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Unit of study_

PHAR4830: Honours

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study is designed to extend the Pharmacy undergraduate's knowledge and skills in research practice and problem solving, and written and oral scientific communication acquired in PHAR4815. Honours provides an important basis for those who may wish to branch into specialised areas and will be particularly useful for those seeking employment in industry, government, hospital laboratories, research institutions and also for those considering continuation to postgraduate studies. The journal club/research seminar/workshops/postgraduate conference component of the course will assist in the development of advanced research and presentation skills and will complement the research project. A final research presentation and report describing research results and conclusions is to be conducted at the end of the semester.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHAR4830
Academic unit Pharmacy
Credit points 24
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
PHAR4811 and PHAR4812 and PHAR4815 and PHAR4823 and PHAR4100
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Danijela Gnjidic, danijela.gnjidic@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam hurdle task Forensics Exam
MCQ and short answer (MCQ 30% & SAQ 70% of total exam mark)
0% Formal exam period
Due date: 30 Nov 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 30 Nov 2020
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO9
Assignment hurdle task Research paper manuscript
Honours thesis
55% Formal exam period 5000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Participation Research Seminar and Workshop participation
Participation in workshops
0% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2
Skills-based evaluation Overall Research Performance
Overall Research Performance
20% Week 12 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO8 LO7 LO5 LO4
Presentation hurdle task Final Oral Presentation
Oral presentation
25% Week 13 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO4
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Participation in Workshops: to a satisfactory standard.

Forensics Exam: Compulsory assessment for final year students. Forensics Paper 1 will be Day 1 of the formal Exams Period and Supplementary (Forensics Paper 2) will be at the end of the formal Exams Period.

Final Oral Presentation: Compulsory assessment for final year honours students. Students will present orally the findings of their research projects in Week 13.

Research Paper Manuscript: Compulsory assessment for final year honours students. Students will submit written research paper summarising the findings of their projects during the formal Exams Period.

Overall Research Performance: Students will be assessed by their direct academic supervisor in Week 12 on the following categories: intellectual curiosity, initiative/autonomy, reflective ability, ability to formulate questions, depth of understanding and commitment.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
- Vaccinations Workshop (8 hr)  
Forensics Workshop (2.5 hr)  
School of Pharmacy: Postgraduate Conference Seminar (8 hr) LO2
Week 01 Mental Health First Aid Workshop (8 hr)  
Mental Health First Aid Workshop (8 hr)  
Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Week 02 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Q&A with Honours Coordinator Workshop (1 hr) LO2
Week 03 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Journal Club Workshop (1 hr) LO1
Week 04 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Journal Club Workshop (1 hr) LO1
Week 05 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Implementing Research into Practice Workshop (1 hr) LO1
Week 06 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Journal Club Workshop (1 hr) LO1
Week 07 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
How to write an abstract? Workshop (1 hr) LO1
Week 08 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
How does a paper get published? Workshop (1 hr) LO1
Week 09 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Navigating your first academic conference Workshop (1 hr) LO7
Week 10 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Journal Club Workshop (1 hr) LO1
Week 11 How to present data for lab-based projects? Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Q&A with Honours Coordinator Workshop (1 hr) LO2
Week 12 Research Seminar Lecture (1 hr) LO2
Week 13 Final Oral Presentation Presentation (8 hr) LO4

Attendance and class requirements

All students need to attend >85% of Research Seminars and Workshops/Tutorials to pass this UoS.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 24 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 480-600 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Project specific, please consult with supervisor.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. critically examine scientific evidence, both quantitative and qualitative, in order to arrive at evidence based conclusions
  • LO2. take opportunities to engage in research and scientific endeavour
  • LO3. apply appropriate numeracy skills to the solution of pharmacy problems
  • LO4. deal with the concept of uncertainty including devising alternatives which take account of qualifying, affording and constraining variables
  • LO5. work effectively and cooperatively as a member of a learning team
  • LO6. recognise and manage personal, physical and emotional needs, including mental and physical health
  • LO7. engage in continuous reflection and take responsibility for personal and professional development
  • LO8. demonstrate the ability to learn independently and take responsibility for own learning.
  • LO9. demonstrate a working understanding of the legislation surrounding the supply of scheduled medicines in NSW

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Expanding the scope of workshops to address a range of research skills and methods.

Work, health and safety

Please refer to the Policies and Rules module in Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.