University of Sydney Handbooks - 2013 Archive

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Resolutions of the Faculty

 

Resolutions of the Faculty of Education and Social Work for coursework awards


These resolutions apply to all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework award courses in the Faculty, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Students enrolled in postgraduate research awards should consult the resolutions for their course. These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the resolutions for the course of enrolment, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

Part 1: Course enrolment

1 Enrolment restrictions

Except with the permission of the Dean, a student may not enrol in units of study with a total value of more than 24 credit points in either Semester 1 or 2.

2 Time limits

(1)
A student must complete all the requirements for a bachelor's degree (including combined degrees) within eight calendar years of first enrolment.
(2)
A student must complete all the requirements for a graduate certificate within two calendar years of first enrolment.
(3)
A student must complete all the requirements for a graduate diploma within three calendar years of first enrolment.
(4)
A student must complete all the requirements for a 48 credit point master's degree, or the Master of Teaching, within four calendar years of first enrolment.
(5)
A student must complete all the requirements for all other 96 credit point master's degrees within six calendar years of first enrolment.
(6)
Periods of suspension, exclusion or lapsed candidature will be added to maximum completion times except that no completion time will exceed ten years from first enrolment.

3 Suspension, discontinuation and lapse of candidature

The Coursework Rule specifies the conditions for suspending or discontinuing candidature, and return to candidature after these events. The Rule also defines the circumstances when candidature is deemed to have lapsed. Students should pay careful attention to the significant dates in these processes and their effect on results and financial liability.

4 Credit for previous study

(1)
Unless the course resolutions specify differently, credit for previous study is governed in accordance with the Coursework Rule. In the Faculty of Education and Social Work, credit will not be granted for units of study or equivalent work completed:
(a)
more than 50% of the award total;
(b)
more than five years prior to admission to candidature for the Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of Education in a combined degree course;
(c)
more than six years prior to admission to candidature for a postgraduate coursework course; and
(d)
more than nine years prior to admission to candidature for the Bachelor of Social Work.
(2)
The Faculty will not grant credit towards field education, internships, or work experience units of study.

Part 2: Unit of study enrolment

5 Cross-institutional study

(1)
Provided permission has been obtained in advance, the Dean may permit a student to complete a unit of study at another institution and have that unit credited to the student's course requirements, provided that:
(a)
the unit of study content is not taught in any corresponding unit of study at the University; or
(b)
the student is unable, for good reason, to attend a corresponding unit of study at the University.
(2)
Cross-institutional study is regarded as another form of credit and will be counted as such when considering eligibility.

Part 3: Studying and Assessment

6 Attendance

(1)
Students are required to be in attendance at the correct time and place of any formal or informal examinations. Non attendance on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment. Participation in a minimum number of assessment items may be included in the requirements specified for a unit of study.
(2)
Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Dean. The Dean may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance.

7 Late submission policy

(1)
It is expected that unless an application for special consideration or simple extension has been approved, students will submit all assessment for a unit of study on the due date specified. If the assessment is completed or submitted within the period of extension, no academic penalty will be applied to that piece of assessment.
(2)
If an extension is either not sought, not granted or is granted but work is submitted after the extended due date, the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows:
(a)
For work submitted after the deadline up to 1 day late, a penalty of 5 per cent of the maximum mark awardable for the assignment will apply, and for each day late thereafter, penalty increases by 5 per cent per day
(b)
Work submitted more than six days after the deadline will not be assessed (fail).

8 Special consideration for illness, injury or misadventure

Special consideration is a process that affords equal opportunity to students who have experienced circumstances that adversely impact their ability to adequately complete an assessment task in a unit of study. The Coursework Rule provides full details of the University policy.

9 Concessional pass

In this Faculty the grade PCON (Concessional Pass) is not awarded.

10 Re-assessment

(1)
The Faculty does not offer opportunities for re-assessment other than on the grounds of approved special consideration, unless the student is prevented from graduating as a result of one failed assignment in one unit of study. Professional experience/ field education units of study are excluded from this provision.
(2)
Students who have successfully requested special consideration may be allowed to sit the exam or submit the required work at a negotiated date that should not be longer than the period of incapacitation and in any case not longer than 3 months after the original examination or submission date. After this time the student will be considered to have discontinued with permission. Marks will be awarded at full value for re-assessment where special consideration is approved.

Part 4: Progression, Results and Graduation

11 Satisfactory progress

(1)
The Faculty will monitor students for satisfactory progress towards the completion of their award course. In addition to the common triggers used to identify students not meeting academic progression requirements (as defined by the Progression requirements of the Coursework Rule), students must pass any unit of study identified in the course resolutions as being critical to progression through the course.
(2)
Professional experience or field education is an essential requirement for some courses. Where so prescribed, a candidate may not progress to the next year without completing the prescribed professional experience or field education units of study for the previous year.
(3)
The Faculty reserves the right not to place candidates in a school or other professional experience or field education setting for practicum in any instance where the performance, personal or professional conduct of the candidate does not meet the required professional standard, regardless of the fact that the candidate may be enrolled in units of study with a practicum requirement.

12 Award of the bachelor's degree with honours

(1)
Unless the course resolutions specify differently, to qualify for admission to the honours program a student must:
(a)
(i) in the case of Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Education (Primary Education), Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Human Movement and Health Education), and Bachelor of Social Work have the approval of the program coordinator or director of the honours program after the completion of Semester 1 in Year 3; and
(ii) have a WAM of at least 70 across second and third year units (with third year weighted double) excluding professional experience units; or
(b)
(i) in the case of Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences)/Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Science)/Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Mathematics)/Bachelor of Science have the approval of the program coordinator or director of the honours program after the completion of Semester 1 in Year 4; and
(ii) have a WAM of at least 70 across third and fourth year units (with fourth year weighted double), excluding junior and professional experience units.
(2)
General conditions of candidature include that candidates must complete the requirements of the honours program in the minimum standard full-time duration.
(3)
To qualify for the award of honours a student must:
(a)
complete the specified units of study as set out in the Table of Units of Study; and
(b)
obtain an Honours WAM (HWAM) of at least 70.
(4)
The honours class is assessed in and determined by the performance in the honours program.
(5)
Honours is awarded in the following classes:

Description

HWAM Range

Honours Class I

HWAM>=80

Honours Class II (Division 1)

75<=HWAM<80

Honours Class II (Division 2)

70<=HWAM<75

Honours not awarded

HWAM<70

13 University medal

A student with an Honours WAM (HWAM) mark of 80 or above may be awarded a university medal. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the Faculty to the highest achieving students who, in the opinion of the Faculty, have an outstanding academic record, in accordance with the Coursework Rule.

14 Weighted average mark (WAM) and Honours weighted average mark (HWAM)

(1)
The University has a formula for calculating a Weighted Average Mark and this is defined in the University Glossary. WAMs are used by the University as one indicator of performance. For example, WAMs can be used in assessing admission to and award of honours, eligibility for prizes and scholarships, or assessing progression through a course.
(2)
The weight of a unit of study is assigned by faculty responsible for the unit. In this Faculty:
(a)
the honours entry WAM for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Education (Primary Education), Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Human Movement and Health Education), and Bachelor of Social Work is calculated by averaging units as specified in the Undergraduate Handbook; second year (level 2000) units are weighted 1 and third year (level 3000) units are weighted 2.
(b)
the honours entry WAM for Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences)/Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Science)/Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Mathematics)/Bachelor of Science is calculated by averaging units as specified in the Undergraduate Handbook; third year (level 3000) units are weighted 1 and fourth year (level 4000) units are weighted 2.
(3)
(a) the honours WAM (HWAM) for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Education (Primary Education), Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Human Movement and Health Education) and Bachelor of Social Work is calculated by averaging units as specified in the Undergraduate Handbook; third year (level 3000) units are weighted 2, fourth year (level 4000) units are weighted 3 and the honours research units weighted 6.
(b) the Honours WAM (HWAM) for Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences)/Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Science)/Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Mathematics)/Bachelor of Science is calculated by averaging selected units as specified in the Undergraduate Handbook; fourth year (level 4000) units are weighted 2, fifth year (level 5000) units are weighted 3 and the honours research units weighted 6.

15 Transitional provisions

(1)
These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Students who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016 and provided that there is no suspension of candidature, in which case the candidature for any period shall proceed under the by-laws and resolutions in force at the time of re-enrolment. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.