Resolutions of the Faculty
Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for coursework awards
These resolutions apply to all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework award courses in the Faculty, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Students enrolled in postgraduate research awards should consult the resolutions for their course. These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the resolutions for the course of enrolment, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Part 1: Course enrolment
1 Admission
0.
Admission to one or more courses, including undergraduate diplomas, concurrently with any other award course, requires the permission of all Deans concerned.
2 Enrolment restrictions
(a)
The Coursework Rule sets limits to the maximum number of credit points a student may take in each semester. The Faculty does not encourage any student to take more than the normal full time load required to complete their course in the standard time (usually 24 credit points per semester). The Faculty sets minimum and maximum limits for undergraduate students in their first year of study (below).
(b)
Units of study in excess of a student's award course requirements will be taken on a full fee, non award basis, unless approved otherwise by the Dean.
(c)
A student may not enrol in a unit of study based on a language other than English if, in the opinion of the chair of department concerned on the advice of the teacher of the unit, the student's linguistic knowledge or competence would unfairly advantage them over other students enrolled in the unit of study. If enrolment has already taken place, the Dean may direct that the student be withdrawn without penalty from the unit of study.
(a)
An undergraduate student must enrol in a minimum of 12 junior credit points in semester one and two in the first year of candidature.
(b)
Except with the permission of the Dean, an undergraduate student may not enrol in units of study with a total value of more than 24 junior credit points in semester one or two in the first year of candidature (students who are granted credit or advanced standing may be permitted to enrol in senior units);
(c)
The maximum number of credit points that may be counted towards a degree from any single subject area in Table A of the Tables of units of study is 18 junior and/or 60 senior, with the exception of the Bachelor of Economics where the individual course resolution applies.
(d)
The maximum number of credit points that may be counted towards a degree from any single subject area in Table B of the Tables of units of study is 12 junior and/or 48 senior.
3 Time limits
(1)
A student must complete all the requirements for a master's degree within four calendar years of first enrolment.
(2)
A student must complete all the requirements for a graduate diploma within three calendar years of first enrolment.
(3)
A student must complete all the requirements for a graduate certificate within two calendar years of first enrolment.
(4)
A student must complete all the requirements for a bachelor's degree (including combined degrees) or undergraduate advanced diploma within ten calendar years of first enrolment.
(5)
A student must complete all the requirements for an undergraduate diploma within six calendar years of first enrolment.
(6)
If a student is admitted, or re-admitted, with credit, the Faculty will determine a reduced time limit for completion of the award.
4 Suspension, discontinuation and lapse of candidature
(1)
Except for the time limits below, the Coursework Rule specifies the conditions for suspending or discontinuing candidature, and return to candidature after these events. The Rule also defines the circumstances when candidature is deemed to have lapsed. Students should pay careful attention to the significant dates in these processes and their effect on results and financial liability.
(2)
The following limits apply to suspension of candidature in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
5 Credit for previous study
0.0.
Except as described below, or in specific course resolutions, the Coursework Rule specifies the conditions for the granting of credit for previous study to courses in this Faculty.
(a)
A student can apply for credit to count towards an undergraduate diploma for up to 12 junior and six senior credit points if the credit is in a relevant subject area. Credit will not be granted for:
(i) 96 credit points for successfully completed units in courses where no award has been, or will be, made;
Part 2: Unit of study enrolment
6 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Units of Study level
(1)
Undergraduate units of study in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are designated as junior, senior and honours level. They are represented numerically in the unit of study code as:
(2)
Postgraduate units of study in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are represented numerically as 5000, 6000 and 7000.
7 Cross-institutional study
(2)
Provided the student has sought permission in advance, the Dean may permit a student to complete a unit of study at another institution and have that unit credited to the student's course requirements, provided that:
(a)
the unit of study content is not taught in any corresponding unit of study at the University; or
(b)
the student is unable, for good reason, to attend a corresponding unit of study at the University; and
(c)
an undergraduate student has completed 48 credit points towards the award course in which they are enrolled.
(3)
Cross institutional study is regarded as another form of credit and will be counted as such when considering eligibility.
8 International exchange
Part 3: Studying and Assessment
9 Submission and Late submission policy
(2)
All assignments, whatever the form of submission, must be accompanied by the cover sheet fully filled in, signed (in writing or electronically) and dated.
(3)
Assignments should normally be handed in at the relevant School office, either over the counter or in the assignment submission box. Online submission or submission during classes is permissible only by prior arrangement with the tutor or coordinator. Under no circumstances should assignments be slid under tutors’ office door.
(4)
No assignment will fall due during a mid-semester non-teaching week, during any Common Week or during Stuvac week.
(6)
The penalty applied is two marks (out of 100) per day. The Academic Board Policy mandates that ‘day’ refer only to working days (i.e. week days). So, an assignment due on Thursday 4 September and handed in on Tuesday 9 September, will count as 3 days late.
(7)
For the purposes of this policy, “two marks” means two full points off the awarded mark, ot two percent of the awarded mark. So, an assignment due on Thursday 4 September and handed in on Tuesday 9 September, and awarded a before-penalty mark of mark of 68%, will be awarded a final, penalised mark of 62%.
(8)
For assignments marked out of a maximum total other than 100, the penalty will apply pro rata. For example, for assignments marked out of 40, the penalty will be 0.8 marks per day.
(9)
Late essays or assignments will not be accepted (except where applications for special consideration are lodged) beyond the designated return date for the relevant written work. In cases where documented misadventure or serious illness prevents students from submitting work before the designated return date an alternative assessment task will be set.
(10)
Postgraduate coursework students will need to consult their unit of study outline for information about the academic penalty for late submission of assessment.
10 Attendance
(1)
Students are required to be in attendance at the correct time and place of any formal or informal examinations. Non attendance on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment. Participation in a minimum number of assessment items may be included in the requirements specified for a unit of study.
(2)
Students are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Dean, Head of School or Chair of Department most concerned. The Dean, Head of School or Chair of Department most concerned may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items where attendance is lower than 80%.
(3)
The case of any formally enrolled student who is absent from 50 per cent or more of classes, regardless of the reasons for the absences, will be automatically referred to the end-of-semester departmental examiners' meeting for a determination as to whether the student should pass or fail the unit, or, if a pass is awarded, the level of penalty that should be applied.
11 Special Consideration for illness, injury or misadventure
0.
Special Consideration is a process that affords equal opportunity to students who have experienced circumstances that adversely impact their ability to adequately complete an assessment task in a unit of study. The Coursework Rule provides full details of the University policy. The procedures for applying for special consideration are described in each unit of study outline.
12 Concessional Pass
13 Re-assessment
Part 4: Progression, Results and Graduation
14 Satisfactory progress
0.
The Faculty will monitor students for satisfactory progress towards the completion of their award course. In addition to the common triggers used to identify students not meeting academic progression requirements (as set out in the provisions relating to progression in the Coursework Rule), students must not fail more than 50% of the credit points in any semester of enrolment.
15 Undergraduate majors
(1)
A major from Table A is offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and consists of either:
(b)
18 senior credit points in a single subject area combined with no more than 18 senior credit points cross-listed to the major, except in the case of Film Studies and Medieval Studies, or in other subject areas as may be approved by the Dean, where the entire major may be cross-listed from the Schedule of Cross-listed Units of Study; or
(c)
a double major in Sociology and Social Policy, requiring a minimum of 48 credit points as defined by the Faculty Handbook.
(2)
A major from Table B is one offered by another faculty at the University of Sydney. Requirements for completion of the major are defined in the resolutions of the faculty offering the major.
(3)
Specific majors required for the completion of a degree are listed in the course resolution for that degree. The majors available within the Faculty are:
*This major is available to Bachelor of Economics candidates.
(a)
Where the Faculty deems that the content of a unit of study offered for one major is also related to another major, the unit may be cross-listed as a unit in the other major. Cross-listed units may only be counted once, either in the major that offers the unit or in the major to which the unit is cross-listed.
(b)
The Schedule of undergraduate Cross-listed Units of Study is updated annually by the Faculty and
is available at:
sydney.edu.au/arts/downloads/documents/Cross-listed.pdf
16 Award of the bachelor's degree with honours
(a)
have qualified for the award of the pass degree at The University of Sydney or an equivalent recognised tertiary Institution or be eligible for the award of the pass degree;
(b)
must complete the honours requirements within no more than 10 years from commencement of candidature in the pass degree;
(c)
have completed a minimum of 48 senior credit points with a Credit average or above in the intended subject area/s; and
(2)
To qualify for admission to the Bachelor of Economics (Honours), students must meet the requirements as outlined in the course resolutions.
(a)
the honours course is normally full-time over two consecutive semesters. Students who are unable to enrol full-time should apply to the Faculty to undertake the honours course part-time over a maximum of four consecutive semesters;
(c)
students who wish to suspend their honours candidature should apply to the Faculty. The maximum period of suspension is one semester;
(4)
To qualify for the award of honours a student must complete 48 credit points of honours units of study in a single subject area, or in two subject areas for students completing joint honours, with a minimum honours mark of 65.
(6)
A student who wishes to enrol in honours in two subject areas must meet the entry requirements for both subject areas. Eligible students can chose to enrol in either:
(a)
a joint honours course. The requirements are completion of 24 credit points in honours units of study in each subject area; or
(b)
an honours course in two subject areas. The requirements are completion of 48 credit points in honours units of study in each subject area. Honours in each subject area is completed separately and in succession.
(7)
The grade of honours and the honours mark are determined by performance in the honours course, according to the following table:
|
Description |
Honours Mark Range |
|---|---|
|
Honours First Class (I) |
mark = 80-100 |
|
Honours Second Class. First Division (II.1) |
mark =75-79 |
|
Honours Second Class. Second Division (II.2) |
mark = 70-74 |
|
Honours Third Class (III) |
mark = 65-69 |
|
Honours not awarded to a mark below 65 |
|
17 University medal
0.
A student with an honours mark of 90 or above may be awarded a university medal. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the Faculty to the highest achieving students who, in the opinion of the Faculty, have an outstanding academic record, in accordance with the Coursework Rule. Candidates who are awarded an undergraduate diploma with honours are not eligible for the award of a university medal.
18 Weighted average mark (WAM)
0.
The University has a formula for calculating a Weighted Average Mark and this is defined in the University Glossary. WAMs are used by the University as one indicator of performance.
19 Progression through embedded postgraduate programs
(1)
Providing candidates satisfy the admission requirements for each stage, a candidate may progress to the award of any of the courses in an embedded sequence. Only the highest award completed will be conferred.
(2)
The minimum requirement to upgrade from a graduate certificate to a graduate diploma is the completion of 18 credit points of units of study at credit average or above. The minimum requirement to upgrade from a graduate diploma to a master's degree is the completion of 24 credit points of units of study at credit average or above.
Part 5: Other
20 Transitional provisions
(2)
Students who commenced prior to 1 January 2011 complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January 2016. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.