Course Outline

SCS300 Social Sciences and Humanities Project

Course Coordinator:Kate Kirby (KKirby@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2025Semester 2

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

In this course you will undertake a research project in order to develop, refine and showcase your knowledge and command of disciplinary expertise. This project will enable you to develop skills of project development, management, coordination and delivery. This course allows you to demonstrate professional skills, academic expertise, and critical practice in a research project that represents the culmination of your learning in your program or major.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – 3 hour online tutorial/workshop. 3hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

Criminology and Justice; 

Geography;

History;

International Studies;

Philosophy and Theory;

Sociology;

Sustainability - Enviroment and Society.

What level is this course?

300 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?

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 Apply design/creative/critical project development and management skills to your chosen research Empowered
Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
2 Critically evaluate and use problem-solving strategies to address a problem. Creative and critical thinker
Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
3 Manage and produce work for academic/research/industry/community applications. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Engaged
4 Communicate knowledge, concepts and ideas to various audiences and stakeholders. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Engaged
5 Demonstrate professional ethics and professional responsibly and conduct. Empowered
Ethical

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

192 units

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Completed pre-placement activities stipulated by the Course Coordinator.

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

Students will receive regular consultancy and feedback on all tasks. Group work and collaboration will also be supported through mentoring and modelling.

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%
1000 words
Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Literature Review (or component) Individual 30%
1500 words
Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Oral and Written Piece Individual 50%
Essay/artefact: 3000 words. Presentation: 10 minutes.
Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Project Plan
Goal:
In order to introduce you to the research framework required for this course, this task is designed for you to demonstrate project planning capability, including the design of project goals, research questions, and a schedule outlining project implementation viability.
Product: Written Piece
Format:
The project plan outlines the conceptual framework for the project and describes how the project will be implemented and reported on.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identifies a relevant project opportunity that demonstrates understanding of the related field of study.
1 2
2
Develops project goals and research questions in an effective and discipline-specific manner.
1 2 3
3
Designs and justifies the research approach in the context of relevant theoretical and project frameworks/models.
3 4 5
4
Communicates an effective plan to complete the project in an ethical manner.
1 2 5
5
Demonstrates academic integrity and standards, is suitably referenced, and meets word count expectations.
3 5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 2:Annotated Literature Review
Goal:
To produce a comprehensive annotated literature review in the discipline and topic area, demonstrating a current and deep understanding of the subject matter and connection with project goals and research questions.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Format:
An annotated literature review that examines relevant primary and scholarly sources, critically analysing their contributions to the project topic area.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Provides evidence of an effective search process that identifies primary and scholarly sources relevant to the project topic.
1 2 4
2
Demonstrates critical analysis of contributions of the selected sources in relation to the topic area, project goals and research questions.
2 4 5
3
Identifies and interprets relevant theoretical issues and concepts raised in the literature.
2 4
4
Communicates key findings and gaps in the literature relevant to the project goals and research questions.
2 4
5
Demonstrates academic integrity and standards, is suitably referenced, and meets word count expectations.
3 4 5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Essay/artefact and presentation
Goal:
To demonstrate discipline-specific expertise in research, written and oral communication skills through articulation of project findings and outcomes.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Format:
A written essay/artefact and oral presentation.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrate discipline-specific skills to execute the project plan to completion while responding to and implementing feedback.
1 2 5
2
Evidence of critical thinking and analysis in constructing a clear argument and line of reasoning to address the project goals and research questions.
2 4
3
Effective identification and interpretation of relevant scholarly sources to support the argument and line of reasoning.
2 3 4
4
Written communication demonstrates conceptual coherence and is structured in an effective scholarly manner.
3 4 5
5
Oral communication provides a professional overview of the project experience, findings and implications.
1 3 4 5
6
Demonstrates academic integrity and standards, is suitably referenced, and meets word count/timing expectations.
3 4 5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
Education for Sustainable Development Goals
All delivery modes Literature Review (or component) Annotated Literature Review 4.1.4 Practiced
4.1.5 Practiced
4.2.4 Practiced
Oral and Written Piece Essay/artefact and presentation 4.1.4 Practiced
4.1.5 Practiced
4.2.4 Practiced

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

Students must have completed 192 EFTSL of study and have approval from course coordinator

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

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

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