Program Overview

FCA3001 Literature Course for Doctoral Students

Course Description

The FCA3001 Literature course for doctoral students is a 3.0 credit course that corresponds to two weeks of full-time study, equivalent to 80 full-time study hours. The course is designed to be completed within one semester from the start of the course. It consists of an individually designed and completed literature study within a relevant topic, where the literature is chosen according to an agreement between the research student and the responsible teacher.

Course Contents

• The doctoral student conducts independent studies of designated literature in the form of scientific articles, books, book chapters, or other material.
• Selected research literature shall constitute a deepening and/or broadening of knowledge that is relevant to the postgraduate student's own third-cycle studies, but may not be included in the doctoral student's thesis.
• The main supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the literature included in the literature course is not included in the doctoral or licentiate thesis.

Compulsory Project Plan

A compulsory project plan for the literature study must be submitted to the examiner for approval. The project plan must contain:

• Name of doctoral student and course responsible teacher
• Preliminary schedule for the studies with estimated start and end dates for the course
• Time estimate that justifies the extent of 80 full-time study hours
• Selected literature to be presented and motivated with regard to content, and how the chosen research literature is related to the research student's own research area and thesis work
• Concretisation of the course's learning outcomes based on the chosen research literature
• Criterion-referenced grading criteria for the grade pass according to the learning outcomes specified in the syllabus

Compulsory Elements

• The literature assignment includes, in addition to self-study, at least two scheduled meetings with the responsible teacher, where the knowledge acquired so far is presented and discussed.
• The responsible teacher shall, at the meeting, document the results achieved.
• Conducted discussions and documented results form part of the basis for examination and must be described so that it is possible to ensure that the doctoral student has benefited from the literature in accordance with the course objectives.
• A final report written by the doctoral student must be submitted before the oral presentation.
• The report should contain an overall description, reflection, and discussion of the reviewed literature, which also takes into account how the new knowledge benefits the doctoral student's continued education.
• The doctoral student must give an oral presentation in the form of a seminar at a time that is decided jointly by the doctoral student, responsible teacher, and examiner.

Course Analysis

In accordance with KTH's regulations, the course responsible person must, after completing the course, submit a course analysis to the program director responsible for the doctoral program to which the doctoral student belongs. The course analysis shall contain:

• Approved project plan
• Documentation from the scheduled meetings
• The report written by the doctoral student
• A joint statement from the doctoral student and supervisor with reflections and comments regarding the benefit of the course for the doctoral student's continued studies, and how the course contributed to progression towards the fulfillment of the examination goals.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Show broadened and/or deepened knowledge and insight into the chosen research area's scientific basis and proven experience based on the selected literature.
2. Demonstrate the ability to in oral and written dialogue with teachers, researchers, and other doctoral students to clearly explain and discuss acquired new knowledge, and to argue for and reflect on this.
3. Demonstrate the ability to identify and discuss relevant scientific, social, ethical, and sustainable aspects of the selected literature.

Literature and Preparations

Specific Prerequisites

• Eligible for studies at the third-cycle level.

Literature

• Specified separately for each individual course and listed as part of the project plan.

Examination and Completion

Grading Scale

• P, F

Examination

• LIT1 - Literature assignment, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
• Based on recommendation from KTH's coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
• The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
• If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
• Examination takes the form of at least two documented meetings with the responsible teacher during the course, a final report, and an oral presentation in the form of an open seminar where special emphasis is placed on the invitation of other doctoral students at the department.
• Grading criteria are specified in the compulsory project plan.

Other Requirements for Final Grade

• Passed project plan.
• Passed active attendance during at least two scheduled and documented meetings.
• Passed written report.
• Passed oral final presentation.

Examiner

• Svein Kleiven
• Åsa Emmer
• Ines Ezcurra

Ethical Approach

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further Information

Offered By

• CBH/School-wide

Education Cycle

• Third cycle

Postgraduate Course

• Postgraduate courses at CBH/School-wide