations according to Higher Education Ordinance

A Degree of Master (One Year) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 60 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 30 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

Exceptions may be made to the requirement of a previous qualification for a student who has been admitted to the educational programme without having had basic eligibility in the form of a qualification. However, this does not apply if in the admissions process an exception has been made under Chapter 7, Section 28, second paragraph on the grounds that there has been insufficient time to issue a qualification certificate.

A Degree of Master (Two Years) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 60 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

Exceptions may be made to the requirement of a previous qualification for a student who has been admitted to the educational programme without having had basic eligibility in the form of a qualification. However, this does not apply if in the admissions process an exception has been made under Chapter 7, Section 28, second paragraph on the grounds that there has been insufficient time to issue a qualification certificate.

Independent project (degree project)

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements.

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements. The independent project may comprise less than 30 higher education credits, but not less than 15 higher education credits, if the student has already completed an independent project at the second level worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, or an equivalent project in a foreign educational programme.

3.2 Local regulations

Main fields for a Degree of Master (One Year) and a Degree of Master (Two Years) at the Faculty of Science and Technology are Biology, Computer Science, Physics, Earth Science, Sustainable Development, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computational Science and Applied Biotechnology.

A Degree of Master (one year ) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 15 higher education credits. A degree of Master ( two years ) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 30 higher education credits. The course or the courses are meant to provide such additional competence as is needed for in-depth studies in the main field of study and cannot be included in the student's basic degree.

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits.

Other directives

Students, who have acquired equivalent qualifications outside the programme, corresponding to at least 15 credits on advanced level in addition to the degree at Bachelor's level, may apply to be accepted to a later part of the programme. The application deadline for the autumn term is May 1 and for the spring term December 1.

4.8.7 Grade and examination

Unless otherwise prescribed in the course syllabus, a grade is to be awarded on completion of a course. A student who has taken two examinations in a course or a part of a course without obtaining a pass grade is entitled to have another examiner appointed, unless there are special reasons to the contrary.

4.8.8 Courses together in a degree

Some courses cannot be considered in a degree together. Which courses this concern will be pointed out in each course syllabus.

4.8.9 Degree and diploma

Upon request, a student who has received a pass grade in a course is to receive a course certificate from the higher education institution. Upon request, a student who meets the requirements for a qualification is to receive a diploma from the higher education institution.

A Degree of Master (One Year) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 60 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 30 higher education credits with in-depth studies in Computational Science. For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 15 higher education credits in Computational Science, within the framework of the course requirements.

A Degree of Master (Two Years) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 60 higher education credits with in-depth studies in Computational Science. For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits in Computational Science, within the framework of the course requirements. A degree of Master (Two Years) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 30 higher education credits

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