Master in Chemistry, Teaching focus

Learning outcomes (Program)

The Chemistry Department offers a general approach to Chemistry, whether it be in the first or the second cycle of University studies. It is characterised by a close collaboration between staff and students, with the aim of giving students the tools to become increasingly independent.

The scientific training is complemented and balanced by courses in Humanities, English, Information Technology as well as lectures and seminars focused on matters such as psychology, reflecting on the scientific method and its limits, and scientists’ responsibility in environmental issues.

The Chemistry Department seeks to guide students towards an experimental approach and towards the ability to convey scientific information accurately and effectively.

Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences

The UNamur Chemistry Department has specialised in fields that either focus on Biological Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, or on Chemistry of Materials with particular applications in the sphere of surfaces and nanomaterials.

The Master’s degree in Chemical Sciences at UNamur ensures that students obtain in-depth knowledge in these two focus areas of contemporary Chemistry in order to acquire an expertise either in Biological Chemistry, or in Chemistry of surfaces and materials, with theoretical modelling for both facets.

The UNamur Master’s Degree in Chemistry offers three different focuses :

• the in-depth studies, for students aiming for a career in research
• the specialisation in Chemistry and Industry, for students aiming to work in industrial firms and companies,
• the focus on teaching, for students aiming for a career in teaching.

In the common core of all Master’s degrees, all students follow both general and in-depth courses for 48 credits, as well as specialised courses that they choose from a series of options, granting 6 additional credits for each focus. This programme is completed through a research project which is finalised with an oral presentation of the dissertation.  Students are also expected to participate in the seminars organised by the department.  They also have the opportunity to develop a humane approach by following courses in Science, Ethics and Sustainable Development, as well as an optional course in Philosophy of Sciences of Matter or Life Sciences.

In the Master’s degree with a focus on teaching, students are trained towards the teaching of Chemistry and another field of Science, (Biology or Physics) through courses on methodology and epistemology as well as through training sessions within the Belgian Secondary School system. Other subjects such as Psychology in Education, Sociology of Teaching, Teaching skills and so on complement the training.

Objectives (Program)

Aims and objectives are established as follows :

• acquiring expertise in the two main orientations of contemporary Chemistry :
  • Biochemistry, in other words, the chemical aspects of Biology and Pharamacology ;
  • Chemistry of advanced materials, with particular focus on surfaces and nanomaterials
• approaching other disciplines – mainly Physics and Biology – with a view towards research and multi-disciplinary applications
• tackling the experimental scope (crucial in terms of labour market), while receiving rigourous training in theoretical Chemistry

Description

The training in this Master’s degree in Chemical Sciences builds on in-depth courses in the department’s two areas of research

• Chemistry of living beings (engineering of proteins, strategies for the designing of medication…)
• Chemistry of materials (chemistry of surfaces, micro- and nanoscopy of materials...)

The programme’s emphasis on research is ensured through practicals in the department’s various laboratories,  as an introduction, followed by the project and dissertation which are to be carried out more specifically in one of the department’s laboratories.

The focus on teaching is aimed at students who wish to teach in the upper years of secondary school, following the AESS programme (Agrégation de l’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur), which gives Qualified Teacher Status within the Belgian System.

The training is completed through a three-month training period with an Industrial Firm.

Teaching methods

In the Master’s degree programme, the main first year courses are lectures to which practicals are associated (« Travaux Pratiques, TPs »). The optional courses are also lectures that are associated with analyses of research articles.

Regardlesss of the chosen focus, initiation to research already begins in the first year of the Master’s programme, (second  term)  within the Chemistry department research laboratories.

The teaching methods have been established with the aim of allowing students to acquire increasing independence throughout their studies. The Master’s training is completed through an internship / work placement in a research centre or firm, in Belgium or abroad.

Assessment methods

There are several assessment systems for the common core of the Master’s degree in Chemistry. Depending on the subject, either oral or written examinations will be proposed by the lecturers. The practicals may be assessed separately. Some more advanced courses may be assessed through oral presentations of personal or joint projects.

Scientific research within laboratory frameworks are at the core of this programme. The Initiation to Research course takes place throughout the first year of the Master’s degree and is assessed through a succint report and a defense before a jury that is assigned by the Research Unit which is hosting the student.

The research project and dissertation are assessed through a complete scientific report and defense before a jury that is assigned by the department.  Scientific results of the research project are presented by Students at a poster display session.

Courses that are specific to the chosen focus are assessed either by means of a traditional exam or by participative evaluations of individual or team projects, depending on the choice of the lecturer.

The work placement at the end of the Master’s degree, which can take place within the University or at laboratories in industry, is assessed through a succinct scientific report and an oral presentation before a jury established by the department.

The assessment of teaching units of the Master’s degree in Chemistry with a focus on teaching, granting 120 credits, aims at evaluating the Student’s ability to develop the necessary skills to become a competent Chemistry (and Science) teacher in the Secondary School system.

In order to obtain the AESS degree granting Qualified Teacher Status within the Belgian Secondary System (Agrégation de l’Enseignment Secondaire Supérieur), not only do students need to pass written and oral examinations, but the quality of their written projects on Education and Methodology have to receive approval after thorough assessment.

The evaluation methods for each teaching unit can be found in the description of the corresponding courses. 

Jury