STB411 Advanced Topics in Earth, Environmental and Biological Research
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | STB411 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Admission to ST10 or (Admission to ST20 and completion of 288 credit points (CP)) |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,968 |
| International unit fee | $5,664 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | STB411 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Admission to ST10 or (Admission to ST20 and completion of 288 credit points (CP)) |
| Coordinator: | Melody de Laat | melody.delaat@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This Honours level unit develops advanced knowledge and skills in an area specific to the individual student’s discipline (either biological, earth or environmental science) and their subject area. The training focus of this unit is relevant to both industry and research environments and will help to prepare students for a job in the real-world, or for further studies. This advanced topic is designed to complement studies in the Honours Research Project.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Develop advanced, in-depth knowledge of one or more topics or techniques in a discipline.
- Critically evaluate, analyse, review and synthesise complex ideas and information.
- Apply critical and creative thinking and advanced knowledge in one or more disciplines in solving real-world problems displaying logical and sound judgement.
- Communicate in a professional and scholarly way to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, visual and oral formats.
Content
The content of this unit will depend upon the chosen advanced topic.
Learning Approaches
The approaches to teaching and learning will typically be context based, utilising examples from contemporary research and real-world applications relevant to your research topic. You will be expected to meet with teaching staff, both individually and as a group, to assist and direct you towards effective learning. The unit will combine group-based discussion with peers and staff, as well as one-on-one tutorial style learning experiences with your supervisor.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will gain feedback in this unit by participating in weekly discussions during face-to-face workshops and 3-5 special workshops with senior academics from diverse disciplines across the Faculty of Science and your peers. You will also receive written feedback on your seminar presentation for Assessment 1 which will directly relate to and inform your essay (i.e. assessment 2).
Assessment
Overview
This unit will provide students with authentic assessment tasks modelled on deliverables commonly required in the workplace. The aims are to broaden and synthesise knowledge and understand methodologies and potential research topics, and to be able to communicate these effectively to a range of audiences. All assessment tasks follow a problem/solution theme. Students will be required to identify a complex problem in their discipline that has several, inadequate solutions and deliver a seminar where they articulate the problem and various solutions to their peers (ULOs 1-4). They will then discuss the solutions and defend their proposed solution. A reflective journal on all other student's seminars will be submitted at the end of the seminar series. Finally, after summative and formative feedback students will write a problem/solution essay about their chosen problem (ULOs 1-4).
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Workbook
A compilation of a variety of artefacts that may include problem-solving tasks, presentations/discussions and/or demonstrations, critical analysis and critical reflection. You will select a universal problem that is common to your discipline or research topic and prepare and deliver a seminar style presentation to the class, and facilitate a group discussion, around the topic. You will need to provide a seminal paper to the class one week prior to the seminar. You will also be required to attend weekly presentations and discussions given by your peers and read the papers provided prior to each presentation. After listening to the speaker and asking relevant questions on the weekly topic, you will submit a reflective journal in which your questions and answers are recorded. Your critical reflection piece will also allow you to reflect more broadly on the unit.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Essay
This examination of your work will be a problem solving task where you will write an essay that contextualises and analyses a problem common to your specific, advanced subject area. You must outline the problem to be solved and summarise the schools of thought surrounding currently available solutions for the problem, based on the available literature. You will analyse the advantages and disadvantages of these solutions, determine the superior solution/s and potentially provide evidence for a new solution/approach. You must select an appropriate referencing style for the essay to be used throughout the document.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/lecture activities in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.ST10 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge in one or more discipline area(s) and knowledge of research methods, principles and practices.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Workbook, Essay - Solve complex problems by demonstrating and applying advanced knowledge and skills in scientific principles, concepts and techniques, with scientific rigour
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Workbook, Essay - Effectively use a range of communication skills to produce a set of research outputs both individually and collaboratively.
Relates to: ULO4, Workbook, Essay - Demonstrate professional reflective practices and accountability in scholarship and the research process including awareness of ethical and cultural responsibility.
Relates to: ULO2, Workbook, Essay