Course Title: Professional Practice

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Professional Practice

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

GEOM2116

City Campus

Undergraduate

145H Mathematical & Geospatial Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

GEOM2116

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021

Course Coordinator: Chayn Sun

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99255227

Course Coordinator Email: chayn.sun@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 12.12.16

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

To take full advantage of this course and understand the industry context of the learning in this course, students are expected to have completed at least two years of an undergraduate program in surveying, geospatial science or a related discipline.
 


Course Description

Knowledge and expertise in technical aspects of the surveying and geospatial science disciplines are not sufficient to effectively and successfully participate in the industry and as a member of the surveying and geospatial science professional community. This course aims to:

• Introduce you to contemporary professional practices in the surveying and geospatial science industry.
• Develop your knowledge of workplace skills and expectations, with a focus on what employers in the surveying and geospatial science professions seek of new graduates.
• Inform you of innovative and future focussed industry practice and projects.

GEOM2116 covers the concepts of professionalism, ethics, networking, communication, business skills, personal attributes and career development. Emphasis will be on the relevant skills associated with professionalism required by new graduates.
The course includes principles of business management, business planning, governance, recruitment, client relations, marketing of services and presentation skills appropriate to a practicing professional. The course also introduces you to the concepts of quality management, risk analysis, work place safety, dispute resolution, negotiation skills and work place contracts. As a new graduate you should gain an appreciation of the operational management involved in a surveying or geospatial science practice such as planning, organisation, sound business practices, human resource management, training, mentoring and professional development.
 

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level. (This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information web page for more information.)


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Identify and describe the range of activities, organisations and careers in the surveying and geospatial science industry, including the regulatory framework and the general professional environment graduates will encounter.
  2. Review a range of contemporary business practices in areas such as recruitment, quality management, risk analysis, work place safety, dispute resolution, negotiation skills and work place contracts.
  3. Communicate effectively by means of oral, written and visual presentations to managers, peers, clients and the general public.
  4. Discuss the concepts of professionalism and ethics, including the relationship to the environmental, social and legal aspects of actions and decisions in the surveying and geospatial science industry.
  5. List and elaborate professional expectations and personal attributes required of new graduates entering the profession, including a commitment to continuing professional development and life-long learning.


This course contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Outcomes for BH116 Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) (Honours) and BH117 Bachelor of Science (Geospatial Science):


3.3 Apply critical and analytical skills in a scientific and professional manner.
4.1 Communicate effectively by means of oral, written and graphical presentations to peers and a wider audience.
5.1 Appreciate the environmental, social, legal and international aspects of actions and decisions in surveying and the geospatial sciences.
5.2 Demonstrate a clear understanding of professional expectations and ethical requirements.
5.3 Develop an understanding of the regulatory framework and the general professional environment graduates will encounter, including a commitment to continuing professional development and life-long learning.
6.1 Be self-motivated and personally responsible for your actions and learning.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are as follows:

  • You will be actively engaged in the course material through a series of lectotrials, workshops and guest presentations from industry, in which topics will be illustrated with examples of contemporary industry practice.
  • You will participate in class discussions and online journals.
  • You will complete written assignments focussed on analyses of industry practice and preparing an employment application.
  • You will be required to make an oral presentation in a professional context.
  • You will be required to attend a professional development event provided by a surveying, geospatial science or similar professional organisation.

You will participate in lectorials, workshops and industry presentations in class for three hours per week.  In addition, you can expect to spend a minimum of four hours per week in independent study to review the course material and complete the assessment tasks.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be able to access course information and learning materials through the Canvas learning management system.  You will be provided with copies of additional materials in class or via email as necessary.  Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided as necessary.  The relevant library study guide is geospatial science:  rmit.libguides.com/geospatial


Overview of Assessment

You will be able to access course information and learning materials through the Canvas learning management system.  You will be provided with copies of additional materials in class or via email as necessary.  Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided as necessary.  The relevant library study guide is geospatial science:  rmit.libguides.com/geospatial

Overview of Assessment

This course is assessed by written assignments, a presentation, class participation, Geoportfolio and weekly journal entries.  Some assessment tasks include interaction with organisations in the surveying and geospatial industry sector.


Assessment One:   Professional participation
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 3 and 5.

Assessment Two: Developing professional self
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Assessment Three:  Professional Presentation and Analysis
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Assessment Four: Weekly journal entries & Class Participation
Weighting 20% 
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.