• Code SCNC2022
  • Unit Value 6 to 12 units
  • Offered by ANU College of Science
  • ANU College ANU Joint Colleges of Science
  • Course subject Faculty of Science
  • Areas of interest Science
  • Academic career UGRD
  • Course convener
    • Dr Andrew Mathieson
  • Mode of delivery In Person
  • Offered in Autumn Session 2023
    See Future Offerings

This course can be scheduled upon request by schools in the College of Science or College of Health & Medicine. Contact: science.curriculum@anu.edu.au

This course allows students to pursue a special topic of individual or small-group study in order to gain particular or additional knowledge in a science topic, usually not covered in courses taught elsewhere in the University. Depending on the topic, students may be required to develop and implement a research plan under the supervision of an academic member of staff; to pursue a guided reading program; to develop and implement a project with external stakeholders and/or practitioners under the supervision of an academic member of staff; and/or to take part in selected lectures, workshops, tutorials, seminars, discussion groups, field trips and other activities.


The details of the topic will be negotiated between the student and the supervisor/s and be approved by the relevant Associate Director (Education). 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Under supervision, pursue a sustained, guided critical investigation and evaluation of the agreed topic/s.
  2. Systematically identify relevant theory and concepts and draw evidence-based conclusions using appropriate methodology, tools and/or analysis of data.
  3. Explain the fundamental concepts of the special topic in the relevant scientific discipline/s.
  4. Demonstrate use of specific techniques relevant to the scientific discipline/s.
  5. Demonstrate capacity for scientific reasoning through analysing and explaining concepts from the scientific discpline/s.

Other Information

Students must fill out a Special Topic Supplementary Form as well as an Enrolment Change form and seek approval from the Associate Director of Science Education of the relevant discipline. Once the forms have been filled and signed they must be submitted to the Science Central Office on the Ground Floor of the Peter Baume Building #42.

Indicative Assessment

  1. Assessments and their weighting will vary depending on the nature of the topic but will minimally have two components: (0) [LO null]
  2. Formative task/s (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
  3. Final assessment/s (70) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours which will include regular meetings with the supervisor and a large component of self-study which will include preparation for any presentations and other assessment tasks.


Assessment tasks will vary depending on the project and supervisor. To be arranged with course convener.

Inherent Requirements

To be determined

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have completed a minimum of 24 units of courses offered by the College of Science or the College of Health and Medicine, or with permission of the course convener.

You will need to contact the ANU College of Science to request a permission code to enrol in this course.

Prescribed Texts

None

Assumed Knowledge

Assumed knowledge will vary depending on the nature of the special topic.

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees

Student Contribution Band:
2
Unit value:
6 to 12 units

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
7.00 0.14583
8.00 0.16667
9.00 0.18750
10.00 0.20833
11.00 0.22917
12.00 0.25000
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2023 $720 per unit
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2023 $1030 per unit
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Autumn Session

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
3588 19 Jun 2023 19 Jun 2023 30 Jun 2023 22 Jul 2023 In Person View
3591 05 Jun 2023 16 Jun 2023 16 Jun 2023 30 Jun 2023 In Person N/A

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions