Arts Honours Dissertation H 18cp (12cp) (8160.5)

Required texts

A reading list relevant to the student's dissertation topic will be developed by the student in consultation with their supervisor. 

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

Fulltime students enrolled in 8159 will be allocated a continuing grade (CNT) on completion of semester 1. Once the student has completed 8160, one grade for both units (the grade awarded to the dissertation) will be given. Part-time students will receive a (CNT) grade for the first two semesters of study in 8159 with the final dissertation grade being awarded upon completion of the third semester of study of 8159 (assuming the dissertation has been submitted).There is one grade awarded for all 3 units and that is the grade awarded to the dissertation.

Please note that students enrolled in BCM and Landscape Architecture Honours have different study patterns requiring completion of varying amounts of credit points in the dissertation units. The dissertation requirements remain the same for all students enrolled in this unit but assessment of the final dissertation will take into account the number of credit points of dissertation study that have been completed. Please contact your respective course convenors for further details and advice about your study pattern.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Further Information on the EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE DISSERTATION

Each dissertation will be examined by one examiner, normally from within the University, appointed by the Honours Course Convenor in consultation with supervisors.

The Course Convenor acts as moderator and will read all submissions, or, where this is impractical or inappropriate, will delegate to another staff member of the Faculty of Arts and Design.

A copy of the examiner’s report will be made available to the candidate. Examiners may request that their identity remain confidential.

In the event of there being an irresolvable difference of opinion between the examiner, the moderator and the supervisor over assessment of the candidate’s work, a third examiner will be appointed who will assist in arriving at a final result.

In the event of a supervisor advising against the submission of the dissertation for examination, the dissertation can nevertheless be submitted for examination at the express request of the candidate. No indication must be given to an examiner of the view of a supervisor.

DISSERTATION GRADES

Dissertations will be marked on the following scale:

HONOURS LEVELS

Levels of Honours (First Class, Second Class, etc.) are determined on the basis of the grade point average derived from the grades for the dissertation and the coursework subjects during the Honours year.

The University of Canberra policy on Honours degrees can be found at: https://www.canberra.edu.au/Policies/PolicyProcedure/Index/87

Honours Degrees are graded as first class, second class or third class. The second class is divided into two sub-classes.

Such grades will be referred to as:

• First Class Honours (H1)
• Second Class Honours - Division I (H2A)
• Second Class Honours - Division II (H2B)
• Third Class Honours (H3)

Learner engagement

Students who attend campus for class or other purposes must play their part in keeping our campus and community safe by following these basic guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

• Practise good hand hygiene, washing hands regularly;

• If you do happen to cough or sneeze, please do so into the crook of your elbow, dispose of tissues immediately and wash hands immediately

• Practise effective physical distancing;

• Follow all directions of teaching and other UC staff regarding safety measures;

• Stay off campus if you are unwell and get tested according to guidelines, and 

• Follow University communications about campus arrangements.

Inclusion and engagement

It is strongly recommended that students who need assistance in undertaking the unit because of disability or an ongoing health condition register with the Inclusion and Engagement Office as soon as possible so that reasonable adjustment arrangements can be made.

Participation requirements

Students are expected to engage regularly with their supervisor. This will generally take the form of sending work to the supervisor prior to an individual meeting with them to discuss the work. Regular meetings and a timetable for submission of drafts and feedback should be developed by negotiation between the student and their supervisor by the end of week 1 at the latest.

Students are expected to participate in the weekly timetabled sessions.

Required IT skills

Word processing skills are essential; ability to use bibliographical software desirable; other IT skills as needed according to the student's project.

In-unit costs

Any cost incurred for projects/research must be covered by students. Please plan your project according to your financial capacity. Binding or otherwise suitable presentation of the thesis will be at the cost of the student.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit may involve work-place learning for students undertaking a practice-led research dissertation. Therefore, additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in this section. Work-place learning requires strict adherence to professional practice principles and ethics. Client/patient confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items such as reports or essays. Supervisors will work with students to identify UC policies relevant to their placement and develop a plan to make sure these are adhered to.

Additional information

Responsibilities of the candidate

Candidates undertake a cooperative venture along with their supervisor, but ultimately each candidate must take responsibility for his or her own successful completion of the program.

A candidate is expected to:

• Bring enthusiasm and energy to the research topic
• Think independently and take initiative
• Negotiate needs and expectations with the supervisor early in first semester 
• Attend regular meetings as arranged with the supervisor
• Be honest when reporting on progress
• Inform the supervisor and/or course convenor early of any problems that impede the progress of the research project
• Share responsibility for finding solutions to problems as they arise
• Allow the supervisor sufficient time to give feedback on written work, especially when approaching the final submission date
• Submit all work by the deadlines (most importantly, the due date of the dissertation is 2 November 2020)
• Bring to the course convenor's attention any problems that might be encountered with supervision.

Once the dissertation topic has been decided on in discussion with the supervisor, you are expected to follow this topic. Changes in specific focus may be necessary for good reasons, but they must be discussed with the supervisor and, if major, also with the course convenor.

A unilateral topic change may result in no supervision being available and the dissertation not being accepted for examination.

Role and responsibilities of the supervisor

Supervisors will have experience in research and investigation in a field related to the candidate's project.  Compatibility between candidate and supervisor will be considered as one of the factors in the appointment of supervisors.

There will be one (in rare cases two) supervisor(s) for each approved Honours dissertation topic. The supervisor for each topic will be a member of the staff of the Faculty Arts and Design, University of Canberra. In exceptional circumstances this can be varied.

The role performed by a supervisor will vary according to the nature of the study, the stage it has reached at a particular time, the learning and study style of the candidate and the skills and personalities of the supervisor and the candidate.

The following aspects are what a candidate may reasonably expect:

• Support, encouragement and constructive criticism
• Regular meetings as negotiated between supervisor and candidate
• Help in focusing the topic and developing a suitable framework within which the work itself can be written or produced
• Help in clarifying and resolving emerging problems as the fieldwork, project work or other research progresses
• Assistance in establishing a work schedule
• Timely feedback on work submitted by the candidate
• Alerting the candidate to problems of written expression (but the supervisor is not expected to edit or proofread a candidate's work)

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