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Course Outline

BCI201 Critical Theory and Creative Practice

Course Coordinator:Andy Ward (award4@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this course, you will develop your understanding of the relationship between critical theory and creative practice. This includes an understanding of continental philosophy, epistemology, research paradigms, theoretical frameworks, research questions, and creative practice as research method. You will analyse and produce creative work with reference to critical frameworks. This course will also allow you to understand your own positionality and the cultural, social, political, technological, and economic contexts of creative practice.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 11 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 11 times

Course Topics

Creative Practice

Research and Critical Thinking

Philosophy

Theoretical frameworks

Research questions

Ethics and practice

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Analyse and evaluate cultural contexts of critical frameworks and creative practice Knowledgeable
2 Identify and apply critical frameworks in the analysis and production of texts Creative and critical thinker
3 Collaborate to develop ideas and artefacts, and to refine understandings of positionality and contexts Ethical
4 Create and communicate ideas and artefacts in a variety of industry and academic modes Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

CMN107

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Formative assessment on academic progress will be provided via Q & A and draft sharing/discussion that will occur within workshops and via online scheduled activity sessions, in the weeks leading up to assessment submission deadlines.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual 30% 
1200 words
 Week 5 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Artefact - Creative Individual or Group 40% 
Approximately 2-5 minutes (or equivalent)
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 3 Artefact - Creative, and Oral Individual 30% 
5 minute presentation in line with 2500 character NTRO statement. Must include visual presentation.
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Critical Framing
Goal: 
The purpose of this assessment item is to develop critical thinking and research skills through an understanding of contemporary philosophical theorisation and creative practice.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
In this task, you will research and write a literature review of theorisation relating to your own creative practice. You will provide a critique of some elements of literature in your review.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analysing and evaluating philosophical literature in the context of your creative practice.
 1
2 
Identifying and selecting relevant research methods.
 2
3 
Communicating ideas in appropriate academic structures and language
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Creative response
Goal: 
In this task, will produce a creative artefact in response to your literature and methods review (Task 1).
Product: Artefact - Creative
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Using the review of literature and methods from assessment 1 you will develop and produce a creative artefact. In the developmental process you will collaborate with peers to refine your ideas. You can work individually or in groups (negotiated with coordinator).
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Collaborating during the development process to refine ideas.
 3
2 
Communicating the creative artefact using appropriate techniques
 4
3 
Identifying and applying aspects of philosophy in the creative artefact
 2
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 3:Research statement presentation
Goal: 
In this task, you will present a research statement during class time . In this statement you will examine how your creative artefact (assessment 2) relates to the philosophy you have explored throughout the course with particular focus on the framing you researched in task 1.
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will write present a research statement consisting of 3 sections: research background, research contribution, and goals for your research's significance. You will also supply any relevant supporting documentation that provides evidence to strengthen your research statement.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analysing and evaluating practices to construct research background
 1
2 
Planning and goal setting for research significance
 4
3 
Identifying and applying relevant theories and how they inform your practice
 2
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

You will be required to attend additional studio based sessions throughout trimester. You are expected to make yourself available for autonomous group peer workgroup sessions in addition to your timetabled workshops. You may be required to attended seminars or additional timetabled and non-timetabled sessions throughout trimester. You must therefore consider your availability on evenings and weekends as well as normal working hours. While some coursework may be deliverable online, in the case of performed works and physical artefacts you may be required to attend in-person development sessions.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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