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Policy Number: 3.20.9
Policy Name: The Course Profile
Contact Officer: Senior Manager Academic Administration
Date Approved by Senate: 24/07/2008
Date last amended: 30/11/2006
Date of Next Review: 24/07/2011
Related Policies: 1.50.8, 3.20.5, 3.20.14, 3.20.15, 3.30.1, 3.30.3, 3.40.12
1. Overview
1.1 The course profile is a critical resource for students, detailing course aims, objectives and graduate attributes, teaching and learning activities and modes, how performance in the course will be assessed and other general assessment expectations and penalties.
1.2 (a) This policy summarises the requirements to be included in the course profile as detailed in existing University policies and in other provisions to which the University is subject (e.g. Assessment, Academic Integrity and Plagiarism, Award of Honours, Statement of Graduate Attributes, and in the Disability Policy). Faculties and schools are not precluded from including other relevant items in the course profile.
(b) The course profile does not comprise learning and teaching resources, although it must contain reference to required and recommended course resources. These resources, where they are available electronically, will be provided to students via other mechanisms (e.g. the University’s eLearning management system).
1.3 The timely provision of a course profile to students, the regular revision of the profile, and the monitoring of teaching and assessment against the course profile are viewed as key teaching quality assurance measures. Teaching staff have a responsibility to inform students what they can expect from the course and what is expected of them as part of the course as outlined in the course profile. Any exceptional changes to the course profile during the semester/year should be promptly communicated to students currently enrolled in the course.
1.4 From Semester 2, 2006 all course profiles will be developed and delivered through the electronic course profile system. The online version of the course profile, available to enrolled students via mySI-net, is the authorised version of the course profile.
1.5 Information in the course profile will be available publicly on the University website except where assessment details are considered sensitive.
2. The Policy
The course profile will include (but will not necessarily be limited to) details about the course itemised below.
1. General Course Information
1.1 Course Details
This section will include SI-net course catalogue information for the course including: course code, course title, the coordinating organisational unit, unit value, contact hours per week and the course description. Where relevant, the course profile will also include information on assumed background knowledge and skills.
1.2 Course Introduction
Where the information in Section 1.1 (Course Details) does not adequately describe the course, a more detailed course introduction should be included.
1.3 Course Staff
Contact details of the course coordinator and other course contributors, including information on available consultation times.
1.4 Course Timetable
This section should include or refer students to the authoritative source for the course timetable. Where further information relating to the timetable is required, it should be included here.
2. Aims, Objectives & Graduate Attributes
2.1 Course Aims
Broad aims of the course should be included as an introduction to the specific learning objectives of the course.
2.2 Learning Objectives
Specific measurable learning objectives that the student will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate during the course.
2.3 Graduate Attributes
The learning objectives should be mapped to the appropriate set (e.g. bachelor pass, bachelor honours) of University graduate attributes. (See HUPP 3.20.5 Statement of Graduate Attributes)
Where a course is offered predominantly in a professional program that requires accreditation against graduate attributes, the learning objectives may also be mapped against these attributes. (See HUPP 3.20.15 Statement of Postgraduate Coursework Graduate Attributes.)
A reference to other program graduate attributes can also be included.
3. Learning Resources
3.1 Required Resources
A list of required texts, readings, online and electronic resources using the appropriate referencing style for the discipline. Details of resources that will be available in the UQ Bookshop and Library must be made available no later than 12 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
3.2 Recommended Resources
A list of recommended texts, readings, online and electronic resources using the appropriate referencing style for the discipline. Details of resources that will be available in the UQ Bookshop and Library must be made available no later than 12 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
3.3 University Learning Resources
Reference to resources available to all students at the University.
Content in this section in the electronic course profile system must be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
3.4 [Coordinating Unit] Learning Resources
Resources available in all courses coordinated by the school or organisational unit.
3.5 Other Learning Resources & Information
Other information about resources that are available or required for the course including details of any additional costs.
4. Teaching & Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activities Summary
A summary of the learning activities in the course. These activities may include lectures, tutorials, practicals, self directed learning, reading and other student-centred activities. These activities should be mapped to the learning objectives that are being developed through the activity.
4.2 Other Teaching & Learning Activities Information
Any further information relating to the learning activities summarised in section 4.1.
A description of the teaching and learning methods, approaches/philosophy and modes used in the course.
5. Assessment
The Course Profile must include comprehensive information about assessment as detailed in HUPP 3.30.1 Assessment.
5.1 Assessment Summary
A summary of all necessary information about summative assessment, including each assessment task's amount, form and deadlines, the relative importance (e.g. weighting) of individual assessment pieces and the criteria and standards to be applied to each assessment item.
5.2 Course Grading
Details on how results for each assessment task are aggregated to yield a final grade.
5.3 Late Submission
Details of the circumstances under which extensions may be granted and any penalties for the non-complience of assessment tasks, e.g. penalties for late submission or exceeding word limits.
5.4 Other Assessment Information
Where relevant, additional information on assessment in this course, including appropriate conditions for group work and collaboration, required referencing styles, the use of dictionaries and electronic devices in examinations and an indication of the non-availability of supplementary assessment (e.g. in the case of group work and collaborative assessment tasks).
6. Policies & Guidelines
This section contains the details of and links to key policies and guidelines.
6.1 Assessment Related Policies and Guidelines
University Policies & Guidelines
A summary of and/or link to assessment related policies including, but not limited to, HUPP 3.40.12 Academic Integrity & Plagiarism and HUPP 3.30.1 Assessment.
Content in this section in the electronic course profile system must be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
Feedback in this Course
Additional optional information relating to the availability and methods of feedback in the course.
[Coordinating Unit] Assessment Guidelines
Details of and/or links to any relevant assessment guidelines in the coordinating organisational unit or for the course.
6.2 Other Policies & Guidelines
University Policies & Guidelines
A summary of and/or link to other teaching and learning related University policies including, but not limited to:
Content in this section in the electronic course profile system must be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
Other [Coordinating Unit] Guidelines
Reference to any other relevant guidelines in the coordinating organisational unit.
Other Course Guidelines
Details of or reference to any other relevant guidelines in the course.
3. Availability to Students
The course profile is to be made available to students in both electronic and hard copy form no later than the first scheduled learning activity for each offering of the course. Schools have the option of setting an earlier date for the release of course profiles to facilitate student learning.
4. Currency
The date the course profile was last revised should be included in the course profile. Students should be alerted to the nature of any significant changes to the course profile.
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