Overview
This unit is designed to help you, as a university student studying psychology, to build a set of evidence-based strategies to prepare you for your academic and professional life. You will receive practical instruction on how to effectively study at university; develop your written and oral communication skills; work effectively in groups; navigate the scientific literature; and apply American Psychological Association (APA) referencing conventions. Your communication, teamwork and research skills will be utilised in the design and preparation of a group presentation. You will also be introduced to career pathways in psychology-related disciplines, and given insight into the personal skills, capabilities and knowledge relevant to a career in psychology. The creation of a career portfolio will help you identify and market the transferable knowledge and skills that you will acquire throughout your degree.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for 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 3 - 2026
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).
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 Student feedback during lectures; staff observation.
Ongoing student uncertainty around how to use generative AI appropriately and ethically in assessments.
Continue to reinforce the message that AI should serve as a support tool, not a replacement for student thinking, and clarify this distinction early in the term. Ensure appropriate AI use is discussed in relation to academic integrity expectations, and include more practical, task-specific examples linked to assessments.
Feedback from Student feedback via emails and SUTE comments; staff observation of group assignment issues.
Some student groups experience difficulty with collaboration, including unequal contributions and disengaged group members.
Continue current proactive strategies: forming slightly larger groups to account for potential dropouts, early-term and consistent group check-ins by teaching staff, monitoring engagement, notifying groups when members drop out, and contacting non-engaged students. Maintain the groupwork-focused lectures and recommended use of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support time management, shared expectations, and conflict resolution.
Feedback from Staff reflection.
Other portfolio formats are required after Portfolium was discontinued as a university supported platform.
Consider adopting a LinkedIn profile as an alternative or complementary option to the Word-based portfolio, to enhance authenticity and provide students with a real-world professional presence.