University of Sydney Handbooks - 2020 Archive

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Honours in the Bachelor of Design Computing

Admission

Students planning to enrol in the honours program are encouraged to complete a preparatory unit of study as an elective, such as an Independent Study unit, in their third year.

To qualify to enrol in the honours program a student should have qualified for the award of the Bachelor of Design Computing pass degree or a similar qualification in a related field at an acceptable standard, or be a graduate of not more than four years standing. Students should have a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 70 for the pass degree.

Before applying you should have an approved honours project topic and academic supervisor. The proposal must clearly summarise your research topic. It should be prepared by you and reviewed by your supervisor(s) before applying for permission.
Below are guidelines to help you with your proposal.

Content

 Description

Maximum Length      

Up to 1000 words.

Project Title

Working title for the research project.

Supervisor Name(s)    

Name of the supervisor(s).

Research Aim

What is the overall aim of the work?

Background

Brief overview of literature in the area of interest.

Describe what research lays the groundwork for your topic.

Work plan

An initial plan with milestones over 1 year.

Resources

Provide details of major resources required for you to carry out your research project.

What significant resources are required for the success of your proposed project? (eg. equipment, space).

References

A short bibliography of the cited literature.

Students who complete a preparatory unit of study as elective will probably resolve their topic and supervisor during this unit. You can have an associate supervisor if you require shared supervision beyond the immediate expertise of your supervisor.

The Honours year

The honours course is to be taken full time over two consecutive semesters. Enrolment is effected by taking 48 credit points, being:

  • DECO4001 and DECO4002 in the first semester; and
  • DECO4003 and DECO4004 in the second semester.

There will be no formal weekly classes.

You are expected to make arrangements for regular (weekly) contact with your supervisor on an individual basis to chart the work, receive advice, and review and monitor progress. At the conclusion of the year you are expected to submit a dissertation that was written in consultation with your supervisor.

Dissertation Overview

Your dissertation should:

  1. 1. Outline the state of the art through a literature review, outlining the key knowledge gaps and explaining how the research addresses them.
    2. Report on the aims and objectives of the work, the rationale and process taken in its conception and development, and a detailed reflection or empirical evaluation of the design work.
    3. Utilise both quantitative, qualitative or mixed research methods (e.g. surveys, interviews, experimentations, participatory action research and parametric or non-parametric modelling). Where the research will include human participants, students will need to follow the University ethics policies and guidelines for research involving humans: https://sydney.edu.au/research/research-integrity-and-ethics.html
    a. Due to the time frame for obtaining approval for such research, students are strongly encouraged to apply early in their honours research year or to conduct their research within the framework of an existing study led by their supervisor.
    4. Introduce new knowledge in the form of novel design work, conceptual model, framework, or a technology-driven design process that is realised through either theory or the introduction, incorporation, enhancement or development of a prototype.
    5. Cite all sources used, including images. Make use of one specific referencing style consistently throughout your dissertation and list your references in a correctly formatted bibliography at the end of the dissertation. We recommend using APA (American Psychological Association) referencing. Examples and guidelines can be found on: APA citation style guide or Referencing and Citation Styles

Along with the dissertation, you may also submit auxiliary documentation, such as:

  • video
  • composition

    performance
  • digital photography
  • electronic installation
  • kinetic sculpture
  • robotic art and software/hardware prototype (code art, devices, smart materials, wearable technology).
Submission date and form of dissertation

All honours dissertations along with any auxiliary materials (e.g. videos, compositions, performance, digital photography, electronic installations, hardware/software prototypes) are to be submitted digitally via Canvas during the first week of the formal examination period in the final semester of enrolment. The dissertation should be approximately 30,000 words in length.

Non-completion

Students who do not complete the honours year will be awarded the pass degree. Those who terminate their study prior to the end of the second semester of study will be awarded a grade of DC or Discontinue without Failure.

Determination of honours

The honours dissertation itself receives a mark, which is recorded on the transcript next to DECO4004. The other units will be converted to SR for Satisfied Requirements upon successful completion of the dissertation.

The grade of honours is determined by using a mark derived from weighting the mark for the honours dissertation at 70 percent and the weighted average mark (WAM) of the pass degree at 30 percent. While this number is not recorded on the transcript, the final class of honours awarded is.

The honours degree of Bachelor of Design Computing shall be awarded to eligible students, with the following grades:

  • Honours Class I (with a mark of at least 80)
  • Honours Class II, Division 1 (with a mark of at least 75)
  • Honours Class II, Division 2 (with a mark of at least 70).

The University Medal may be awarded as described in the frequently asked questions section.

A student of the honours program who does not meet the requirements for award of honours shall be awarded the Bachelor of Design Computing pass degree.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the program students will be able to:

No.

Course Learning Outcome

Graduate Quality

Graduate Quality

Graduate Quality

Graduate Quality

1

Apply human-centred design principles and practices to address a range of problems.

Depth of disciplinary expertise

Inventiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness

 

2

Appraise the value and limitations of data and data sources, including data from user research.

Critical thinking and Problem solving

Information and Digital literacy

Integrated professional, ethical and personal identity

 

3

Integrate design methods with computational and systems thinking, including by demonstrating familiarity with emerging technologies

Depth of disciplinary expertise

Information and Digital literacy

Critical thinking and Problem solving

 

4

Demonstrate aesthetic sense and apply it to communicate ideas and concepts.

Depth of disciplinary expertise

Communication (oral and written)

 

 

5

Synthesize creative solutions that balance conflicting design needs including feasibility, viability and desirability.

Depth of disciplinary expertise

Inventiveness

Critical thinking and Problem solving

 

6

Assess, reflect and provide feedback on one's own design process as well as that of others.

Critical thinking and Problem solving

Communication (oral and written)

Integrated professional, ethical and personal identity

Influence

7

Advocate for human-centred design perspectives and practices to diverse audiences and contexts.

Communication (oral and written)

Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Integrated professional, ethical and personal identity

Influence

8

Express how your design decisions innovate and/or add value.

Critical thinking and Problem solving

Communication (oral and written)

Influence

 

9

Demonstrate ethical and cultural competence in design by recognising the intended and unintended consequences of design decisions, as well as by considering diverse and underrepresented stakeholders.

Critical thinking and Problem solving

Cultural competence

Integrated professional, ethical and personal identity

 

10

Design, rigorously develop and appropriately communicate an original solution to a substantial real-world problem using human-centred design principles and practices.

Critical thinking and Problem solving

Communication (oral and written)

Inventiveness

Depth of disciplinary expertise

 

 
Unit outlines will be available though Find a unit outline two weeks before the first day of teaching for 1000-level and 5000-level units, or one week before the first day of teaching for all other units.
 

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session

Honours

Bachelor of Design Computing

Students are required to complete the following units of study:
Semester 1
DECO4001
Design Computing Honours Research A
12   
Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 1
Semester 2
DECO4002
Design Computing Honours Research B
12    C DECO4001
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 2
DECO4003
Design Computing Honours Research C
12    C DECO4002
Semester 1
Semester 2
DECO4004
Design Computing Honours Research D
12    C DECO4003
Semester 1
Semester 2

Honours

Bachelor of Design Computing

Students are required to complete the following units of study:
Semester 1
DECO4001 Design Computing Honours Research A

Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Callum Parker Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Students must submit an Honours application form. Entry into Honours in the Bachelor of Design Computing requires you to have completed your pass degree with a weighted average mark of at least 70.
The Honours degree requires full-time study over two semesters (DECO4001 and DECO4002 and then DECO4003 and DECO4004). In special cases the Dean may approve a part-time enrolment over four semesters. The units are not assessed separately. A single dissertation is required. The appointment of a supervisor will depend on the topic chosen for the dissertation by the student.
The dissertation should be submitted by the end of the first week of the formal examination period in the semester in which DECO4004 Design Computing Honours Research D is taken.
DECO4002 Design Computing Honours Research B

Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Callum Parker Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Corequisites: DECO4001 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Students must submit an Honours application form. Entry into Honours in the Bachelor of Design Computing requires you to have completed your pass degree with a weighted average mark of at least 70.
The Honours degree requires full-time study over two semesters (DECO4001 and DECO4002 and then DECO4003 and DECO4004). In special cases the Dean may approve a part-time enrolment over four semesters. The units are not assessed separately. A single dissertation is required. The appointment of a supervisor will depend on the topic chosen for the dissertation by the student.
The dissertation should be submitted by the end of the first week of the formal examination period in the semester in which DECO4004 Design Computing Honours Research D is taken.
Semester 2
DECO4003 Design Computing Honours Research C

Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Callum Parker Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Corequisites: DECO4002 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Students must submit an Honours application form. Entry into Honours in the Bachelor of Design Computing requires you to have completed your pass degree with a weighted average mark of at least 70.
The Honours degree requires full-time study over two semesters (DECO4001 and DECO4002 and then DECO4003 and DECO4004). In special cases the Dean may approve a part-time enrolment over four semesters. The units are not assessed separately. A single dissertation is required. The appointment of a supervisor will depend on the topic chosen for the dissertation by the student.
The dissertation should be submitted by the end of the first week of the formal examination period in the semester in which DECO4004 Design Computing Honours Research D is taken.
DECO4004 Design Computing Honours Research D

Credit points: 12 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Callum Parker Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Corequisites: DECO4003 Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Students must submit an Honours application form. Entry into Honours in the Bachelor of Design Computing requires you to have completed your pass degree with a weighted average mark of at least 70.
The Honours degree requires full-time study over two semesters (DECO4001 and DECO4002 and then DECO4003 and DECO4004). In special cases the Dean may approve a part-time enrolment over four semesters. The units are not assessed separately. A single dissertation is required. The appointment of a supervisor will depend on the topic chosen for the dissertation by the student.
The dissertation should be submitted by the end of the first week of the formal examination period in the semester in which DECO4004 Design Computing Honours Research D is taken.