PSYCHOL 3011A - Advanced Career & Research Skills in Psychology A

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021

The aim of this course is to assist students in developing career-readiness skills, with a particular focus on areas beneficial for progress into the psychology profession, psychological research, or allied areas involving the application of psychological skills and knowledge. This course will have a focus on advanced communication and small group work skills; project design and management in small group contexts; and the commercial and entrepreneurial elements of psychological research and practice.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 3011A
    Course Advanced Career & Research Skills in Psychology A
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Completion of 2nd year units in accredited sequence and unique content for Advanced degree in 1st and 2nd year.
    Restrictions B. Psych (Honours) (Advanced) students
    Assessment Written assignment and Workshop participation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Daniel Sturman

    The aim of this course is to assist students in developing career-readiness skills, with a particular focus on areas beneficial for progress into the psychology profession, psychological research, or allied areas involving the application of psychological skills and knowledge. This course will have a focus on advanced communication and small group work skills; project design and management in small group contexts; and the commercial and entrepreneurial elements of psychological research and practice.
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1. Apply principles of project management
    2. Deliver an effective presentation
    3. Work effectively within a team environment 
    4. Display knowledge of business and entrepreneurial skills required for psychological research and practice
    5. maximize their experience and skills in a psychology-relevant job application
    6. Communicate psychological science to laypeople 
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 4, 6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2, 3
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    3, 4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Lecturers involved in the course will provide powerpoint slides and lecture components will be recorded as is standard. Where applicable, pre-recorded material may also be made available in MyUni.
    Online Learning
    Online resources will included uploaded powerpoint presentations from weekly lectures; recordings of the lecture components; related web-based materials linked to Youtube where applicable.
    Material will be released on a weekly basis.
    All standard MyUni resources will be utilized, apart from quizzes, as the course is designed to encourage learning through practice.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Each week will involve a blended style of delivery. The main focus each week will be 1 x 2-hour small group workshop which will feature a face-to-face lecture of 30-45 mins in traditional format and subsequently a 60-90 minute workshop that allows for more in depth analysis of the concepts and ideas presented in the lecture. For example, students may be asked to complete a range of tasks; critically evaluate propositions or concepts; undertake problem-solving sessions; critically evaluate an article or other material. These sessions will provide the opportunity for group discussion and working in teams to analyse ideas.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    * 12 x2 hour lecture/workshops = 24 hours
    * research proposal/grant application = 40 hours
    * job application = 20 hours
    * group presentation = 25 hours
    * weekly reading and other study = 24 hrs
    * prep for tutes = 24 hours

    TOTAL = 156 HOURS

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Workshop engagement Summative 10% 1 - 6
    Research proposal Summative 40% 1, 3, 4
    Job application Summative 25% 2 - 6
    Group report Summative 25% 1 - 6

    Workshop engagement (10%)
    Students will receive 10% of their total mark based on their attendance and participation in workshops during the semester. 

    Research proposal/grant application (40%)
    Students will prepare a 1500-2000 word research proposal or grant application for a research project that is aimed at addressing a real-world problem provided to students in the form of an externship [i.e., a problem currently being encountered by an organization outside of the university]. The form of the assessment will vary according to current need. In one year all students may submit a research proposal (or a grant application or an ethics application; in another year, they may have opportunity to any of these; and the topic being addressed may be singular or there may be multiple research questions available)

    Job application or LinkedIn page (25%)
    Students will apply for a job or set up a linkedin page. In so doing, they will demonstrate their ability to identify and apply the transferable skills they have learnt in the course, and in other aspects of their psychology degree.

    Group presentation: (25%)
    Students will prepare a group presentation either in person or as a poster or a Youtube video, in which they critically review a topic relevant to career skills in psychology as it relates to leadership and/or teamwork.
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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