Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master's program in Biology, which includes a course titled "Arctic Field Course" (NBIK14024U). This course is part of the qualification profile Marine Biology.

Course Description

The Arctic Field Course uses the Arctic Station, University of Copenhagen, at Qeqertarsuaq as the main platform for its activities. Participants apply for the opportunity to participate in the course by formulating an experimental project to be carried out during a two-week stay at the Arctic Station. The application should include:

• A description of the project, aim, working hypothesis, and present knowledge
• How realistic it is to carry out the project during 2 weeks under arctic conditions
• A budget for all expenses
• How to obtain external funding for the project

Each project includes two to three students, and the successful students carry out their project with supervision from the involved teachers. Lectures are arranged in the evenings, where the scientific leader of the station, guests, and teachers discuss their current projects.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Discuss and understand the scientific process from the idea of a project to completing a report of the study
• Carry out practical field work under challenging conditions
• Analyze accumulated data statistically
• Apply general morphological, physiological, and reproductive strategies in arctic organisms in the discussion of the acquired results
• Apply general population dynamics in relation to environmental conditions
• Apply general element cycling of the Arctic in the discussion of the acquired results
• Include general knowledge on arctic abiotic conditions in the treatment of the results of the project
• Mediate the ideas of the project and the acquired results in terms of a project report and in an oral presentation of the investigation
• Work in a group and take responsibility for preparing a report of a high standard

Literature and Academic Qualifications

The course literature is available on Absalon. It is a prerequisite that the course "Arctic Biology" has been successfully passed either before or during the same year as the field course.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course consists of experimental group projects with intensive guidance in connection with planning of the project and execution of field work. The groups present their plan to the team.

Remarks

Participation in the course is based on the following criteria: relevance, project, feasibility, general skills, grades, and motivation. Each student must contribute with 4-5000 Dkr. as co-financing.

Workload

The course workload is distributed as follows:

• Category: Hours
  • Excursions: 10
  • Guidance: 15
  • Lectures: 5
  • Practical exercises: 70
  • Preparation: 30.5
  • Project work: 75
  • Total: 206.0

Exam and Assessment

The exam consists of a written assignment and an oral examination. For each project, students will write a report in English based on the results of their investigations. The report must follow the format of a scientific paper. The examination is a 20-minute oral examination where the students individually present their study and its results. The presentation is followed by questions to the report as well as relevant background literature to the project.

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: NBIK14024U
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 4 (including a field trip to Greenland)
• Schedule: Every year
• Course capacity: 12 students
• Continuing and further education: Available
• Study board: Study Board of Biology and Animal Science
• Contracting department: Department of Biology
• Course responsibles: Kirsten Seestern Christoffersen

Additional Information

The course is part of the qualification profile Marine Biology, and students must contribute with 4-5000 Dkr. as co-financing. The course includes a field trip to Greenland, and participation is based on the criteria mentioned above. The exam consists of a written assignment and an oral examination, and the course workload is distributed as described above.