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Unit outline_

WILD4103: Taronga Conservation Honours Project A

Semester 2, 2022 [Supervision] - Remote

In this unit you will complete an independent research project in the discipline of conservation biology and wildlife ecology. Together with your supervisors, you will identify a novel research question and then design and carry out your research. The honours program is assessed overall through a written research proposal, literature review, research presentation, and a major research paper. Assessment of your research capabilities will also form part of the total assessment. Successful completion of your Honours at a high level will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers in conservation and wildlife management.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
WILD4003 or WILD4004
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Dieter Hochuli, dieter.hochuli@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Honours thesis Honours project
Progress towards submission of an Honours project
100% Ongoing Project dependent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9

Assessment summary

Working with academic supervisor(s) throughout your enrolment, complete an Honours project in this field of study.

Assessment criteria

Honours results

Your faculty or school will provide you with marking criteria specific to your honours course. If you have any questions, contact your honours coordinator.

Honours class

Honours mark range (for honours up to 96 credit points)*

Honours mark range (for honours of 96 credit points or more)*

First Class

80 - 100

75 - 100

Second Class / Division 1

75 - 79

70 - 74

Second Class / Division 2

70 - 74

65 - 69

Third Class

65 - 69

50 – 64 **

Not awarded honours

0 - 64

0 – 49 **

*Some honours courses may require you to achieve higher marks. Check your course resolutions in your handbook and the Coursework Policy 2014.

**Prior to 2017, Third Class honours was not awarded for honours of 96 credit points or more. If your mark was in the range 0 to 64, you were not awarded honours.

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

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

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Weekly Independent work on an Honours project, in consultation with academic supervisor(s) Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9

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.

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. Source, collate, synthesise and critically evaluate information from a range of relevant sources and identify knowledge gaps for investigation.
  • LO2. Develop a research question with creativity and lateral thinking.
  • LO3. Use appropriate methodologies to design experiments, and collect and analyse data to investigate a research question.
  • LO4. Demonstrate a command of relevant disciplinary conceptual and theoretical frameworks.
  • LO5. Communicate research methodologies and findings in written and oral form for a scientific audience.
  • LO6. Produce independent research which is an original contribution to the discipline.
  • LO7. Define the scope of their research project and effectively identify, manage and respond to challenges in research direction, and develop resilience and display intellectual growth.
  • LO8. Act with integrity in their research practice and professional relationships, working within established ethical and regulatory frameworks.
  • LO9. Establish collaborative and professional rapport with other students and staff.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

This outline applies to all Honours Project unit codes (Project A – C or Project A – E) except for the final Honours Project unit code (Project D or Project F). Project D or Project F have a separate unit outline.

Detailed information about completing the Honours project can be found on Canvas.

Work, health and safety

Project specific, consult with academic supervisor(s) and coordinators to complete the WHS requirements of the project

Disclaimer

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

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.