FASS3999: Semester 1, 2025
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Unit outline_

FASS3999: Interdisciplinary Impact

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Interdisciplinarity is a key skill in fostering agility in life and work. This unit provides learning experiences that build students' skills, knowledge and understanding of the application of their disciplinary background to interdisciplinary contexts. In this unit, students will work in teams and develop interdisciplinarity skills through problem-based learning projects responding to 'real world problems'.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Arts and Social Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Completion of at least 90 credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jessica Kean, jessica.kean@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task AI Allowed Critical Reflection: The Topic, Your Partners, Your Perspective
A reflective essay comparing the approach of 2 of your partners, and critically reflecting on your own perspective on the topic.
30% Week 06
Due date: 04 Apr 2025 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5 LO2
Assignment hurdle task AI Allowed Critical Reflection: Collaboration
Reflective essay drawing on unit materials and group work experiences.
20% Week 09
Due date: 02 May 2025 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment hurdle task group assignment AI Allowed Case Study Project
Recorded team project presentation, submitted via canvas
35% Week 13
Due date: 30 May 2025 at 23:59
1500-2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Participation Critical engagement and participation in learning
Effective unit engagement and development of collaborative skills
15% Weekly Ongoing + 5 Participation Log entries
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?
AI allowed = AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

work of an exceptional standard

Distinction

75 - 84

work of a very high standard

Credit

65 - 74

work of a good standard

Pass

50 - 64

work of an acceptable standard

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator. 

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions. 

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit. 

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply. 

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 What’s the point of a university degree? Debates about HASS and ‘value’ of Higher Education Lecture (1 hr) LO5
Welcome, Orientation, Introduction Reading Discussion - HASS, value & the 'employability' imperative Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Choose Your Own Adventure (Case Lead Panel) NB: you will need this information to choose your studies case!! Must attend before tutorial. Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Finding a group, choosing a case study. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Read Between the Lines: tools for analysing ‘problems’, ‘strategies’, and ‘solutions’. Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Practice 'What's the Problem Represented to Be' and 'Theory of Change' analysis. Group Work. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Partner Panel: What's the problem? What's the strategy? NB: This week will run in parallel sessions – please attend the zoom session for your group’s case study, links on canvas. Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Reflection on partner panel. 'Problem'/strategy analysis related to your project. Group work. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 What's *your* problem? What's *your* strategy? Using interdisciplinary research to build a picture of the context. Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Group work. Assessment advice & reflection. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Reflecting on Collaboration: Interpersonal dynamics, structural dynamics. Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO5
Collaboration check-in, group agreement updates. Group work. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Interdisciplinarity & your project: get meta about your discipline, get curious about others. Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Collaboration check-ins. Group Work. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 08 Diversity in the Workplace (Guest Panel): Barriers to getting and doing a job + practical strategies for dismantling barriers. Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO5
Assessment advice. Discussion. Group work. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Barriers, Opportunities, Constraints (Partner Panel) Some of our partners on the practical and political dynamics that shape their capacity for change. Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO4
Focusing on Case Study Projects Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Partner Q&A Webinars (parallel sessions on zoom) Parallel sessions, one per case study. Please join the session relevant to your case study. Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Reflection on Partner Panel. Group work on projects. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Case Lead Q&A (on zoom) NB: each case study has a separate session, please join the one relevant to you. Links on canvas. Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Group work on projects. Preparing to pitch. Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Consultation sessions – Coordinator & Case Leads. Book-in to join the team in the lecture hall for group-based consultations. Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO5
3 minute pitch (not assessed)! Peer feedback. Group work. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Assessment Q&A. Joining the dots & looking forward. (Includes an optional mini-workshop on how to translate what you've done here for job applications) Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Summing Up, Critical Reflection, Evaluation. Final group work opportunity. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold. NB: Attendance in workshops in crucial for effective completion of this unit.
  • Lecture recording: All lectures will be recorded and available for asynchronous viewing.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.
  • Tutorial allocation: Students will be allocated into tutorials, according to their timetable availability. In order to ensure an interdisciplinary mix of students within workshops, students must attend the workshop to which they have been assigned.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See the unit Canvas site.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. map and demonstrate an understanding of how disciplinary knowledge, skills and understanding contribute to interdisciplinary knowing
  • LO2. demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding gained in creativity, collaboration, critical reflection and communication in interdisciplinary knowing
  • LO3. demonstrate high level-knowledge of how interdisciplinary understandings can be applied to complex or 'intractable problems' in context
  • LO4. produce a collaborative response using interdisciplinary understandings to a complex real life problem
  • LO5. critically reflect on the challenges and opportunities of working in interdisciplinary ways and confidently apply disciplinary knowledge to real-world problems.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In 2025 we are piloting a new-look FASS3999, following a significant program of student- and partner-feedback at the end of 2024. We have made changes to the nature of the lecture series and introduced industry partnerships for all case studies. There have been some big changes, and we are eager to hear from you all about your experience. Our teaching team is extremely committed to building a unit that works for you, so please do get in touch with your ideas about what is working, and what we should consider changing or developing.

See Canvas site for full details of case studies and unit materials.

 

 

Work, health and safety

Please note: you must attend the tutorial you have been assigned to. Some of our assigned classrooms are extremely small, and we cannot comfortably accommodate any more people.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

This unit of study outline was last modified on 07 Feb 2025.

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