Course Outline

HLT703 Special Project: Evaluating Practice Knowledge

Course Coordinator:Nicholas Ralph (nralph@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nursing

2026Trimester 2

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

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

This is an independent course of study in which you work with an academic supervisor on a mutually agreed project. It involves selecting a puzzle or issue within an area of clinical, educational or administrative practice, accessing relevant sources of knowledge related to this practice issue and systematically and critically evaluating this information. You will use the literature critique as the basis for an analysis of the issue and will make recommendations for practice, administration, education or research directions. 

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Information session – Course introduction via Zoom 1hr Week 1 Once Only
Online – Online asynchronous learning and teaching recording. Self directed learning. 4hrs Week 1 Once Only
Information session – Regular meetings with supervisor/s are required 1hr Week 1 7 times
Independent Study/Research – Self directed research and writing 3hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

Development of a proposal

Conducting a methodologically informed literature review

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

24 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 Define a problem/issue with relevance to nursing, midwifery or health practice Creative and critical thinker
Engaged
2 Undertake a critical and systematic review of the current literature related to the problem/issue Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
3 Analyse the problem/issue in terms of health and contemporary health care Empowered
4 Formulate recommendations for change to nursing practice, education and/or administration and for further research Ethical
Sustainability-focussed

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

Students must be enrolled in an AQF Level 8 or 9 Postgraduate Program. Instructor Consent Required

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Knowledge of evidence based practice principles.

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

You will work with the coordinator or designated supervisor to plan your development of your topic to meet the assessment requirements and course learning outcomes. These early conversations provide essential input to support your success. The first task enables further feedback to support the final task submission. 

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 20%
1500 words
Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 80%
10000 words
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Project Outline
Goal:
To identify a practice issue and justify the focus of the project
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Written paper with headings no more than 1500 words in length
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Definition of the chosen nursing, midwifery or healthcare practice issue/problem.
1
2
Justification of topic and plan with application of relevant theory/principles
2 3
3
Clarity and comprehensiveness of plan for systematic literature review related to the problem/issue
2 3 4
4
Information literacy skills: use of sources and citations
1 2 3 4
5
Written presentation including structure, grammar, application of referencing protocol (APA 7th ed.)
1 2 3 4
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 2:Project Report
Goal:
A final report representing your investigation and synthesis of information and evidence related to the chosen topic
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format:
An individually prepared written report, with headings of between 10,000 and 15,000 words
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
You will be assessed on your ability to: Undertake a critical and systematic review of the current literature related to the problem/issue
1 2 3
2
Justify and explain the issue/problem in the context of contemporary health and healthcare
1 2 3 4
3
Critically and systematically analyse information and evidence related to the problem/issue
1 2 3 4
4
Formulate recommendations for change to practice, education and/or administration and for further research
1 2 3 4
5
Communicate, considering: Written expression, Reasoned argument substantiated with relevant literature,	Citation and referencing (APA 7th ed.), Organisation of the report
1 2 3 4
Generic Skills:

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

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety 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: