Course coordinator
Dr Bernadette Cochrane
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course focuses on Secondments in Industry or an Individual Research Project.
For the Secondments, you may have the opportunity to work with Queensland's leading theatre companies and festivals. Consideration for acceptance is on a case by case basis as the program is competitive.
For the Individual Research Project you will develop an extended 4,000 word research essay on a topic of the student's own choosing. This will be through consultation with the Course Coordinator.
Industry Secondment: All secondments must be applied for in consultation with the course convenor.
Individual Research Project: Students wishing to undertake an Individual Research Topic may also do so in consultation with the course convenor. This program involves an extended 4,000 word research essay on a topic of the student's own choosing.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students should be in their final year of study within the Drama Major. Students who successfully gain theatre secondments or have their Individual Research Projects approved will need to enrol under the DRAM3104 code after filling in an application form signed by the Course Convenor. The application form is available here.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Students should be in their final year of study and have completed DRAM1010 or DRAM1100; Overall GPA of 5.5 or above
Restrictions
To enrol in this course students must complete the application form with supervisor's signature and submit to the School office. If the application is approved you will be added to the permission list.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Bernadette Cochrane
Aims and outcomes
Each year some of our advanced undergraduate students have the opportunity to be seconded to a professional theatre company.ﾠThe secondments aim to:
- give you experience in the professional theatre industry
- extend your knowledge of contemporary performance practices
- familiarise youﾠ with the workings of professional theatre companies
- encourage independent thinking, research and critical reasoning
- facilitate networks and links between you and industry.
If undertaking an individual research project, the course aims:
- ﾠto provide you with the opportunity to develop your research and essay writing skills at an advancedﾠ level
- ﾠdeepen your knowledge of a specialised strand of drama, theatre or live performance.
Such sustained immersion in a special research project can also be considered optimal preparation for Honours level study.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Industry Secondments - Understand more intimately the way a professional theatre company operates.
LO2.
Industry Secondments - Better understand the possibilities and constraints of professional theatre practice in order to better inform your own practice.
LO3.
Individual Research Projects - More confidently complete a major research essay task in preparation for Honours or postgraduate level study.
LO4.
Individual Research Projects - Demonstrate detailed specialised knowledge in an area of drama/theatre/performance interest that has intrigued or engaged you during your undergraduate study career.
Assessment
Assessment summary
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH STREAM
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Individual Research Project Design
|
40% 1000 words |
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator |
| Essay/ Critique |
Individual Research Project Essay
|
60% 3000 words |
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator |
SECONDMENT STREAM
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement |
Secondment Company Report
|
40% 1000 |
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator |
| Notebook/ Logbook |
Secondment Log Book
|
60% 4000 words |
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator |
Assessment details
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH STREAM
Individual Research Project Design
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40% 1000 words
- Due date
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04
Task description
This assignment consists of a short project description and an annotated bibliography of 1000 words.
The referencing style used for Drama assignments is MLA, 9th edition.
Detailed instructions will be distributed early in the semester.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard by 4:00pm on negotiated due date.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Individual Research Project Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 60% 3000 words
- Due date
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04
Task description
For Individual Research Project students, the critical essay should aim to develop an area of research interest you have engaged with during your undergraduate career. Topics and supervisors are negotiated in consultation with the course convenor.
The referencing style used for Drama assignments is MLA 9.
Detailed instructions will be provided early in the semester.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard by 4:00pm on negotiated due date.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
SECONDMENT STREAM
Secondment Company Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Placement
- Weight
- 40% 1000
- Due date
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
A relevant company member provides a brief report on your commitment and achievement during the secondment.
Submission guidelines
The company report is submitted to the Course Convenor via email by the host company.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Secondment Log Book
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Notebook/ Logbook
- Weight
- 60% 4000 words
- Due date
Due date negotiated with Course Coordinator
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
Detailed instructions will be made available early in the semester.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard by 4:00pm on negotiated due date.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
All student activities
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Placement |
Industry Secondment 100 hours (=/-10%) of observational or research-based practice with a theatre company or other professional theatre industry organisation. The secondments are, to some extent, an exercise in self-directed learning. In addition to their core area of secondment work within the company, students are expected to learn a range of more general skills in communication, research, time management, problem-solving and team-work. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Not Timetabled |
Individual Research Project 3000 word major research essay on the topic of a student's choosing. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.