Overview
This unit gives you an opportunity to undertake a project of your choice in the Public Relations discipline in which you have already done a substantial amount of study. The project is flexible and is designed by students in consultation with academic and workplace supervisors. It may involve academic research into Public Relations practice or a professional work placement with an approved organisation (minimum 120 hours). Academic and workplace supervisors will work with students to devise assessment tasks that will meet negotiated and specific project learning outcomes.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Students must have completed 48 credit points prior to taking this unit
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection
Having a choice of project types allows students to select a project that is suited to their career path.
Maintain the choice of work placement, media product or research paper so students can choose a project most relevant to their career path.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator reflection
The use of a critical reflection ensures students can critically apply theory to application, and reinforce their learning at the capstone level.
Maintain the inclusion of a critical reflection as part of the assessment.
- Develop objectives and criteria for a Public Relations project proposal
- Demonstrate knowledge and relevant skill of Public Relations practice at a graduate level
- Produce an e-portfolio to a professional standard
- Apply knowledge of Public Relations theory and practice at a graduate level
- Critically reflect on Public Relations practice.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 10% | |||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 10% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.johnson2@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Select work placement, media project or research topic and discuss project with coordinator or academic supervisor.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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Write proposal about the work placement, media project or research topic.
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Vacation Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Independent work on work placement, media project or research topic as discussed with supervisors
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Finalise work placement, media project or research paper
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Events and Submissions/Topic
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Critical Reflection Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (7 June 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
You will choose one of three options: a work placement; creating a media product; or a research paper, all in the public relations or media field. The work placement consists of 120 hours of supervised work and is assessed by a portfolio of evidence. The media product is the development of an artefact consisting of 120 hours of work, and is assessed by submission of the artefact, and a portfolio of evidence of production. The research paper is a 6,000 word dissertation on a negotiated public relations-related topic. Full details of each option are outlined in Assessment 2.
Week 3 Friday (22 Mar 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
To be submitted prior to presentation in Week 4
Vacation Week Friday (12 Apr 2024)
Results will be available following presentation
Projects are assessed on their practicality and feasibility within the Term dates. A recommended format for the proposal is provided on Moodle. It is expected that these elements be included in the submitted document.
Verbal feedback will be provided during the presentation.
- Develop objectives and criteria for a Public Relations project proposal
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
2 Practical and Written Assessment
Students will choose ONE of the following: work placement, media product or research paper:
OPTION 1: WORK PLACEMENT
Portfolio: Every project is different, and the portfolio is evidence of the work you did. Emails, feedback, notes of interviews and meetings, any product you made, could all be submitted as part of this portfolio. Pay attention to the presentation of your portfolio as a professional piece of communication. It must be attractive to look at, professionally presented, and most importantly, be well written.
OPTION 2: MEDIA PRODUCT
This involves producing a media product which demonstrates the application of advanced high-level production skills (e.g. short film, video, radio documentary, book, graphic design product). You will submit the media product and a portfolio of your work as the assessment item.
- Your portfolio needs to be professionally presented and formatted. If possible, have one document that contains your portfolio of work. Your work also needs to be clearly and well written so proofread carefully before you submit.
OPTION 3: RESEARCH PAPER
Review/Exam Week Friday (7 June 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Early submission is permitted.
Exam Week Friday (14 June 2024)
Assessment will be graded within two weeks.
The assessment criteria will depend on whether you have selected a work placement, media product or research paper. Detailed marking rubrics are provided on Moodle.
Specific elements being assessed include:
- Presentation of portfolio
- Quality of evidence
- Writing standard
- Quality of argument (research paper)
- Referencing
- Attention to requirements of the task
- Demonstrate knowledge and relevant skill of Public Relations practice at a graduate level
- Produce an e-portfolio to a professional standard
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
- a series of five short (500 word) reflections about identified issues, incorporating academic references to support elements of learning, OR
- a 2,500 word academic essay that draws on personal lessons or experiences as a case study to answer a specific question, OR
- a written document as negotiated with the Unit Coordinator.
Review/Exam Week Friday (7 June 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Submitted as a word document
Exam Week Friday (14 June 2024)
Marked within two weeks
Excellent English standard writing
- Apply knowledge of Public Relations theory and practice at a graduate level
- Critically reflect on Public Relations practice.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
