Graduate School of The Environment
GSE851 Capstone Project
About this Unit
Offered: X1, X2 - External delivery; First Half-Year and Second Half-Year
Convenor: Professor Rob Harcourt
Prerequisite: Permission of Unit Convenor
Credit Points: 8
This unit is designed to allow students to undertake a substantive independent research project provided by industry partners and undertaken in the field, supervised jointly by university academic staff and industry experts. This is designated a capstone project, allowing students to bring together and apply material learnt in the course to a real world problem.
Teaching Staff
Convenor: Professor Rob Harcourt
Phone: (02) 9850 7970
Fax: (02) 9850 7972
Email: robert.harcourt@mq.edu.au
Classes
Enrolling students must contact the unit convenor before enrolling in the unit to seek approval of their project outline.
Contract Proposal
The Contract Proposal (max 2 pages) must be submitted to Rob Harcourt by an agreed upon date within the first month of semester.
Requirements for acceptable proposals are:
- The program must involve a minimum of 320 hours work.
- The project must be able to be completed, and assessment material submitted in the semester in which the unit is commenced.
- Approval by the unit convenor together with an academic staff member in the Masters area concerned, and agreement to supervise completion of this contract and undertake assessment by a supervisor deemed appropriate by the unit convenors.
Having submitted an initial proposal, it is expected that you will discuss the proposed activity with all the relevant people in order to complete the details of the contract proposal.
Unit web page
The URL for the GSE851 unit webpage is http://www.gse.mq.edu.au/units/GSE851.php
Technology Used and Required
Learning Outcomes
Generic Outcomes
Students will complete this unit with a demonstrated capacity for the following generic skills:
- critical analysis
- written communication
- project management
Specialist Outcomes
In addition, students will gain specific knowledge and expertise relevant to the individual project which they undertake. The expectations with respect to these learning outcomes will be negotiated with each student and their supervisors. This will ensure that each student has clear expectations as to performance requirements and how s/he will be assessed.
Graduate Capabilities Developed
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Projects will be developed under the supervision of a nominated member of academic staff.
Assessment Requirements
Work to be carried out to satisfy the requirements of this unit will be determined on an individual basis in discussion between the student, the unit convenor, and the academic supervisor.
Assessment will be based on a report to be written in the form of a scientific paper (max 5000 words), in which the introduction has been expanded to give a comprehensive review of all relevant literature. The report is due on the last day of the teaching period in each semester. For semester 2, 2008 this date is Friday 14 November, 2008.
The unit will be graded on a HD, D, C, P & F basis.
How Do I Request an Extension?
Examination Conditions
Requirements to Complete this Unit Satisfactorily
Required and Recommended Texts/Materials
The individual nature of the projects will mean that most resources are unique to each student.
Academic Honesty
The nature of scholarly endeavour, dependent as it is on the work of others, binds all members of the University community to abide by the principles of academic honesty. Academic honesty is an integral part of the core values and principles contained in the Macquarie University Ethics Statement. Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:
- all academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim
- all academic collaborations are acknowledged
- academic work is not falsified in any way
- when the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately.
All academic and professional staff involved in learning, teaching and research are expected to display leadership in this area.
One of the University's objectives is to produce ethically and socially aware graduates, capable of applying the skills and knowledge they have developed at University to all aspects of their lives, as well as to their academic work. Academic dishonesty undermines the integrity of the University's academic awards and assessment processes, and damages the University's reputation. It also reduces the effectiveness of a student's time at the University.
All students should familiarise themselves with Macquarie University's Academic Honesty Policy.
The GSE recommends that students familiarise themselves with the information contained on the Georgetown University Honor Council website which discusses plagiarism in an easy to understand and comprehensive manner.
All assignments will be screened with "Turnitin" anti-plagiarism software
University Policy on Assessment
Please visit Policy Central for an explanation of the University’s policy on assessment.
The rights and responsibilities of students with regard to assessment are outlined in the University’s assessment code of practice.
Grading System
An explanation of the the university's grading policy and grading system is available at Policy Central
Special Consideration Policy
The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching. In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability.
The Special Consideration Policy is instituted to support students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level.
Student Support Services
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. The Study Skills Support Unit in the Dean of Students Office aims to offer academic support as well as a range of literacy study skills to assist students in acquiring a successful learning experience in MQ.
Current services include Study Skills Workshops and Individual Consultations. Students will also find a collection of useful Online Resources relating to different aspects of learning enhancement as well as other interesting topics on Study Skills Development on the Dean of Students website. The University is also offering free Academic Writing Programs for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
For International Students at MQ, there is a resource library that could assist with developing the skills and confidence to achieve a smooth and successful adjustment.
Whether you're a student or staff member, Campus Experience exists to provide you with a convenient, engaging, healthy and supportive environment during your time at Macquarie University.
Advice for Students with Disabilities/Health Conditions
The Disability Support Unit is one of the services provided by Campus Wellbeing. Staff from the Disability Support Unit work with students who have a permanent or temporary disability and/or health condition to get the services they need to have an equal opportunity to flourish at Macquarie University. Students can contact or register with the Disability Support Unit at any time before or during their studies at Macquarie. Contact the Disability Support Unit to learn more about the services that may be available to you to enable you to flourish in your studies.