Natural Hazard Risk Assessment

Graduate Profile:  Professional Masters in Engineering Geology (PMEG)

A graduate of a PMEG is expected to be able to:

Personal Attributes
 Comprehend, and apply knowledge of, accepted principles underpinning widely applied good practice for professional engineering geology.  
 Be acquainted with research philosophy and methodology
 Have an attitude of critical enquiry when acting in a professional capacity.
 Be knowledgeable and forthright about the dependence of engineering on geology and geomorphology.
 Be introduced to legal requirements, regulatory issues, and special engineering geological requirements that may exist for a particular jurisdiction.
 Be able to construct an appropriate engineering geological model, taking into account available data and the engineering requirements.
 Understand the concepts of engineering geological uncertainty and geotechnical risk.
 Be experienced in applying this knowledge to analysis of actual engineering situations
 Be able to draw on a wide range of concepts, knowledge and ideas in providing engineering geological input to engineering projects
 Understand the requirements for appropriate, accurate and comprehensive communication, and for ethical responsibility, on the part of engineering geology professionals.
 Recognise the reasonably foreseeable social, cultural and environmental effects of professional engineering geological activities generally.
Interactive Attributes
 Work collaboratively on tasks
 Communicate effectively both in written and spoken English
 Carry out fieldwork and reporting in engineering geology

Graduate Profile:  Master of Science (MSc)

A graduate of a MSc is expected to have the personal and interactive attributes of students with PMEG with the following additional:

Personal Attributes
 Engage in rigorous intellectual analysis, criticism and problem solving
 Understand, evaluate, access and critically review new information, including findings and discussions in the literature
 Research, analyse, evaluate, and argue from evidence
 Demonstrate mastery of sophisticated theoretical subject matter

Current Course Options
Professional Masters in Engineering Geology
The PMEG programme comprises the eight papers plus dissertation taken over one full-time calendar year, or as part–time basis courses and dissertation as approved by the Head of Department. PMEG students may transfer to the MSc if they achieve a B+ average in their eight PMEG papers.

MSc in Engineering Geology
Subject to a B+ average grade being achieved in the eight PMEG papers, a BSc(Hons) or a BE(Hons), students may proceed to a thesis in Engineering Geology, and this is normally of 12 months duration for the award of Honours (ENGE 690). The thesis proposal for MSc must be approved by Graduate Studies prior to enrolment.  The MSc thesis may be taken part-time with the approval of the Head of Geological Sciences. Intending MSc students should be aware that there is presently a limitation of six (6) enrolments, and that places will normally be allocated on the basis of prior academic merit.

Entry Requirements
Students wishing to enter the PMEG programme should normally have achieved a B+ average grade in their undergraduate studies for preferred entry; students with B average grade will be on a waiting list until 3 weeks prior to commencement of ENGE 410. There are required field courses (GEOL 240, 241, 351, 352 or equivalent), and at least 60 additional points in GEOL 300 courses. There is also a requirement for 15 points of MATH 100-level and 15 points of STAT 100-level courses, and students should consult the University Calendar for full details. Intending MSc students should consult with the HOD in the first instance.

Marks and Grades
The Department of Geological Sciences uses the following scale to convert marks into grades:
90–100 A+ 70 – 74 B 50 – 54 C-
85 – 89 A 65 – 69 B- 40 – 49 D
80 – 84 A- 60 – 64 C+ < 40 E
75 – 79 B+ 55 – 59 C
The Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.

Late Work
It is the policy for this course that late work is not accepted. Or, late work should be accompanied with a detailed explanation of why the work is late. The work will be marked and marks will be subtracted for each day the work is late. Days late include weekend and holidays.

Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities should speak with someone at Disability Resource Service; email: disabilities@canterbury.ac.nz

Policy on Dishonest Practice
Plagiarism, collusion, copying and ghost writing are unacceptable and dishonest practices.
• Plagiarism is the presentation of any material (text, data, figures or drawings, on any medium including computer files) from any other source without clear and adequate acknowledgement of the source.
• Collusion is the presentation of work performed in conjunction with another person or persons, but submitted as if it has been completed only by the names author(s).
• Copying is the use of material (in any medium, including computer files) produced by another person(s) with or without their knowledge and approval.
• Ghost writing is the use of another person(s) (with or without payment) to prepare all or part of an item submitted for assessment.

In cases where dishonest practice is involved in tests or other work submitted for credit, the student will be referred to the University Proctor. The instructor may choose to not mark the work.

Reconsideration of Grades
Students should, in the first instance, speak to the course co-ordinator about their marks. If they cannot reach an agreeable solution, students should then speak to the Head of the Geological Sciences Department. Students can appeal any decision made on their final grade. You can apply at the Registry to appeal the final grade within 4 weeks of the end of the semester. Be aware that there are time limits for each step of the appeals process.

Special Consideration
If you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances beyond your control has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you may apply for special consideration.  Applications for special consideration should be submitted via the Examinations Office website http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/exams/ within five days of the assessment. Where an extension may be granted for an assessment, this will be decided by direct application to the course co-ordinator and an application to the Examinations Office may not be required. Special consideration is not available for items worth less than 10% of the course and/or the following items of assessment:
Students prevented by extenuating circumstances from completing the course after the final date for withdrawing, may apply for special consideration for late discontinuation of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office within five days of the end of the main examination period for the semester.

Missing of Tests
In rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test. In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator or the Head of the Department of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures. This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test.

Academic Liaison
Dr Ben Kennedy (email: ben.kennedy@canterbury.ac.nz) is Chairperson of the Postgraduate Liaison Committee. A student representative is appointed to the Liaison Committee at the start of the semester. Please feel free to talk to Ben Kennedy or the student representative about any problems or concerns that you might have, although as a matter of courtesy you would normally also talk to the course lecturer.