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 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2014 (the ‘Coursework Policy’), the resolutions for the course of enrolment, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals Against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy 2015.
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 Policy specifies the maximum number of credit points that 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 Associate 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 If enrolment has already taken place, the Associate Dean may direct that the student be withdrawn without penalty from the unit of study.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 Associate 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
4 Suspension, discontinuation and lapse of candidature
0.
The Coursework Policy specifies the conditions for suspending or discontinuing candidature, and return to candidature after these events. It also defines the circumstances when candidature is deemed to have lapsed. Students should pay careful attention to the significant dates in these requirements and their effect on results and financial liability.
5 Credit for previous study
0.0.
Except as described below, or in specific course resolutions, the Coursework Policy 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;
(ii)
48 credit points for successfully completed units in courses where an award has been, or will be, made.
0.0.
A student can apply for credit to count towards a master's degree or graduate diploma for up to 50% of the course requirements.
0.0
*In exceptional and well-attested circumstances, the student may appeal to the Associate Dean for an exemption from this restriction.
6 Faculty Scholars Program
(1)
The Faculty Scholars Program is a special program of study for students of exceptional merit who are enrolled in undergraduate degrees administered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
(2)
Entry to the Faculty Scholars Program is by invitation from the Dean. Invitations are made in December each year, for the following year. Admission to the Faculty Scholars Program is competitive and restricted to a maximum 25 students each year.
(3)
To be considered for entry into the Faculty Scholars Program students should normally have AAMs of 85 or over and a high distinction result in a Humanities or Social Sciences unit of study.
(4)
Entry to the Faculty Scholars Program is available to eligible students who have completed 48 credit points over two consecutive semesters in their first year at the University of Sydney.
Part 2: Unit of study enrolment
7 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-intermediate, senior-advanced 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.
8 Cross-institutional study
(1)
Cross institutional study is available unless specified otherwise in the course resolutions. The Coursework Policy specifies the circumstances in which the Associate Dean may approve such study, with or without imposing conditions.
(3)
Cross institutional study is regarded as another form of credit and will be counted as such when considering eligibility.
9 International exchange
Part 3: Studying and Assessment
10 Late submission
(1)
It is expected that, unless an application for a simple extension or special consideration has been approved, students will submit all assessment for a unit of study on the due date specified. If assessment is completed or submitted within a period of extension, no academic penalty will be applied to that piece of assessment.
(2)
If an extension is not sought, not granted, or is granted but work is submitted after the extended due date, the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty. The penalty for coursework is as follows:
(a)
From the day after the published due date, the penalty applied is two marks (out of 100) per working day;
(b)
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 working day.
11 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 Associate Dean or relevant delegated authority. The Associate Dean or relevant delegated authority may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items when attendance is lower than 80 per cent.
(3)
The case of any formally enrolled student who is absent from 50% 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.
12 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, as determined by the Coursework Policy.
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.
15 Readmission after a period of exclusion
0.0
The Coursework Policy provides that a student excluded from a degree may seek readmission at the end of the exclusion period, with the approval of the Associate Dean.
A student readmitted in this way is considered to have commenced a new period of candidature and must apply for credit from their previous candidature. Credit will only be awarded in accordance with the Coursework Policy and clause 5 of these resolutions.
16 Undergraduate majors
(1)
A major from Table A is offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and consists of a minimum of 36 senior credit points in a defined subject area at senior-intermediate and senior-advanced level, including at least 6 credit points at senior-advanced level.
(1)
In order for a major to be awarded, a minimum of 12 intermediate-senior or advanced-senior credit points must be completed at the University of Sydney from the respective Department.
(3)
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.
(4)
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.
17 Award of the bachelor's degree with honours
(1)
To qualify for admission to candidature for honours, a student must meet the requirements of the Coursework Policy and in addition:
(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 |
|
18 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 Policy. Candidates who are awarded an undergraduate diploma with honours are not eligible for the award of a university medal.
19 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.