CQUniversity Unit Profile

RSCH20003 - Graduate Certificate in Research

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In Progress

Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.

All details in this unit profile for RSCH20003 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.

General Information

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Research (GCR) is aimed at professionals interested in developing research capabilities for their career or those seeking a pathway to pursue entry into a research higher degree. This course will provide you the opportunity to build fundamental research and critical inquiry skills. You will learn to analyse and synthesise research literature, develop well-justified research questions, and design appropriate research strategies to address those using relevant technologies, where applicable. In addition, you will develop skills in research dissemination in written, verbal, and technology-enabled contexts, learning to effectively convey complex ideas to both expert and non-expert audiences. The course emphasises professional and ethical research practices, encouraging collaborative work and reflective learning. While centered on a specific research interest, the course builds transferable research skills rather than focusing on a single methodology or project. This approach ensures you develop broad research capabilities applicable across academic, industry, and community contexts. Please note, the GCR is available for domestic and international enrolments. Domestic students may complete the course part-time or full-time; international students must enrol in full-time study. Students enrolling in the GCR with plans to progress to a research higher degree program must complete the GCR with a minimum GPA of 6 (D).

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate

Unit Level: Level 8

Credit Points: 24

Student Contribution Band: 7

Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.5

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 2 - 2025

Adelaide

Brisbane

Bundaberg

Cairns

Gladstone

Mackay

Melbourne

Online

Rockhampton

Sydney

Townsville

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).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 24-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 50 hours of study per week, making a total of 600 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

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.

CQUniversity Policies

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 5-year review

Feedback

That the GCR aim to increase authentic assessment in the course.

Recommendation

It is recommended the teaching team continue to focus on increasing authenticity in the development of new materials.

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Describe the fundamental components of the research process and critique the interrelationships between them.
Critically analyse and synthesise relevant theory, frameworks, and literature to develop and justify a research question.
Compare and evaluate research methodology, design, and methods to conceptualise and justify a research strategy to answer a specific research question.
Design an effective project management plan that integrates all components of the research process.
Assess the significance and application of research outcomes to academic, industry, and community contexts.
Adapt written and oral communication to translate complex ideas and arguments to expert and non-expert audiences.
Critically reflect on performance and growth, and the need to work ethically, professionally, and collaboratively.

Not applicable.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes

N/A Level

Introductory Level

Intermediate Level

Graduate Level

Professional Level

Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1 - Portfolio - 10%
2 - Written Assessment - 10%
3 - Written Assessment - 15%
4 - Written Assessment - 10%
5 - Presentation - 10%
6 - Portfolio - 20%
7 - Research Assignment - 25%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - First Nations Knowledges
9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Information for Textbooks is not yet available.

The textbooks have not yet been finalised.