Course syllabus - Thesis Work, Product Design

Objectives

Individually or in pairs, students are to apply their acquired knowledge and search for new knowledge in order to independently solve a design-related problem within product development.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to do the following (in a scientific manner and according to good engineering practice):

- analyze and apply processes and tools for product development, partly to formulate a product development problem, partly to create and evaluate solutions, as well as to choose and develop a quality-assured solution to a product development task
- draw conclusions and offer recommendations for further work on the basis of the results obtained
- document and argue for (in writing) the process and result of a product development task
- present, argue for and defend (orally) the process and result of a product development task

Course content

The problem that is to function as the basis for the thesis is to be found within an ongoing research project at the university or in society at large.

Tuition

Supervision by an assigned supervisor or examiner at the university and, where applicable, by an external client. NB: Each student is to make sure that regular contact is maintained between the student and the supervisor(s) (cf. our guidelines for degree projects).

Specific requirements

Before the start of the degree project, students must have received a passing grade on courses corresponding to at least 135 credits. Among these must be courses on the advanced level that are worth at least 15 credits, and 7.5 of these credits must be related to the topic of the degree project.

Examination

Project (PRO1), The project is to be presented in the form of a physical product model and a technical report. There also has to be an oral presentation, with an opponent, at a seminar at the university plus, possibly, another presentation for the client. Before the technical report can be submitted, it has to be cleared by the examiner. The actual examination, i.e. the oral presentation, is to take place on one out of three possible days per year, which are scheduled within the re-examination periods in January, June, and August, 15 credits, marks Pass (G)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass, Fail