BACHELORS DEGREE POLICY
| Approving Authority: | Academic Committee Resolution 3/2009 |
| Approval Date: | 18 June 2009 |
| Approved Document No: |
2009/0005796 |
| Review Date: | 2011 |
| Policy Adviser: | Academic Registrar |
Description of the Policy:
This policy describes the bachelors degree which is an approved program of three or more years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, designed to equip graduates with specialist professional and/or broadly applicable graduate or generic skills, for which the University grants the award of Bachelor of X. It also defines the structure and requirements for the combined bachelors degree and the award of Honours on the basis of study within the Bachelors degree (embedded Honours).
Related Policies, Procedures & Forms:
Structure and Requirements of Degrees Awarded by Griffith University
Bachelors Honours Degree Policy
Course Catalogue, Coding and Other Course Attributes Policy
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Definitions Bachelors
Degree Signature Experience Structure and Requirements Degree Requirements English Language Enhancement Course Academic Plans Electives Award Nomenclature and Award Academic Plans Combined Bachelors Degrees Award of Bachelors Degree with Honours Structure of the Honours Program Admission and Selection Assessment Honours Classification Credit Maximum Amount of Credit Minimum Requirements for the Award of the Degree Advanced Standing, Articulation Pathways and Structured Upgrading Guidelines for Credit on Transfer in Bachelors Degrees
In the context of this policy:
| · | The term
"Bachelors Degree" refers to an approved program of three or more years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, designed to equip graduates with specialist professional and/or broadly applicable graduate or generic skills, for which the University grants the award of Bachelor of X. |
| · | The term "Combined Bachelors Degree" refers to an approved program of study of at least four years (full-time equivalent) duration, in which the core elements of two degree programs are undertaken simultaneously and for which the University grants two separate awards: Bachelor of X and Bachelor of Y. |
| · |
The term "embedded honours" refers to the award of Honours on the basis of study within a Bachelors degree program which is four or more years (full-time equivalent) in length. |
| · | Courses in bachelors degrees are identified as first year, second year, third year, fourth year or fifth year level as designated by the course code, in accordance with the "Course Catalogue, Coding and Other Course Attributes Policy". |
| ·
| Where a course is not uniquely related to a particular year within a program structure, the relevant Faculty will assign a level for the course for the purposes of this policy. |
A bachelors degree is designed to address problems and themes of importance to the various communities the University serves, enabling students undertaking a program of study to gain knowledge, scholarly values, and graduate or generic and specific skills which equip them for employment and which enhance their capacity to respond to and to shape their future circumstances and opportunities.
In its planning and accreditation processes the University assures itself that every student undertakes a coherent program of study by requiring that each bachelors program brings together relevant disciplines in the development of a theme or professional area.
The bachelors
degree signature experience shall support the development of the skills summarised in The Griffith Graduate and shall be characterised by:
· courses which provide an introduction and foundation to equip students for progress to advanced level studies;
· courses which develop English language skills to enable international students to communicate effectively, both academically and professionally;
· coherent development of knowledge and skills from basic to
advanced level, including strategies for integrating program content such as through capstone courses;
· a curriculum which fosters the development of students as independent learners;
· the opportunity for students to broaden their experience through elective studies;
· courses which include current discipline related cutting-edge research and introduce students to research methodology;
· opportunities for students to integrate theoretical learning with its application in the work place (Work Integrated Learning) and to engage with career planning;
·
appropriate ways of acknowledging and including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and studies;
·
a curriculum which prepares graduates to participate effectively in the global context.
In
accrediting a bachelors degree, the Academic Committee, on the recommendation of the Programs Committee and the relevant Faculty Board, establishes the award and the requirements that need to be attained for the conferral of the award. Each bachelors degree has a set of requirements specific to it, within the following general framework.
To be eligible for the award of the Bachelors degree, the student will have successfully completed 240 credit points (CP) in the case of a three year degree, or 320CP
in the case of a four year degree, including:
| - | all courses specified as being mandatory for the award |
|
- | where applicable, one or more academic plans, selected from the set of academic plans approved for inclusion in the degree structure, with the number of academic plans to be completed specified; |
| - | where applicable, the specified number of credit points to be taken as listed and/or free choice electives; |
| - | where applicable, other requirements,
such as field experience, employment experience; |
| - | no more than 100 CPs at first year level for a three year program or 120 CPs at first year level for a four year single degree program; and |
| - |
at least 60 CPs at final year level. |
Transition Arrangements: The revised credit point limits for first year courses and final year courses will be phased in from 2006. Where existing Bachelors degree requirements do not conform to this policy, the existing requirements will continue to apply to students until the degree is reviewed and revised, at which time, the degree requirements shall be brought into agreement with this policy. When the degree requirements
are changed, transition arrangements for currently enrolled students are put in place so that current students are not disadvantaged.
3.2 English Language
Enhancement Course
An outcome of a Griffith bachelors degree is that its
graduates acquire a level of competency in English language skills in writing, reading, speaking and listening. As a result, an English Language Enhancement (ELE) course is a mandatory requirement for all bachelors degree programs that enrol international students in first and second year unless the program restricts entry to students who are not required to complete the ELE course as specified in Schedule 1: Requirement to Complete the English Language Enhancement Course. ELE
course requirements are stipulated in the Program Catalogue entry for the specific program.
For those students required to
complete the ELE course, it is to be undertaken normally within the student's first year of enrolment in the bachelors degree. Where the program is required to include an ELE course, the program structure must enable the ELE course to be taken in any semester into which international students are first admitted. Program structures are to include the ELE course in a manner that enables students to complete the ELE course within the
standard annual academic load for the program. Schedule 1: Requirement to Complete the English Language Enhancement Course specifies which students are required to complete the ELE course.
Domestic students for whom English is not their first language, may enrol in the ELE course as one of their free choice electives if given approval by the Head of School or nominee. Domestic students who are native speakers of English are not permitted to enrol in the ELE course.
For programs with a prescribed academic plan
Where the degree structure includes a prescribed academic plan, the prescribed plan must include at least 60 CP of courses at second year level or higher which comprise a sequence of courses which develop a coherent academic theme culminating in advanced level courses. At least 20 CP of courses in the prescribed plan must be at final year level.
In addition to the prescribed academic plan, the program may include other academic plans from which the student may select in order to complete the degree requirements.
For programs which offer a choice of academic plans and do not include a prescribed academic plan
· The academic plans will have one or more designated type. The preferred plan type for bachelors degrees is the major; however other plan types may be used, alone or in combination.
· A major must include at least 60 CP of courses at second year level or higher which comprise a sequence of courses which develop a coherent academic theme culminating in advanced level courses. At least 20 CP of courses in the major must be at final year level. First year level courses may be designated as foundation courses for a major, but they are not included in the requirements for the major.
· The majority of courses in a major will be unique to that major and not shared with other majors. (This condition is consistent with the requirement for a coherent sequence of courses)
· Where a plan type other than major is used, at least some of the plans must satisfy the conditions prescribed for a major, and students must be required to complete at least one academic plan of at least 60 CP.
A bachelors degree may include academic plans which are less than 60 CP.
The degree requirements may permit or require students to undertake more than one academic plan.
Students may choose to complete an academic plan in addition to the degree requirements and in doing so may undertake courses in excess of the degree requirements. Students are permitted to undertake up to 80 CP in excess of the minimum credit points required for the degree. (see Structure and Requirements of Degrees Awarded by Griffith University).
Electives are either:
| - | listed electives - a set of courses specified in the requirements of a program or an academic plan from which students are required to choose a specified number to fulfil the requirements of the program or plan; or |
| - | free choice electives – students are
permitted to select a number of courses which are not specified in the program or plan requirements in order to fulfil the requirements of the program or plan. |
A single bachelors degree will normally provide for at least 30 CP of free choice electives. To include the English Language Enhancement (ELE) course into the degree structure and requirements, 10CP of free choice electives may be replaced.
Any other exceptions to this requirement require the approval of the Programs Committee.
Where the program requirements permit a student to undertake free choice elective
courses, the student may select any course from within the University, provided that:
|
· | the course is an undergraduate course; and |
| · |
the program requirements concerning the maximum number of credit points at particular year levels are complied with; and |
| · | pre-requisite and co-requisite conditions are satisfied; and |
| · | the course is not a restricted
course; or |
| · | in the case of a restricted course, the student meets the conditions specified in the restrictions, or is given approval by the Head of School or nominee to undertake the course. |
3.5 Award Nomenclature and Award Academic Plans
The precise wording of the award to be conferred on completion of the bachelors degree program requirements, and its post-nominal abbreviation, is approved by Academic Committee as part of the program approval process. For certain programs, approval may be given for the testamur for the award to include additional words to indicate the academic plan (such as the major or stream) which a student has enrolled in and completed (see Awards, Nomenclature and Abbreviations Policy). In these cases, a set of academic plans within each program is designated as Award Academic Plans. Each award academic plan is linked to particular wording on the award testamur. The particular testamur that the student receives is determined by the award academic plan in which the student has completed.
Where the program structure permits a student to complete the requirements of two award academic plans the wording on the award testamur shall reflect both award academic plans.
In approving award academic plans and multiple testamurs for the program, Academic Committee, on the advice of Programs Committee, must be satisfied that specific wording on the testamur is justified in terms of the proportion of the student's program which supports the specific wording.
A combined bachelors degree has the following characteristics:
| · | the requirements of each degree must be effectively satisfied within the structure of the combined degree; |
| · | the courses to be undertaken within any full-time year of a combined degree may exceed 80CPs but will not exceed 100CPs; |
| · |
two awards are conferred on the successful completion of a combined degree; |
| · | under certain circumstances, a student may be permitted to transfer from the combined degree program to one of the component degree programs. |
5.0 Award of Bachelors Degree with Honours
This section refers to the award of Honours in Bachelors degree programs which are four or more years in length (embedded Honours). Refer to Bachelors Honours Degree Policy for honours programs which are an additional year of full-time study following the completion of a three year bachelor program.
5.1 Structure of the Honours Program
The award of Honours in a four year program is based on meritorious performance across the whole program or a defined sub-set of the program. Students eligible for the award of Honours may undertake the standard program or may be required to undertake a differentiated program in the final year/s of the program. Where a differentiated program is required for Honours, the credit points required in the differentiated program should normally be the same as the credit points for
the standard (non-Honours) program.
There is no requirement for a minimum amount of research project work to be included in the program for the award of
Honours. However, the amount of research work may affect the eligibility of graduates for admission to higher degree programs.
Where the award of Honours is based on a differentiated program, the criterion for selection for the Honours stream shall be determined by the Faculty Board and shall be based on an average level of performance of at least "credit" in a specified set of courses taken in the program up to the point of entry to the Honours stream.
Where the calculation of the Honours classification is based on a research activity weighted at 30CP or more, the organisation, supervision and assessment of the dissertation shall be subject to the same provisions which apply to Honours programs involving an additional year of study (refer to Bachelor
Honours Degree Policy).
Normally the classes of Honours degrees awarded will be Class I, Class IIA and Class IIB. Students who undertake the Honours stream in a differentiated Honours program but who do not achieve the standard necessary to be awarded Class IIB will be awarded the degree without Honours. In specific cases, Academic Committee may approve the award of unclassified Honours where this is the norm in the
profession.
The detailed prescription of the formula used to determine the class of Honours will be proposed by the relevant
Faculty Board, approved by the Academic Committee on the recommendation of the Programs Committee and conveyed to students.
The class of Honours to be awarded to each candidate will be
determined by the Faculty Assessment Board on the recommendation of the relevant Program Convenor.
Students may appeal against their honours classification in accordance with the Policy on Student Grievances and Appeals.
The Faculty Assessment Board is responsible for assessing candidates for the award of the University Medal, under the terms of the University Medal policy, and recommending candidates for the award of the University Medal to the Academic Committee.
Under the Credit Transfer Policy credit may be granted towards the requirements of a bachelors degree on the basis of prior study. The Credit Transfer Policy describes the
types of credit and limitations on credit. The credit transfer provisions specifically for bachelors degrees are as follows.
For Bachelors degrees where the program is three or more years of full-time study or equivalent, the maximum amount of credit which may be granted is two-thirds of the program. For bachelors degrees where the program is less than three years of full-time study or equivalent, the maximum amount of credit which may be granted is one-half of the program.
6.2 Minimum Requirements for the Award of the Degree
Notwithstanding the amount of credit which may be given towards a bachelors degree as set out in 6.1 above, the student undertaking a three year degree is required to complete a minimum of 80 credit points of second and third year courses which are part of the degree requirements* and which have not been credited towards another award. In the case of a four year degree, the requirement is 110 credit points at second, third and fourth year level. For bachelors degrees
of other lengths, the application of this rule relates to the minimum portion of the program for which credit may not be granted according to 6.1 above and requires that these courses must be non-first year courses which are part of the degree requirements* and which have not been credited towards another award.
* The degree requirements of the Griffith degree which the student is undertaking.
6.3 Advanced Standing, Articulation Pathways and Structured Upgrading
The Credit Transfer Policy prescribes the conditions under which provisions for advanced standing, articulation pathways and structured upgrading may be approved in bachelors degrees.
6.4 Guidelines for credit on transfer in bachelors degrees are as follows:
Where the bachelors degree provides for electives, unspecified credit may be granted on the basis of prior study at Diploma level or higher. Table 1 sets out the maximum amount of unspecified credit which may be granted on the basis of study at the level indicated, provided that the bachelors degree has sufficient free choice electives to accommodate the credit. In this case, the prior study may be in an area unrelated to the area of the bachelors degree.
Where the prior study is relevant to the bachelors degree, specified credit can be granted for particular course(s) in the bachelors degree on the grounds that the student has substantially completed the content of the course. Table 1 sets out the standard amount of
credit (specified and unspecified combined) which is granted in this case.
The maximum amount of credit (specified and unspecified combined) set out in Table 1 is only granted where the prior study is considered to have such a high
degree of overlap to the content of the bachelor degree, that program structure requirements can be met by the completion of the minimum amount of further study.
Regardless of the amount of credit indicated in Table 1, the conditions of section 6.2 must be satisfied.
The amount of credit awarded may not be greater than the amount of study
successfully completed at the same or lower level (expressed as Griffith equivalent credit points) on which the award of credit is based.
Table 1: Guidelines for Amount of Credit
| Level of Prior Study | Maximum CP of Unspecified Credit | Standard CP of credit (specified and unspecified combined) e | Maximum CP of credit (specified and unspecified combined) |
| Associate Diploma (obsolete RATE qualification) | 40 |
80 | 120 |
| AQF Diploma | 40 | 80 | 120 |
| AQF Advanced Diploma | 60 |
120 | 160 |
| Associate Degree | 80 | 120 | 160 |
| Bachelors degree | 80 | 160 | 160 or as in 6.2 |
| Graduate Certificate | 40 | 40 | 40 |
No credit will be awarded for studies completed at Certificate I and II levels.
Credit for studies completed at Certificate III and IV level may be granted where the assessed learning outcomes are judged to be equally acceptable within the structure of the University award.
Where Certificate III and IV studies have been
completed as part of a Diploma program, credit will be awarded on the basis of partial completion of Diploma studies.
Courses undertaken in programs within the University which may formally articulate with the bachelors degree may be counted towards satisfying the requirements of the degree. These arrangements are not limited by the restrictions on the amount of credit which may be granted as set out above.
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