James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

ADMISSION
AND
ENROLMENT
PROCEDURES,
ADMISSION RULES,
PLANNING A
DEGREE COURSE
AND
ENROLMENT

ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT

Rules

Persons who wish to enrol for Bachelor degrees and Diploma courses must satisfy the Admission Rules (see page 19) and/or the enrolment requirements specified in the course rules.

Admission

Applications for admission and enquiries from persons wishing to enrol in courses shown under (a)-(d) below:

1. Certificate courses;
2. Diploma of Indigenous Studies which is normally available only to students of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
3. graduate courses (coursework); and
4. all higher degree courses (coursework),

Applications for admission from persons who wish to enrol for any other course and who have never previously enrolled at the University are processed by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC), PO Box 1331, Milton, QLD 4064, telephone (07) 3368 1166. Application forms and full details of procedures can be obtained from the Managing Director of QTAC at that address. A telephone registration application service is available for Queensland Year 12 students attending secondary school. Applications may also be lodged electronically by way of the World Wide Web www.qtac.edu.au For all other students a Tertiary Study Application Form can be obtained from Queensland tertiary institutions.

The James Cook University Student Administration offices are located as follows:

Townsville

Ground floor of the Humanities II Building, Douglas Campus.

Cairns

Ground floor of Building A1.

Enrolment

Applicants who receive from QTAC, offers of admission to the University will receive with the letter of offer, a ‘Response to Offer’ form. An Application for Enrolment form and associated information will be sent direct from the University.

Prerequisites

Senior English (or its equivalent) is a general prerequisite for entry to all under­graduate courses. In addition, some courses have other prerequisites. Full details are given in the Admission Rules, Schedule II (pp. 20-23).

Enrolment in a Bachelor Honours Course

Graduates (or students eligible to graduate at the end of 2002) from other tertiary institutions who wish to enrol for an honours course should write to the Manager, Student Administration and request the form Application for Admission to Honours – External Applicants.

Re-enrolment

1. Continuing students
   Students enrolled at the University in 2002 who wish to re-enrol in 2003 should submit the appropriate form to the Manager, Student Administration not later than 8 November 2002.
   Note: The University offers a pre-enrolment process, whereby continuing students complete re-enrolment procedures for the following year, prior to sitting end-of-year examinations.
2. Returning students
   Students previously enrolled at the University but not enrolled in 2002, who wish to return to the University in 2003 should obtain the appropriate forms from the Manager, Student Administration and submit them by the due date.

Credit for Other Studies

Students may in certain circumstances be given credit towards awards of this University for studies successfully undertaken in other tertiary institutions. Students should refer to the faculty policy statement on credit transfer included in specific Faculty Handbooks.

Any candidate for an award of this University who wishes to be considered for the granting of credit towards an award for subjects already successfully completed at another institution must apply in writing to the appropriate faculty office, enclosing a full official transcript from the institution concerned. No credit towards an award of this University can be considered to have been approved unless it has been formally granted by the Executive Dean of the relevant faculty.

Variation or Cancellation of Enrolment

Students who wish to vary their enrolment in any way or to cancel totally must complete the appropriate form, obtainable from the Faculty Student Offices. Following the normal enrolment verification process, subsequent variations to enrolment are not accepted until the second week of each semester. A list of dates by which enrolments may be varied or cancelled without penalty of failure is printed in the Important Dates section inside the front cover of this publication. The appropriate date for cancellation or variation without academic penalty from a block mode course is the day prior to completion of 50 percent of the course.

Students who withdraw from subjects or cancel their enrolments after the appropriate date will normally be regarded as having failed unless at the time of withdrawal or cancellation they provide a statement which satisfies the appropriate officer of the faculty that failure should not be recorded.

Students should be careful not to confuse the dates for withdrawal from a subject on academic grounds and withdrawal to avoid financial liability under the Commonwealth Government’s Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) or tuition fees. To avoid liability for HECS or tuition fees, withdrawal from first semester subjects must take place by 31 March and withdrawal from second semester subjects by 29 August.

After Hours Studies

Degree studies may be undertaken on a part-time basis by attending lectures offered in the late afternoon, generally after 3.30pm. Not all subjects are so offered each year. A program of subject alternation from year to year permits a substantial number of subjects to be made available to part-time students over the period which such students will normally take to complete the requirements for their Awards. Reference should be made to the lecture timetables for 2003 for information regarding the subjects that have been timetabled for 3.30pm and later.

Cross-institutional Enrolment

1. Cross-institutional students under­­taking subjects at James Cook University for credit towards an award of another university
   Students are required to satisfy the following criteria:
   1. evidence must be provided by the home institution that James Cook University subjects will be accepted for credit towards the student’s award;
   2. an application for cross-institutional enrolment (obtained from Student Administration) and a certified copy of academic record from the other university must be submitted to James Cook University by 10 February 2003 for first semester and 14 July 2003 for second semester.
2. Students enrolling for subjects at other universities for credit towards an award of James Cook University
   Students are required to satisfy the following criteria:
   1. at least the first 50 percent of the award must have been completed at James Cook University;
   2. prior approval must be obtained from the appropriate Head of School and appropriate Faculty Officer at James Cook University;
   3. approval must be obtained from the appropriate officer/Executive Dean at the host university and, where required, by that university’s Registrar.
   
   Those seeking to enrol in 2003 should contact the host university to enquire about its admission requirements.

FLEXIBLE DELIVERY STUDIES

Flexible delivery learning at James Cook University offers students off-campus access to some higher education courses through a combination of self-instructional materials and, in some cases, on-campus workshops.

Lecturer/student interaction is a major feature of the courses. Students receive self-instructional material regarding the subject and details of the work to be covered during the semester. Selected readings from books and journals, in either electronic or print form, may also be issued.

The following courses are available via flexible or external delivery:

Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences

Postgraduate programs:

Master of Cultural Heritage Studies
Master of Education
Master of Social Policy
Master of Social Science
Master of Social Work
Graduate Certificate of Social Science
Postgraduate Certificate of Education
Postgraduate Certificate of Social Science
Graduate Diploma of Social Science
Postgraduate Diploma of Social Science
Postgraduate Diploma of Social Welfare

Undergraduate programs:

Bachelor of Community Welfare
Bachelor of Education (Professional Development)
Bachelor of Education (RATEP)

School of Medicine

Postgraduate programs:

Rural and Remote Medicine

School of Nursing Sciences

Postgraduate Certificates in:

Advanced Clinical Practice, Cardiac Nursing, Care of the Aged, Clinical Teaching, Intensive Care, Perioperative Care

Postgraduate Diploma in:

Midwifery

Masters in:

Advanced Nursing Practice; Nursing Studies

Undergraduate program:

Bachelor of Nursing Science (Qld residents only)

School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Postgraduate programs

Infection Control; Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Neonatology; Rural and Remote Health; Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Travel Medicine

Centre for Women’s Studies

Postgraduate studies:

Postgraduate Certificate of Women’s Studies
Postgraduate Diploma of Women’s Studies
Master of Women’s Studies
Graduate Diploma of Women’s Studies

Undergraduate studies:

Advanced Diploma of Women’s Studies

Partial studies are also available in a number of other courses. Students should check the section of this Handbook where subjects are described in full to determine what is available.

To assist students in the Mackay area, a study centre has been established. Within Queensland, Learning Network Qld has been established to help develop and expand access to higher education for all individuals. Refer to your local telephone directory to see if there is one in your area.

An off-campus library service is available. A range of services is provided including book loans, a photocopy service, literature searches and inter-library loans. The library’s catalogue may also be accessed electronically by external users. A printed guide is available to assist off-campus students in the use of library facilities and services.

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

Application Procedure

Before making formal application for a postgraduate course, an intending applicant is advised to consult initially with the Head of the relevant School so that a proposed program of advanced study and research can be formulated.

The prescribed application form, available from Student Administration, duly completed along with original or certified copies of academic transcripts, should be submitted to Student Administration.

ADMISSION RULES

1.  Types of Admission

Admission of a person to the University shall be by:

1. Ordinary Admission
   or
2. Alternative Entry
   or
3. Miscellaneous Admission.

2.  Ordinary Admission

To gain Ordinary Admission, a person who wishes to enrol for a course listed in Schedule I shall:

2.1  if the final year of that person’s secondary education has been undertaken in Queensland: either

1. have been allotted by the Queensland Studies Authority, an OP (Overall Position) of at least the level indicated against the name of the course in Schedule I;
   or
2. have obtained in not more than two years of study for the Queensland Senior Certificate;
   either
   1. at least 88 semester points in 20 semester units in Senior subjects
      or
   2. an exit assessment of at least Sound Achievement in five Senior subjects provided that at least three of these subjects have been studied over four semesters
   
   (such subjects being those approved by the Queensland Studies Authority and listed in Schedule III),
   together with
   a Tertiary Rank or Overall Position (OP) considered acceptable by the Executive Dean of the relevant faculty;
   and
3. have obtained results in prerequisite Senior subjects at the level indicated in Schedule II;
   in addition

   (d)  

   1. a person who wishes to enrol for the Bachelor of Community Welfare course may be required to demonstrate, at interview, suitability for welfare work;
   2. a person who wishes to enrol for the Bachelor of Music, or for the Bachelor of Theatre course shall be required to demonstrate, at interview and/or audition, suitability for the course;
   3. a person who wishes to enrol for the Bachelor of Nursing Science course shall provide an appropriate statement of health;
   4. a person who wishes to enrol for the Bachelor of Communication Design, Bachelor of Photography or Bachelor of Visual Arts course shall be required to demonstrate at interview suitability for the course and provide a portfolio of relevant work;
   5. a person who wishes to enrol for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery course shall be required to demonstrate at interview suitability for the course.
   
   


2.2  if the final year of that person’s secondary education has been undertaken elsewhere than in Queensland:

have obtained qualifications deemed by the Registrar to be equivalent to those prescribed in Rule 2.1;



2.3  if that person does not satisfy the provisions of either Rule 2.1 or Rule 2.2:

satisfy the Executive Dean^* of the appropriate faculty that the standard of education attained by such person is sufficient to allow pursuit of the proposed course.

3.  Alternative Entry

A person who does not qualify for Ordinary Admission may gain admission through Alternative Entry if the Executive Dean of the appropriate faculty is satisfied that such person has reasonable prospects of success in the course for which that person wishes to enrol.

4.  Miscellaneous Admission

Miscellaneous admission may be available to those who wish to enrol for a particular subject or subjects but not for any course.

The following will apply:

1. enrolment in a subject must be acceptable to both the Head of the School which offers the subject and the Executive Dean of the appropriate faculty;
2. enrolment will normally be permitted to a maximum of 25 percent of a full load per year.

5.  Successful completion of a subject or subjects by a person who has gained Miscellaneous Admission does not of itself entitle that person to Ordinary Admission or admission through Alternative Entry.

6.  Quotas

Notwithstanding the preceding Rules, the Vice-Chancellor, having regard to the physical and other resources of the University, may, from time to time, determine, on the recommendation of the Academic Board, a quota for the number of qualified persons to enrol, in a particular academic year, for a particular course/subject.

Schedule I

Schedule II

Schedule III

PLANNING A DEGREE COURSE AND ENROLMENT

University Study

This is an introductory description for general guidance — it is most important that students also read the Requirements for Undergraduate Coursework Awards, Faculty Award Requirements and specific Degree and Diploma Award Requirements to ensure familiarity with the conditions of the degree regulations.

Degree Structure

The University’s policy on the structure of its academic awards is detailed in this Handbook.

The minimum duration of each level of award offered at the University is shown below.

Units system

The structure of the University’s awards is based on a system of units. A full year of study normally requires a student to complete subjects to the value of 24 units. Most subjects at the undergraduate level have values of three or four units, though some have higher values. The guideline adopted by the University in determining the number of units represented by each subject is that the usual full-time student load in a semester is 12 units; thus, a three unit subject should be planned to require approximately a quarter of a student’s available time and effort in a semester and a four unit subject should be planned to require approximately one third of a student’s available time and effort in a semester.

Courses and Majors

In selecting subjects students are assisted by the identification within courses of major areas of study (see description of course and major in Definitions page 11).

Full-time and part-time study

Full-time study

A full-time student normally enrols for 12 units in each semester and 24 units in each academic year. It is important to note that a student must be enrolled in at least nine units in a semester to be regarded as full-time; those whose enrolment drops below nine units at any stage in the semester normally will no longer be eligible for Austudy or, if an overseas student, for a student visa.

Part-time study

A part-time student normally enrols for fewer than nine units in a semester and fewer than 18 units in an academic year. Part-time study in most courses is available, but classes during the evening can be offered in only a limited number of subjects. Students who foresee difficulty in attending classes during the day should therefore take note of published lecture times in planning their enrolment.

A part-time student is normally permitted to enrol in a workload that suits the student’s requirements provided that any specifications within degree requirements concerning minimum enrolment and/or maximum period of candidature are complied with.

FINALISING ENROLMENT

New Students

New students must take the following steps to secure their offer of a place in a course at the University:

• accept the offer through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre by the date shown on the Response to Offer form;

• complete and submit to the University, by the due date, the application for enrolment form and the HECS Payment Options Declaration form;

• pay the Student Association Service Fee;

• attend an enrolment verification session as detailed in the Enrolment Guide and Orientation Week Guide which are included in the enrolment package.

The application for enrolment form must be submitted by the due date. Late submission will result in a $30 late fee.

Those who wish to defer their studies must complete the “QTAC Response to Offer” form indicating that deferment is required.

Note: Deferment is permitted for up to one year after the offer of a place in a course and by making appropriate application to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre. Some courses require that an applicant must have obtained in the year deferment is sought an overall position or rank as specified in the admission rules displayed in student handbooks.

Deferment is not available to “alternative entry” students who do not meet the minimum required OP or rank as printed in the Student Handbook.

Continuing Students

Continuing students must take the following steps to finalise their enrolment:

• submit the application for enrolment form to the University by 8 November 2002;
• pay the Association Services or equivalent Building Development Fund Fee;
• attend an enrolment verification session if so advised in their confirmation letter.

The application for enrolment form must be submitted by the due date; late submission will result in the following late fee:

• from immediately after the due date to 12 January 2003 – $30
• after 12 January 2003 – $50.

COMPLETION OF THE APPLICATION FOR ENROLMENT FORM

The application for enrolment form contains guidelines on how to complete each section. There are some sections that require further clarification. These are as follows:

Course of Study

Each course of study offered at the University has a special computer code which must be shown on the form. Select the appropriate code for your course, as shown in the Enrolment Guide, and insert it where indicated.

Subject selection

The subjects which are offered at the University are listed in the Master Schedule of Subjects which is included later in this Handbook. The letters in the subject code indicate the discipline in which the subject is located, eg AN1001 is an Anthropology subject. The first number in the code indicates the level at which the subject is taught; in this case AN1001 is a level 1 subject. The remaining digits in the subject code relate to the specific requirements of each school.

Majors and courses of study have been identified within degrees and include suggested combinations of subjects organised to provide a cohesive program of study. Students completing one or more majors should follow the sequence of subjects as indicated in the handbook immediately after the Award Requirements. Students undertaking study within generalist degrees such as the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science may undertake an appropriately planned course of study in lieu of a prescribed major. Subjects for the current year of enrolment should be selected and shown in the appropriate place on the enrolment application form. Note that there are separate boxes for semester 1, semester 2 and full-year subjects. If subjects cannot be finalised until after discussion with an academic adviser, insert as many subjects as possible. The application for enrolment form should be submitted by the due date whether or not subjects have been selected. Subjects can be added to or changed during the enrolment verification process.

James Cook University Student Association

Townsville

The enquiry counter is located on the ground floor of the Student Association Building, telephone (07) 4781 4400, internal extension numbers 4478/4400 or Freecall 1800 330  021.

The address for all correspondence is:

Cairns

The Student Association offices are located next to the Refectory on the ground floor of Building 2, Smithfield Campus, telephone (07) 4042 1160 or internal 1160, facsimile (07) 4042 1161 or internal 1161.

The address for all correspondence is:

Student Association Services Fee – Cairns and Townsville – 2003

Student may not enrol at the University unless they:

1. become and continue to be a member of the James Cook University Student Association by payment of the appropriate fee; or
2. seek exemption from such fee through a bona fide conscientious or religious objection. In such a case, the student must make a payment equivalent to the prescribed Association Services Fee to the “Building Development Fund”.

The 2003 James Cook University Student Association Services Fees are as follows:

For CONTINUING students enrolling in full year or Semester 1 studies, payment must be made by Friday, 7 February 2003.

For NEW students enrolling in full year or Semester 1 studies, payment must be made by Friday, 14 February 2003.

For CONTINUING students enrolling in Semester 2 only, payment must be made by no later than Friday, 11 July 2003.

For NEW students enrolling in Semester 2 only, payment must be made by no later than Friday, 18 July 2003.

Students may apply to the Student Association for a refund of their Student Association Services Fee if they formally cancel or vary their enrolment from full-time to part-time or full year to single semester by the dates shown:

31 March 2003 (Semester 1 HECS Census date):

• full refund if withdrawing from full-year subject(s).
• full refund if withdrawing from Semester 1 subject(s).

31 August 2003 (Semester 2 HECS Census date):

• full refund if withdrawing from Semester 2 subject(s).

Submitting the application FOR ENROLMENT form

Use the following check list to ensure that you have completed all of the requirements before forwarding your application for enrolment form to the University.

Applications for enrolment must be complete and be accompanied by the necessary documentation and evidence of payments. (Note: please ensure you sign the enrolment application form.)

Please ensure that you have completed all sections/boxes on the application form and that you enclose:

• HECS payment options declaration form;
• Documentary evidence of qualifications, if required;
• Statistics form;
• Evidence of payment of Student Association Service Fee;
• Evidence of payment of late fees, if lodging after the due date.

Processing of applications that do not comply with these conditions may be delayed.

Townsville

The enrolment application form may be submitted personally to:

or if submitted by mail should be posted to:

Cairns

The enrolment application form may be submitted personally to:

or if submitted by mail should be posted to:

ENROLMENT VERIFICATION

All new students except those undertaking an Award offered on a flexible delivery basis must attend the enrolment verification process. Enrolment verification includes:

• meeting with an enrolment adviser to discuss subject selection;
• meeting with the Academic Adviser to have the enrolment approved;
• having a student identity card prepared.

It is important to note that a person is not formally enrolled for the academic year until the above procedures have been finalised.

Continuing students may be required to attend the enrolment verification process, on advice from the faculty.

Further details about the enrolment verification process including dates and times of sessions are included in the enrolment package.