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Course Outline

SCS101 Foundations of Human Behaviour

Course Coordinator:Cindy Davis (cdavis@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2024Semester 1

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.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus.

Please go to usc.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 course provides you with foundational knowledge of human behaviour and of major topics in contemporary psychology. You will learn how we perceive the world then process and store this information, how behaviour changes with age, how people differ from each other, how we interact and form groups, and about types of behavioural disorders. You will also learn to apply this knowledge about human behaviour to real-world issues in other discipline areas including criminology, social work, and counselling. The course is specifically designed for students not enrolled in psychology programs.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly course content 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Learning materials – Online learning materials 1hr Week 1 13 times
Seminar – Assessment preparation 2hrs Week 8 2 times
Online
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly course content 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Learning materials – Online learning materials 1hr Week 1 13 times
Seminar – Assessment Preparation 2hrs Week 8 2 times

Course Topics

  • Introduction to psychology
  • Biological understanding of behaviour
  • Cognitive understanding of behaviour
  • Social understanding of behaviour
  • Human development
  • Stress, health and coping
  • Cross-cultural understanding of behaviour
  • Personality
  • Psychological disorders and treatments
  • (All topics contain adult themes)

 

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

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 Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Australian Association of Social Workers
1 Identify concepts, theories and research relating to the study of human behaviour and its application to your discipline area. Knowledgeable 
3, 3.1, 3.2, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5, 5.4
2 Apply analysis and critical thinking to evaluate a current behaviour issue in your discipline. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
3, 3.1, 3.2, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5, 7.1
3 Communicate constructs about human behaviour and apply to your discipline Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker 
3.1, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5, 5.4, 7.1

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Association of Social Workers
3 Culturally responsive and inclusive practice
3.1 Work inclusively and respectfully with cultural difference and diversity
3.2 Respect and strive to understand and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures
4 Knowledge for practice
4.1 Understand higher level systemic influences on people with respect to area of practice
4.2 Understand and articulate social work and other relevant theories and concepts
4.3 Understand the role of research and evaluation in obtaining and generating new knowledge for practice
4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice
5 Applying knowledge to practice
5.4 Apply critical and reflective thinking to practice
7.1 Record and manage information appropriately

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 not be enrolled in an accredited Psychology Program i.e. AR374, AR405, AB314, AB315, AR302 or AR364

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

PSY100

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

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

Early feedback on your performance in this course will be available via the formative quiz in week 3, and also via weekly Kahoot quizzes in the tutorials.

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 10% 
100 words
 Week 2 Online Discussion Board
All 2 Quiz/zes Individual 40% 
30 minutes
 Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Submission
All 3 Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece Individual 50% 
To fit on a digital A3 poster
 Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Discussion Post
Goal: 
Demonstrate an understanding and application of key course concepts
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
Discussion board post
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstration of critical thinking and a clear understanding of key concepts.
 1 3
All - Assessment Task 2:Online quizzes
Goal: 
The purpose of this task is for you to identify and describe foundational concepts and theories underpinning human behaviour. These quizzes will assist in providing feedback on your learning throughout the course.
Product: Quiz/zes
Format: 
Submit: Weeks 3, 6, 10, 13. 

This task requires you to complete a series of online quizzes in Canvas (4 quizzes in total). 

Each quiz will focus on the content covered in the related weeks of the course.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Comprehend, apply and communicate using the language of human behaviour
 3
2 
Identify and comprehend related course content
 1 3
3 
Recognise, evaluate and apply human behaviour theories within various contexts
 1
All - Assessment Task 3:Behaviour Analysis Digital Poster
Goal: 
The goal of this task is for you to apply your cumulative understanding of the multidimensional nature of human behaviour to analyse the behaviour of a known identity in contemporary society
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece
Format: 
This task requires you to choose a famous/infamous identity from current popular culture or from the past to research and analyse.
The infographic presented should consider the following aspects:
•	Who? Subject, background
•	What? Behaviour demonstrated and implications
•	Why? Internal and external influences, possible explanations for behaviour grounded in theory (a minimum of one theories covered in the course and one additional theory or psychological concept)
•	Conclusion and justification
•	References
Examples of behaviour analysis will be modelled during class in the weeks prior to your task submission date. Template available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identify and articulate relevant behavioural attributes of chosen identity
 3
2 
Research, interpret and synthesise human behaviour theories and constructs
 1
3 
Analyse and critically evaluate behaviour to reach a conclusion, drawn from appropriate literature and theory
 2
4 
Apply ICT skills to organise, present and communicate information in a digital poster format
 3
5 
Reference evidence in accurate and appropriate style and document through correct use of citations, quotations and bibliography
 3

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

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Scott O. Lilienfeld / Steven Jay Lynn / Laura L. Namy / Graham Jamieson / Anthony Marks / Virginia Slaughter 2018 Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding 3rd Pearson Education Australia

Specific requirements

Nil

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

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 submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

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

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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