Study Programmes 2015-2016
ARCH3271-1  
Introduction to Research
Duration :
10h Th, 10h Pr, 30h Proj.
Number of credits :
Master in architecture and engineering (120 ECTS)2
Lecturer :
Samia Ben Rajeb, Mario Cools, Pierre Leclercq
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
  • General research methods
  • Introduction to desk research and bibliographic referencing
  • Introduction to critical reading
  • Introduction to scientific and technical writing
  • Notions of plagiarism
  • Scientific modeling of an activity
  • Quantitative analysis of results
  • Visual formalisms
  • Scientific communication
  • Expectations of a master thesis
Learning outcomes of the course :
This course prepares the student to realise his/her master's thesis. During the course, he/she will be introduced to the possibilities and particularities of scientific research and will become able to apply them in the context of his/her master's thesis.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Not applicable.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course will encompass theory lectures (10h), practical sessions (10h), additional information session(s), and personal work (30h).
The concepts that are introduced during the theory lectures, will be developed and realized in the personal context of the master's thesis, during the practical sessions and projects defined according to the course context (see above).
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face lectures, mainly taught in French. Participation in the course lectures and practical sessions is obliged. For the finalisation of his/her assignments, the student will have to realize a part of his work in hours, complementary to the obliged course moments.
Recommended or required readings :
Recommended reading: John Biggam (2008) : Succeeding with your Master's dissertation. A step-by-step handbook. Open University Press. Berkshire, England.
A selection of slides presented during the course (PDF) will be made available via the class delegate.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Literature review and public presentation of a critical analysis of a scientific work (25% of the final mark).
Written work (article, poster, etc.) and public presentation related to the subject of the master's thesis (75% of the final mark).
Work placement(s) :
Not applicable.
Organizational remarks :
Presence at the information session of the research subjects of the promotors of the section is mandatory.
Contacts :
Team of lecturers:
Samia Ben Rajeb, Assistant lecturer samia.benrajeb @ ulg.ac.be
Mario Cools, Associate professor mario.cools @ ulg.ac.be
Pierre Leclercq, Full professor pierre.leclercq @ ulg.ac.be