ANIML SC 3525RW - Professional Skills in Animal Science

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

This course aims to enhance students' understanding of the professional, personal and discipline-specific skills relevant to careers in the animal science industries. Training will be provided in career planning, communication and business skills. Students will be encouraged to apply their research and critical thinking skills, and to integrate and apply knowledge gained across the various animal science disciplines, through consideration of current issues facing the animal sciences and the potential impact of these issues on their future careers. Students must have completed 200 hours of work experience placements by mid-semester break of the course, and the course will include reflection and assessment of work-place learning experiences.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ANIML SC 3525RW
    Course Professional Skills in Animal Science
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites ANIML SC 1015RW and ANIML SC 1016RW
    Assumed Knowledge ANIML SC 2503RW and ANIML SC 2502RW
    Restrictions Available for B.Sc (Animal Science) students only
    Assessment Written report, assignments, oral presentation, career skills planning, quizzes or worksheets
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Karen Kind

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Critically evaluate challenges facing the animal science industries and disciplines, and the potential strategies to address these challenges
    2 Identify skills and capabilities that intersect effectively with the needs of industry in the area of animal science
    3 Demonstrate career planning skills and an understanding of the employability attributes required to develop a career pathway in the area of animal science
    4 Apply reflective practice in relation to workplace learning experiences
    5 Communicate effectively and professionally
    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)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1, 2, 3, 5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    2, 3, 4, 5
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course will be delivered as 2 x 3 hours of face to face lectures, tutorials or workshops each week,
    Workload

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

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and workshops), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

    Learning Activities Summary
    Students will participate in a series of weekly lectures, workshops, or tutorials focusing on these broad topics:

    Career development skills, career planning and employability
    Introduction to business enterprise skills
    Professional and scientific communication
    Emerging issues in the animal science industries
    Application of discipline specific skills to problems / challenges

    Specific Course Requirements
    Students must have completed 200 hours of work experience placements by mid-semester break in this course. Work experience is a requirement of the program, and students can commence work experience placements in year 1, after the successful completion of ANIML SC 1015RW. In this course, students will submit a report that reflects on skills developed and knowledge gained through their work experience placements.
  • 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 Hurdle? Learning Outcome Approximate timing of assessment
    Career Skills Planning Formative and Summative 15% No 2, 3, 4, 5 Week 3-4
    Business Enterprise Practical Report Formative and Summative 10% No 2, 3 Week 5-6
    Tutorial worksheets / reflections Formative and Summative 10% No 2, 5 Throughout the course
    Current Issues Assignment Formative and Summative 30% No 1, 2, 5 Week 10-12
    Work Experience Report Formative and Summative 35% Yes 2, 3, 4 Week 12
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must have completed 200 hours of work experience to complete this course. 

    Students will not be able to submit the work experience reflection report until they have completed the 200 hours of work experience, and must submit this report to pass the course.   
    Assessment Detail
    Career Skills Planning (15%): students will submit a curriculum vitae and application letter for an animal science related job, and participate in a mock interview.

    Business Enterprise Practical Report (10%): students will submit a written report and question sheet associated with the budgeting skills practical.

    Tutorial worksheets (10%): Topics addressed in tutorial workshops will include professional communication skills, and case studies related to applying discipline specific skills to solving animal science related problems. Students will participate in a professional communication scenario exercise and will submit worksheets or quizzes related to the material addressed in the workshops.

    Current Issues Assignment (30%; discussion paper 22.5%, oral presentation, 7.5%): Students will work in groups of 3-4 students to consider an emerging issue relevant to an animal science industry. Groups will prepare a discussion paper (>2000 words) that describes the issue, identifies potential solutions and challenges, and develops a communication strategy through which solutions and challenges could be shared with a target audience. Groups will give a 20 minute in-class oral presentation related to the issue and the potential strategies to address the issue.

    Work Experience Report (35%): students will submit a report that incorporates diaries and reflections from their work experience placements. For each work experience placement, students complete a diary summarising activities undertaken and a reflective report that considers knowledge gained and professional and personal skills developed. Students will submit a portfolio of their work experience diaries and reflective reports, accompanied by an overall reflection of experience, skills and knowledge gained and how this will contribute to their career development.
    Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted, then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.
    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
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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