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PRT820 - Master Thesis

2023

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Engineering

Credit Points

Equivalent Units

(PRT550)

Prerequisites

Must have passed 1 unit in (PRT551) AND Must have passed 6 units in (ENG417, ENG441, ENG442, ENG443, ENG444, ENG445, ENG446, ENG476, ENG481, ENG519, ENG581, PRT503, PRT565) OR
Must have passed 6 units in (ENG412, ENG417, ENG462, ENG463, ENG464, ENG466, ENG467, ENG469, ENG515, ENG516, ENG519, ENG563, ENG564, ENG565, ENG566, ENG567, ENG569, PRT503) OR
Must have passed 6 units in (ENG417, ENG421, ENG424, ENG429, ENG445, ENG471, ENG473, ENG474, ENG476, ENG519, ENG524, ENG571, ENG572, ENG573, ENG574, ENG576, ENG579, PRT503, PRT565) OR
Must have passed 6 units in (ENG417, ENG429, ENG432, ENG445, ENG476, ENG480, ENG481, ENG482, ENG486, ENG487, ENG519, ENG534, ENG576, ENG579, ENG580, ENG581, ENG582, ENG586, PRT503, PRT565) OR
Must have passed 5 units in (ENG417, ENG519, HIT400, PRT451, PRT452, PRT453, PRT455, PRT503, PRT565, PRT574, PRT580, PRT581, PRT582, PRT583) OR
Must have passed 6 units in (ENG417, ENG519, MAN508, MAN515, PRT451, PRT456, PRT457, PRT503, PRT541, PRT547, PRT565, PRT581) OR
Must have passed 5 units in (ENG417, ENG519, PRT451, PRT456, PRT457, PRT503, PRT541, PRT547, PRT561, PRT562, PRT563, PRT564, PRT565, PRT571, PRT581) OR
Must have passed 5 units in (ENG417, ENG519, HIT400, PRT456, PRT503, PRT531, PRT541, PRT561, PRT562, PRT563, PRT564, PRT565, PRT580) OR
Must have passed 6 units in (ENG417, ENG519, PRT451, PRT503, PRT558, PRT565, PRT571, PRT572, PRT573, PRT574, PRT581) OR
Must have passed 3 units in (PRT571, PRT572, PRT573, PRT574, PRT581) OR
Must have passed 3 units in (BUS501, PHM553, PRT520, PRT531, PRT532, PRT563, PRT564, PRT565, PRT574, STA510) OR
Must have passed 3 units in (PRT541, PRT547, PRT563, PRT564, PRT571, PRT581) OR
Must have passed 3 units in (PRT574, PRT580, PRT581, PRT582, PRT583, PRT585)

Incompatible

Assumed Knowledge

Unit Description

The knowledge and skills acquired in the design, experimentation, analysis, management and communications aspects of a postgraduate course are brought together in an individual research project undertaken by the student under the guidance of supervisors. The research project can be carried out within a university, industry or government setting.

The unit includes mandatory research skills training workshops and exercises and weekly meetings with supervisors.

The Master Thesis is normally completed over two semesters by completing Part A (first enrolment) and Part B (second enrolment) of this unit. For further information, refer to the course structure of your course.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources.
2.	Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems.
3.	Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem.
4.	Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic.
5.	Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem.
6.	Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research.
7.	Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills.
8.	Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Part A - Research plan (indicative number of pages is 10)	10%	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.
2.	Part A - Poster presentation	10%	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 2 - Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems. 3 - Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem. 4 - Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic. 5 - Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem. 6 - Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research. 7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.
3.	Part A - Report (indicative length is 15 pages of the paper section and 6,000 words of the literature review)	30%	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 2 - Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems. 3 - Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem. 4 - Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic. 5 - Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem. 6 - Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research. 7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.
4.	Part A - Weekly progress report forms (80% or more satisfactorily completed)	P/F	7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills.
5.	Part A - Weekly research skills activities (80% or more satisfactorily completed)	P/F	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 2 - Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems. 3 - Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem. 4 - Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic. 5 - Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem. 6 - Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research. 7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.
6.	Part B - Oral presentation (10 minutes)	10%	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 2 - Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems. 3 - Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem. 4 - Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic. 5 - Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem. 6 - Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research. 7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.
7.	Part B - Thesis (indicative length is 20 pages of the paper section and 6,000 words of the literature review)	40%	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 2 - Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems. 3 - Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem. 4 - Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic. 5 - Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem. 6 - Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research. 7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.
8.	Part B - Weekly progress report forms (80% or more satisfactorily completed)	P/F	7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills.
9.	Part B - Weekly research skills activities (80% or more satisfactorily completed)	P/F	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 2 - Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems. 3 - Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem. 4 - Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic. 5 - Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem. 6 - Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research. 7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.
10.	Part B - Softcopy of the Corrected Thesis	P/F	1 - Construct a research proposal for the thesis, specifying the research question, project objectives, scope, approach, deliverables, timeline and resources. 2 - Critically review the literature and previous work on related research problems. 3 - Use a scholarly and creative approach to critically examine the thesis problem and formulate possible solutions of the problem. 4 - Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts of the thesis topic. 5 - Use appropriate methodologies based on sound technical knowledge to implement and investigate possible solutions of the problem. 6 - Critically evaluate research findings, provide possible explanations to the results derived and discuss uncertainties, limitations and significance of the research. 7 - Adopt an independent and professional approach to the thesis research and writing, demonstrating initiative and time management skills. 8 - Communicate complex ideas in plain English and correctly expressed mathematics (when appropriate), using effective and professional communication methods.

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2023	Semester 1	Internal	Casuarina Campus	OLR
2023	Semester 1	External	External Studies	OLR
2023	Semester 2	Internal	CDU Sydney	OLR	View
2023	Semester 2	Internal	Casuarina Campus	OLR	View
2023	Semester 2	External	External Studies	OLR	View

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OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
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Student Services and Amenities Fees
2023 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)