3.3 Coursework units, training activities and practica
3.3 Coursework, training activities and practica
3.3.1 Compulsory requirements
All doctoral students commencing on or after 1 January 2015, including students enrolled in the Monash Doctoral Program (MDP) or in a professional doctoral program, are required to complete the following compulsory activities prior to the Confirmation milestone:
- Monash Graduate Research Induction (online);
- Faculty Induction;
- Research Integrity (online).
In addition, students enrolling in the Monash Doctoral Program (MDP) will undertake one of the following three modes, as determined by their Faculty or particular program:
- Option 1: Graduate Research Professional Development
- Option 2: Coursework
- Option 3: Graduate Research Interdisciplinary Programs (GRIPs)
3.3.1.2 Completion of coursework or training activities
Students must satisfactorily complete all required coursework or training activities as per the MDP or professional doctorate in which they are enrolled, prior to undertaking the Pre Submission Seminar / Final Review.
All coursework and/or training activities must be satisfactorily completed before the thesis can be submitted for examination.
3.3.1.3 Grading scale for coursework and training activities
Graduate research coursework units are assessed and graded according to the Monash University Grading Schema Procedure. In some programs, students must achieve certain grades for coursework units. In these circumstances, a student who does not achieve this grade will be allowed to repeat the unit once. If a student does not achieve this grade in a repeated unit they may be subject to a termination process under the Monash University (Academic Board) Regulations. (For Faculty-specific coursework requirements, students should consult the Program Requirements section of their course as published in the University Handbook.)
The following grading scheme applies to students who commenced a PhD program in either 2013 or 2014 and who were enrolled in research skills training units:
SR | Satisfied Requirements |
NSR | Not Satisfied Requirements |
NYS | Requirements Not Yet Satisfied |
WDN | Withdrawn |
Interim grades
NYS | Requirements Not Yet Satisfied |
DEF | Deferred |
3.3.1.4 Enabling coursework and the MDP
A student may be required to enrol in one or more coursework units in addition to what is required of the MDP where their supervisors and Program Director / Graduate Research Coordinator consider these necessary to enable the student to carry out the proposed program of research.
All such coursework units are referred to as enabling coursework units, in contrast to required coursework units that are an integral part of a number of MDPs.
For doctoral students, no more than 48 credit points of coursework, including both enabling and required coursework, may be undertaken during the doctoral degree unless approval has been granted by the Academic Director, Graduate Research, via application using the Adding or Discontinuing Coursework Units form.
At commencement, students apply to undertake both required and/or enabling coursework units via the Course Enrolment Form which is sent to them as part of their letter of offer
Following commencement, students apply via the Adding or Discontinuing Coursework Units form, which must be endorsed by their main supervisor and approved by the relevant Program Director / Graduate Research Coordinator.
3.3.1.5 Difference between enabling and required coursework: a summary
Enabling coursework | PhD level coursework | |
Purpose | Student is advised by their supervisor/s, or Program Director / Graduate Research Coordinator to meet gaps in knowledge, required for successful completion of research project. Enrolment in enabling coursework may also serve to broaden the context of the research project. Coursework of this type is tailored to suit each student's individual needs and does not form part of the requirements of the MDP. | Such coursework is characterised as PhD level, forming an integral part of some Monash Doctoral Programs and all professional doctorates.
|
Unit levels | Any level | Required coursework is intended to be challenging to a doctoral student. Units from a master's level degree which has a genuine fourth year level entry may also be included. |
Enrolment status | Enrolment in an enabling coursework unit means that the student undertakes the assessment tasks of that unit. Auditing a unit means that the student is not formally enrolled and assessed for the unit. | The student is formally enrolled in, and assessed for, each unit they are required to undertake as part of the MDP or professional doctorate. |
Time by which coursework should be completed | The coursework may be undertaken at any time during enrolment, but before the thesis is submitted for examination. It is preferable that students enrol in the coursework as early as possible following commencement of their course. | Coursework to be undertaken as per the requirements of the specific MDP or professional doctorate in which the student is enrolled. Some coursework units must be completed prior to a particular progress milestone, such as Confirmation. |
Time at which decision is made to enrol in coursework | Normally,
skill gaps will be identified prior to enrolment. However, such issues may arise at a later date, e.g. at the time of Confirmation, and the undertaking of additional units may be negotiated between student, supervisors and Program Director / Graduate Research Coordinator at this time. | Since coursework units are an integral part of some MDPs and all professional doctorates, the student is to be made aware of such requirements prior to commencing their course. |
Relationship to thesis | All
coursework must be satisfactorily completed before the thesis can be submitted
for examination. Examiners will not normally be notified in detail of the nature and extent of the enabling coursework when undertaking the examination. Such coursework does not affect the thesis length. | All
coursework must be satisfactorily completed before the thesis can be submitted
for examination. Examiners will be notified of the nature and extent of the PhD level coursework when undertaking the examination. The thesis, or thesis alternative, is the major component of assessment for the degree. |
Transcript record | All coursework units in which the student has enrolled appear on the student's transcript, unless the student has been approved to discontinue the unit/s early (that is, prior to the census date for the particular unit/s). | All coursework units appear on the student's transcript, unless the student has been approved to discontinue the unit/s early (that is, prior to the census date for the particular unit/s). |
3.3.1.6 Required coursework: professional doctorates
Degree | Coursework components |
EdD | No new students are being admitted into this course. For existing students, the completion of four coursework units as approved by the faculty. Any variation to the prescribed coursework should have the approval of the faculty. The doctoral coursework units represent six months of full-time work or the equivalent in part-time enrolment.A student's progress will be monitored at the end of each semester during the coursework stage. Students may be permitted to repeat a failed unit with the permission of the faculty. The progress of each student will be reported to the Graduate Research Committee prior to enrolment in the thesis. |
DPsych | Specific coursework unit requirements are outlined in the University Handbook. |
No new students are being admitted into this course. For existing students, coursework sessions are conducted over two 12-week semesters in the first year and one 12-week semester in the second year. | |
DBA | No new students are being admitted into this course. Current DBA students should refer to their faculty for advice on coursework. |
SJD | Specific coursework unit requirements are outlined in the University Handbook. |
MEd&DevPsychPhD | Specific coursework unit requirements are outlined in the University Handbook. |
3.3.2 Practica
3.3.2.1 DPsych
Supervised practica will be conducted in a variety of settings. All practica are normally confined to the first three years of the program. By the end of the third year, each student will have completed at least four placements in an in-patient and out-patient setting.
Placements are generally two days per week and last for 4-6 months. Placements will involve patient contact, observation, allied professional activities, supervisory sessions and writing reports and case notes. For more information, students should refer to: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/psych/students/current/hdr-info-guide/placement.html.
3.3.2.2 DPH
The public health practicum is taken in the second semester of the second year of the course.
3.3.2.3 DrPH
Not yet available.
3.3.2.4 MEd&DevPsychPhD
Students should refer to the University Handbook.