Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
Individual research project in an area of specialisation offered (on a discretionary basis) by staff members in their field of interest. Where opportunities permit students will work alongside PhD candidates and/or staff on a dedicated component of an exisiting research project.
Departmental consent is required. Prior to obtaining consent, intending students must discuss their project with, and obtain agreement to supervise that project from, an appropriate member of academic staff. A consent form must be completed and submitted for approval before enrolment will be permitted.
This is a research-based course where a student investigates in detail aﾠtopic defined by the student in conjunction with their academic supervisor. The purpose of this course is to allow students to develop a deeper understanding of key issues that interest them.
It is the responsibility of the student to identify a supervisor with expertise in their chosen topic and negotiate details of the research project with the supervisor. Supervisor availability is not guaranteed, as supervision of research projects is in demand. Students are advised to contact potential supervisors well in advance of the semester in which they plan to enrol.
Prior to the semester of commencement and once the student and supervisor agree on a topic, students will need to submit a completed special topics permission form in order to obtain permission to enrol. The form is available at https://environment.uq.edu.au/current-students/apply-research-project.
ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
Completion of 2 years undergraduate study ; Content specific assumed background - consult supervisor.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Permission Head of School
Restrictions
Minimum GPA of 5.5 required from at least #32 and enrolment in the BAdvSc(Hons)
Course contact
Timetable
Additional timetable information
No formal classes
Contact byﾠnegotiation with advisor
Guidance on workloads: As a four (4) unit course it would be expected that a workload of around 10-20 hours per week of self-directed learning would be the norm.
Aims and outcomes
The course aims are:
* To enable advanced students to pursue in-depth study in a chosen research field;
* To enhance students’ capacity for independent research;
* To enable students to acquire research skills appropriate to an area of specialisation.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate enhanced content knowledge in the chosen research field
LO2.
Demonstrate skill in independently accessing relevant information resources
LO3.
Demonstrate high-level information synthesis skills
LO4.
Demonstrate enhanced data base access and interrogation skills (if applicable)
LO5.
Demonstrate enhanced field research skills (if applicable)
LO6.
Demonstrate enhanced laboratory research skills (if applicable)
LO7.
Demonstrate enhanced skills in critical thinking and/or logical analysis
LO8.
Demonstrate enhanced written and/or oral communication skills
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Research proposal | 20% |
16/08/2024 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Final report | 80% |
4/11/2024 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Research proposal
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
16/08/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
In no more than 2000 words (maximum total length), prepare a proposal outlining:
- the background to the intended research;
- the research question, aims and objectives;
- the research methods;
- the expected outcomes;
- the significance of the research and its contribution to new knowledge;
- the budget for the research and funding sources, if applicable.
Submission guidelines
Electronic submission via turnitin. Your supervisor may request an electronic copy to be emailed to them. You will need to negotiate with your supervisor what format they require.
Students are advised to ensure their academic supervisor is available to provide feedback and grading on their proposal to ensure progress to complete the project on time.
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.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
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.
10% penalty per day
Final report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 80%
- Due date
4/11/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L07, L08
Task description
Final report: Details of the report format should be negotiated between student and advisor, but with the marking criteria in mind. Word limit of 6000 maximum.
Submission guidelines
Electronic submission via turnitin.
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.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
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.
10% penalty per day
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
In general, aﾠpercentage markﾠwill be allocated for theﾠresearch proposal and for theﾠresearch report; marks will be summed and a grade allocated using the above scale.
Alternatives, for example with multiple assessment items or tasks, may be negotiated between student and advisor.
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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Not Timetabled |
Project No formal classes; Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
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.