PSYC3888: Semester 2, 2025

Units PSYC3888 Semester 2 2025 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

PSYC3888: Psychology Interdisciplinary Project

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Our ever-changing world requires knowledge that extends across multiple disciplines. The ability to identify and explore interdisciplinary links is a crucial skill for emerging professionals and researchers alike. This unit presents the opportunity to bring together the concepts and skills you have learnt in your discipline and apply them to a real-world problem. For example, you will work on a project examining how virtual reality technologies can be used to remotely diagnose and treat common anxiety disorders in people. This will involve working with people from information technology disciplines to design and build games and tests with virtual reality equipment, and then to assess the effectiveness of these games. In this unit, you will continue to understand and explore disciplinary knowledge, while also meeting and collaborating with students from across the University through project-based learning; identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data and communicating your findings to a diverse audience. All of these skills are highly valued by employers. This unit will foster the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and this is essential for both professional and research pathways in the future.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points of PSYC1XXX and PSYC2012 and an additional 6 credit points of PSYC2XXX
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Tom Hardwicke, tom.hardwicke@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Presentation	Presentation (W6) Presenting progress of your group project	22.5%	Week 06	15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Debate	Debate Preparatory notes, submit before debate in seminar	5%	Week 07 Due date: 15 Sep 2025 at 23:59	500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Essay Written assignment	25%	Week 10 Due date: 19 Oct 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 16 Nov 2025	2500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation (W12) Presenting the results of your group project	22.5%	Week 12	15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Group Report Written assignment	25%	Week 13 Due date: 09 Nov 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Nov 2025	2000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Essay (25%): Students will write a 2500-word essay based on the Week 5 guest lecturer (topic to be announced). The Essay is a compulsory assessment, so if you do not attempt it, you will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Group Report (25%): Students will work in groups to write a 2000 word report on their research project. The report should include the following sections: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References, Supplementary Materials. The References and Supplementary Materials sections do not count towards the word count.

Group presentation [Wk 6] (22.5%): With your group, present progress on your research project during the Week 6 workshop session. All students in the group must speak during the presentation. The group slides must be uploaded to canvas by the end of the week (14th September).

Group presentation [Wk 12] (22.5%): With your group, present the final results of your research project during the Week 12 workshop session. All students in the group must speak during the presentation. The group slides must be uploaded to canvas by the end of the week (2nd November).

Debate (5%): A debate between students conducted during Week 7 (topic to be announced). You must submit your notes on September 15th, prior to the debate.

Assessment criteria

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

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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 University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
Weekly	2hrs/week workshop on the interdisciplinary project	Workshop (26 hr)
Weekly	1 hr/week seminar on topics in psychological research and its applications	Seminar (13 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per Section 60(5)(c), 68(2)(a), and 68(3) of the University’s Coursework Policy, a student must comply with a Unit of Study’s attendance requirement – for this Unit of Study, a student must be recorded as having attended at least ten (10) of the workshops, and if a student does not meet this requirement, they will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

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 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. apply disciplinary knowledge to solve problems in an interdisciplinary context
LO2. find, define and delimit authentic problems in order to address them
LO3. create an investigation strategy, explore solutions, discuss approaches and predict outcomes
LO4. analyse data using modern information technology and digital skills
LO5. demonstrate integrity, confidence, personal resilience and the capacity to manage challenges, both individually and in teams
LO6. collaborate with diverse groups and across cultural and disciplinary boundaries to develop solution(s) to the project problems
LO7. communicate project outcomes effectively to a broad audience.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links