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Course Outline

HNE421 Honours Research-Developing Practice

Course Coordinator:Nguyen Nguyen Hong (nnguyen@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 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 commence practical work on your research project under the direct guidance of your Honours Supervisor. For students studying full time, the course provides an opportunity to commence intensive formative work on your research while incorporating instruction provided in HNE420 to inform the development of your research plan and presentation. For part-time students, the course provides an opportunity to implement your research plan under the guidance of your Supervisor. Specific activities related to your project will be determined by your Supervisor.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Independent Study/Research – Self learning with supervisor to validate progress through report 300hrs Week 1 Once Only

Course Topics

Topics covered in this course will depend on the research area of the student’s honours project.

What level is this course?

400 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

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 Ability to self-reflect, adapt and build discipline skills in diverse contexts to identify and solve complex problems. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
2 Demonstrate organisational and time management skills in planning and executing a substantive research project with a high degree of independence. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
3 Demonstrate sound judgment and safe, ethical and respectful behaviour consistent with professional standards and sustainability objectives. 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

Must be enrolled in SC401

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

English; Maths A, B or C; and at least one of the sciences.

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Limited Grading (PNP)

Pass (PU), Fail (UF). All assessment tasks are required to be passed for successful completion of the course.

Details of early feedback on progress

This course is different to undergraduate courses in that you will work closely with your supervisor to establish a research question and develop the knowledge to support the research.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 
1000 words
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Plan and Progress Review Report
Goal: 
The purpose of the Plan and Progress Review Report is to provide critical, timely feedback to the Honours candidate at an early stage of the project and to provide experience in implementing a research plan and writing a research progress report.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Knowledge gained in the Research methods and project planning can be applied to the write-up of the Plan and Progress Review Report for the BSc Honours Research practice – developing practice course. Reports will be in a form that aligns well with the progress and planning report that is part of the HDR student-supervisor interactive process, as preparation for Honours that choose to continue their studies through an HDR program. It is suggested that students meet with their supervisors in the weeks leading up to the commencement of the project to work on any ethics applications or applications to survey USC students that are required. 

The Plan and Progress Review Report will document and communicate information related to:
•	Progress of the research in relation to each aspect of the student’s Research Plan.
•	A summary of areas where the student feels they require additional support, resources, or guidance.
•	An indication of progress on the acquisition of specific skills or knowledge identified by the Supervisor for the period.
•	The Report may contain additional information in the form of an Annex containing evidence of the student’s progress in relation to each aspect of the Project Plan (e.g., draft literature review, indicative methods and calculations, skills and knowledge under development, acquisition of data, etc.).
•	The report must be submitted via Canvas and will be evaluated by the supervisor.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
The Plan and Progress Review Report will be examined by the Supervisor at USC based on the following criteria:
Ability to self-reflect, adapt and build discipline skills in diverse contexts to identify and solve complex problems;
 1
2 
•	Demonstration of organisational and time-management skills in planning and executing a substantive research project with a high degree of independence.
 2
3 
•	Demonstration of sound judgment and safe, ethical and respectful behaviour; consistent with professional standards and sustainability objectives.
 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Organisation

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?

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

This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 5.1.1.3 and 5.1.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Academic Policy.

In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.

Limited Graded Course: This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 4.1.3 and 4.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Institutional Operating Policy of the USC. In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.

Assessment: Submission penalties

You must contact your Course Coordinator and provide the required documentation if you require an extension or alternate assessment.

Refer to the Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs – Procedures.

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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