(1) This Policy governs the design and structure of new academic courses and amendments to existing courses. It provides a consistent and coherent structure which supports the quality and integrity of the University’s academic courses and helps to ensure that students are provided with an exceptional academic experience. (2) The Macquarie Curriculum Architecture provides coherent, simple, and accessible curriculum structures that offer students clarity on their study pathway, and clarity for staff designing and delivering University courses. It supports the achievement of the University’s strategic vision of a ‘connected curriculum that will provide opportunities for students to graduate with depth of disciplinary knowledge and breadth of transdisciplinary understanding, as well as with big ideas thinking, transferable skills and relevant real-world experience’ as described in our Learning and Teaching Strategic Framework: 2015 – 2020. It also aligns with our Indigenous Strategy (2016-2025), to ensure the University delivers an ‘Indigenous connected curriculum’. (3) The Policy is based on the MQ Model: Undergraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles, MQ Model: Postgraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles, and MQ Model: Combined Degree Curriculum Architecture Principles approved by the Academic Senate between July 2018 and September 2020. (4) This Policy applies to all Macquarie University academic units and courses (award and non-award) including courses that are approved by the University and delivered with a third party provider at either an onshore or offshore delivery location or delivered entirely through an online platform. Higher Degree Research programs, the Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Research, the Foundation and English language preparation programs are out of scope of this Policy. (5) The University delivers a range of courses that lead to designated Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) higher education awards. The University also delivers non-AQF recognised micro-courses and foundation courses. (6) The levels of higher education courses delivered by the University are specified in Table 1. (7) In a sub-Bachelor Diploma course a student can only count a maximum of 80 credit points (cp) at 1000 level or above. (8) Undergraduate degree courses can be undertaken in one of two configurations: (9) Undergraduate degree courses can be designed in one of two degree types: (10) The University Executive Group will set a Viability Score for all courses and their components (majors and specialisations). (11) The Viability Score will be based on the number (headcount) of commencers into a course or a course component. (12) Head count for minors that are a required component in the core zone of a course will be pro-rated and contribute to the Viability Score. (13) The Viability Score will inform decision-making around the continuation of a course or a course component during the annual health check and periodic course review processes. (14) The Viability Score will inform an Efficiency Metric which determines the number of majors / specialisations a course may have and the number of units per 10 credit point option set in the core zone of the course or in its majors and specialisations. (15) In a 240 credit point undergraduate degree course students can only count a maximum of 100 credit points at 1000 level. (16) In a 320 credit point undergraduate degree course students can only count a maximum of 120 credit points at 1000 level. (17) A course must be designed with a minimum of 40 credit points at 3000 level or above in a 240 credit point undergraduate degree course. (18) A course must be designed with a minimum of 80 credit points at 3000 level or above in a 320 credit point undergraduate degree course. (19) Individual units can meet the requirements of more than one course component. (20) Students will not be permitted to complete two course components that share more than 50 per cent of their units. (21) Combinations of course components that exceed the requirements of Principle 27.2 (MQ Model: Undergraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles) will be placed on an exclusions list. (22) Where a student uses one or more units to satisfy the requirements of two distinct course components, they will still be required to complete the volume of learning for the course. They will complete additional units that can be chosen from the option sets of the two components or the course core(s). Where there is no such unit available, they may choose any other unit for which they are qualified to enrol. (23) All undergraduate courses will have a capstone requirement. (24) A capstone will reside in the core zone in an essential unit of a course. (25) A capstone may also be combined with a PACE unit. (26) It is expected that a capstone unit will reside at 3000 level or above, and that all capstone units will have a breadth / maturity prerequisite of at least 60 credit points at 2000 level or above. (27) All undergraduate courses will have a PACE unit requirement. (28) A course’s compulsory PACE requirement will reside in the core zone as either an essential unit or an elective unit chosen from a distinct PACE option set. (29) All single undergraduate degree courses will have the following study zones: (30) For single undergraduate generalist degree courses the core and flexible study zone requirements are: (31) Course authorities will determine the composition of the core zone within the boundaries informed by requirements for essential units, elective units, elective units chosen from option sets, majors, specialisations and minors. (32) The core zone of all undergraduate generalist degree courses will include a major. (33) All majors must have the following structural elements: (34) A major will appear in the course’s major schedule. (35) Majors are approved by the Academic Senate and are included in the course major schedule. The structure of majors in a course will be determined by the course authority and will be consistently applied across the major schedule. (36) Majors can appear in the major schedule for more than one course but must be identical in all offerings. If the major is not identical it will require a different name in subsequent courses. (37) For the purpose of double majors in a course, majors where it is possible to choose a combination of units which share more than 50% of units in common above 1000 level will be placed on an exclusion list to ensure a student cannot take these together. (38) Majors may contain their own essential and / or elective units. (39) In single undergraduate generalist degree courses a core zone may consist of any or all of the following elements: (40) Single undergraduate generalist degrees courses can have a maximum of 80 credit points of essential units in the core zone (notwithstanding any essential unit requirement for the major). (41) A course core zone essential unit cannot appear in a major. However, a course core zone essential unit can be a prerequisite for units within a major. (42) A core zone elective unit cannot be double counted towards a major or specialisation. (43) A minor is an approved 40 credit point sequence of undergraduate units. (44) A minor may be: (45) Derived minors and transdisciplinary minors do not require a unique set of learning outcomes. (46) A derived minor has the same name as the major or specialisation from which its units are drawn. (47) All minors must have the following minimum structural element: 20 cp must be completed at 2000 level or above. (48) A minor may be a required component of a core zone. (49) A student cannot qualify for a major and a minor, or a specialisation and a minor with the same name. (50) A student may not qualify for two minors with the same name. (51) Designated minors require approval by the Academic Senate. (52) Each generalist degree contains an 80 credit point flexible zone. This consists of free choice units which a student may utilise in either a non-structured or structured sequence of study. Students can determine how to design their flexible zone. (53) In a non-structured sequence of study students are able to complete a wide range of units for which they are eligible to enrol. (54) In a structured sequence of study students are able to complete a second major from the course’s major schedule or a minor from across the majors and specialisations of the University for which they are eligible to enrol. (55) Space in their schedule permitted, students can use their flexible zone to complete a second major from their course’s major schedule. (56) A student may extend a minor requirement in their core zone to a major through use of the flexible zone. The completion of the major must meet any core zone minor requirement. (57) A minor or a designated minor may also be available in the flexible zone. (58) Students can use their flexible zone to complete a minor. Minors are drawn from any major / specialisation (including outside the student’s course) for which units are available in the flexible zone. (59) A list of all minors available to flexible zones will be made available to students. (60) Generalist degree awards are named after the general field of study. No further additions to the title are permitted. (61) Unlike generalist degrees, single undergraduate specialist degree courses may have a larger core zone. The core and flexible zones must be specified in multiples of 40 credit points, representing the equivalent of one session of full-time student load. Minimum requirements are: (62) The core zone in a specialist degree course must only be as large as required to meet the course’s pedagogical needs. (63) It is possible that due to the need to deliver the specified learning outcomes or external accreditation requirements, a specialist degree course may have insufficient space to set a flexible zone. (64) In single undergraduate specialist degree courses the core zone may consist of any or all of the following elements: (65) Specialist degree courses can have up to 100 per cent of the core zone consisting of essential units. (66) A core zone essential unit cannot appear in a specialisation. However a core zone essential unit can be a prerequisite for units within a specialisation. (67) A core zone elective unit cannot be double counted towards a major or specialisation. (68) An undergraduate specialist degree course may have specialisations and if it does these specialisations will be components of the core zone. (69) Specialisations contribute to the acquisition of the course’s learning outcomes. (70) A student may only take one specialisation in a course. (71) Specialisations are approved by the Academic Senate and are included in the course’s specialisation schedule. (72) A specialisation can appear in more than one course’s specialisation schedule but must be identical in all offerings. If the specialisation is not identical it will require a different name in subsequent courses. (73) Specialisations may contain their own essential and / or elective units. (74) Course authorities will determine if specialisations will have concentrations. (75) A concentration will consist of units drawn from the specialisation. In the case where a specialisation has more than one concentration, no concentration may share more than one unit with another. (76) Specialist degree awards are named after the specialist or professional area of study. They must not incorporate a generalist degree title. (77) Specialisations can be recorded in brackets in the name of the award. (78) Double undergraduate degrees allow students to combine two undergraduate courses and achieve a reduction in the volume of learning by forgoing the flexible zone of both courses. (79) Outside stated University exclusions, students may choose any combination of undergraduate degrees for which they are qualified to be admitted. (80) All students must be advised that due to unit or pre-requisite unavailability, timetable clashes, clinical placements, or other possible course restrictions (beyond their individual unit performance) they may be unable to complete their chosen double degree combination within expected normal full-time duration of the courses. Course authorities must monitor combinations to manage systemic timetable clashes. (81) Some double degree combinations may lead to professional recognition. In some double degrees, for example, when a specialist course with an accreditation requirement is combined with a generalist course that helps to fulfil the requirements for accreditation, the double degree combination can influence student options in the second course’s core zone. (82) Units completed in a double degree may meet the requirements of both courses of study. This is known as unit sharing. (83) Unit sharing at 2000 level or above is limited to 50 credit points of the core zone units for 320 credit point combinations, with an additional 20 credit points of unit sharing permitted for each additional 80 credit points of study. (84) Double degree combinations that exceed these unit sharing requirements cannot be combined as doubles and the combination will be placed on the exclusion list. (85) If the combined volume of learning of the two courses is at least 440 credit points when doubled a discount of up to 40 credit points will be permitted by the Academic Senate if course authorities can demonstrate that the required learning outcomes for each course have been met by the completion of identified units. (86) The completion of such units may be directed as per professional recognition requirements noted above. (87) At any stage of their candidature a student may choose to cease their enrolment in a double degree and transfer to the stand-alone version of either constituent course (if a single degree version exists). (88) Students who transfer from a double degree will have any completed units counted towards the flexible requirement of the stand-alone course up to the maximum credit point requirement. (89) Depending on the stage of their enrolment, a student may not receive the full credit for all units previously undertaken. (90) With each course’s core zone previously approved by the Academic Senate and with the student simply completing the core zone requirement of two University approved courses, double degree combinations do not require further Academic Senate approval. (91) However, if a popular double combination is to be marketed to international students, it must be approved by the Academic Senate in order for it to meet TEQSA requirements to be registered on CRICOS. (92) The University Executive Group will set a Viability Score for all postgraduate courses and their components (specialisations). (93) The Viability Score will be based on the number (headcount) of commencers into a course or a course component. (94) The Viability Score will inform decision-making around the continuation of a course or a course component during the annual health check and periodic course review processes. (95) The Viability Score will inform an Efficiency Metric which determines the number of specialisations a course may have and the number of units per 10 credit point option set in the core zone of the course or in its specialisations. (96) Individual units can meet the requirements of more than one course component. (97) Students will not be permitted to complete two course components that share more than 50 per cent of their units. (98) Combinations of course components that exceed the requirements of Principle 17A.2 (MQ Model: Postgraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles) will be placed on an exclusions list. (99) Where a student uses one or more units to satisfy the requirements of two distinct course components, they will still be required to complete the volume of learning for the course. They will complete additional units that can be chosen from option sets within the two courses. Where there is no such unit available, they may choose an elective unit, for which they are qualified to enrol, from another course. (100) For a Graduate Certificate (as an entry qualification) the course requirements are 40 credit points. (101) Graduate Certificates can not include specialisations. (102) For a Graduate Diploma (as an entry qualification) the course requirements are either: (103) A student completing a Graduate Diploma course can only complete one specialisation. A specialisation in a Graduate Diploma must be exactly half the credit points of the core zone. (104) Masters courses can be undertaken in one of three configurations: (105) All single Masters courses may have the following study zone structure: (106) In Masters courses the units in the core zone will always be at 8000 level. (107) In Masters courses the units in the flexible zone can be a mix of 6000 and 8000 units. (108) In Masters courses the units in the foundation zone may be recorded as 6000 Level if the outcomes and assessment are an extension of the undergraduate unit from which they are drawn. (109) For a Masters degree, course requirements can comprise the following study zones depending on the volume of learning being undertaken by the student and the field of study: (110) A Masters may have a specialisation, which will be a component of the core zone. (111) A student completing a Masters course can only complete one specialisation. (112) An Extended Masters course will be comprised of either a core zone or a core plus foundation zone. (113) Extended Masters courses may have a specialisation. (114) A student completing an Extended Masters may complete more than one specialisation. (115) Entry to a Masters degree course is dependent on a student meeting the course’s admission requirements at one of the four volume of learning admission points. (116) (117) (118) Informed by market trends and University needs, a course authority can promote and admit students at specific admission points. (119) Nested Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas can act as exit awards for the related Masters course. (120) To qualify for an exit award, a student must meet the approved course requirements for that award. (121) Double masters degrees allow students to combine two postgraduate courses and achieve a reduction in the volume of learning by forgoing the flexible zone of either or both courses. (122) Where it is not possible to accommodate the core zone of both courses within standard durations the combination should be excluded. (123) Outside stated University exclusions students may choose any combination of postgraduate degrees for which they are qualified to be admitted. (124) Students must gain entry to both courses. This can be at different admission points. (125) In combining two courses the only volume of learning discount, excepting formal Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), will be the forgoing of any flexible zone requirement. (126) Units completed in a double degree can meet the requirements of both courses. This is known as unit sharing. (127) Units completed in a postgraduate double degree can meet the requirements of both courses of study. (128) This form of unit sharing is limited to 50 cp of the core zone units for 160 cp combinations, with an additional 20 cp of unit sharing permitted for each additional 80 cp of study. (129) Double degree combinations which exceed these requirements cannot be combined as doubles and the combination will be placed on an exclusion list. (130) Where a student uses a single unit to satisfy the requirements of two core zones, to ensure the total volume of learning is not reduced, they will complete an additional unit of the same or higher level. (131) At any stage of their candidature a student may choose to cease their enrolment in a double degree course and transfer to the stand-alone version of either constituent course (if a single degree version exists). (132) With each course’s core zone previously approved by the Academic Senate and with the student simply completing the core zone requirement of two University approved courses, double degree combinations do not require further Academic Senate approval. (133) However if a popular double combination is to be marketed to international students, it must be approved by the Academic Senate in order for it to meet TEQSA requirements to be registered on CRICOS. (134) Where a student uses a single unit to satisfy the requirements of two separate courses, they will still be required to complete the volume of learning for the double degree course. They will complete additional units that can be chosen from the option sets of the two components or the course cores. Where there is no such unit available, they may choose an elective unit, for which they are qualified to enrol, from another course. (135) Combined Degree Courses are a form of integrated study across AQF levels 7, 8, and 9. (136) While combined degree courses comprise components from both undergraduate and postgraduate courses they must be designed and approved as an integrated course of study. (137) In approving a combined degree course, the Academic Senate's Academic Standards and Quality Committee must be satisfied that the undergraduate and graduate courses that comprise the combined degree are derived from related fields. (138) Each Combined Degree Course will have a dedicated course director. This could be the director of the Masters component of the combined degree course. (139) Entry requirements for combined degree courses will reflect the fact that these are exclusive course opportunities for high-achieving students. Entry requirements for these courses may be higher than they would be for admission to the stand-alone undergraduate version of the course. (140) Combined degrees should be highly structured and must be designed in such a way that a student who does not meet the progression WAM requirement will be able to complete the final year of the undergraduate course in no more than 80 cp and still meet all degree requirements. (141) A combined degree course’s capstone experience will usually be undertaken as part of the final 40 credit points of study for the course. (142) Students will complete a PACE unit as part of the course. (143) Each combined degree course will have its own set of Course Learning Outcomes. (144) Transition Core and Masters components of a combined degree course may not be discounted by recognition of informal or non-formal prior learning. (145) Students will be required to achieve a specified Weighted Average Mark (WAM) to continue in the course after the completion of 160 cp. (146) Executive Deans or their delegates will set the progression WAM depending on the specific needs of the course. The figure will be no less than WAM 70 and no more than WAM 80. (147) Students who do not achieve the required WAM will default to the stand-alone undergraduate degree course that serves the combined degree course. Any 6000+ level units completed will meet the requirements of the undergraduate course as either core or flexible zone units. A student defaulting to the stand-alone undergraduate degree must complete the undergraduate course’s capstone and PACE requirements. (148) Articulation to Year 2 MRes will be available for combined degree courses where the course is seen to meet the requirements for entry to MRes Y2 (FTE). (149) Rescinded 1 January 2021, per Academic Senate Resolution (20/122). Refer to the Micro-credentials Policy. (150) The University may embed compulsory co-curricular not-for-credit short modules into courses. (151) Nil. (152) Nil. (153) Commonly defined terms are located in the University Glossary. The following definitions apply for the purpose of this Policy:Curriculum Architecture Policy
Section 1 - Purpose
Background
Scope
Top of PageSection 2 - Policy
Part A - Qualifications
Table 1: Levels of courses delivered by the University
(with minimum of 100 CPs at 8000 level).
Part B - Sub-bachelor Course Requirements
Unit Level Requirements
Part C - Undergraduate Course Requirements
Unit Level Requirements in the Core Zone
Unit Sharing and Distinctiveness Across Course Components
Capstone Requirements
PACE Requirements
Part D - Undergraduate Course Structure
Single Undergraduate Generalist Degree Course Requirements
Course Structure
Majors
Other Core Zone Elements
Essential Units
Minors
Flexible Zone Requirements
Majors in the Flexible Zone
Minors in the Flexible Zone
Award Names
Single Undergraduate Specialist Degree Course Requirements
Essential Units
Specialisations
Concentrations
Award Names
Double Undergraduate Degree Course Requirements
Part E - Postgraduate Course Structure
Unit Sharing and Distinctiveness across Course Components
Graduate Certificates
Graduate Diplomas
Masters
Single Degree Structure
Core Zone
Flexible Zone
Foundation Zone
Masters Degree (Extended)
Volume of Learning and Admission Points
Table 2: Admission Requirements
Admission Point
AQF Level
Expected Duration (on Full-Time Basis)
Admission Requirement
80 cp Masters Degree
Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework)
1 year
OR
120 cp Masters Degree
Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework)
1.5 years
OR
160 cp Masters Degree
Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework)
2 years
As set by the course authority and in compliance with AQF volume of learning standards.
Minimum 240 cp Masters Degree (Extended)
Level 9 Masters Degree (Extended)
3 – 4 years
As set by the course authority and in compliance with AQF volume of learning standards.
Exit Awards
Double Masters Degree Courses
Part F - Combined Degrees
Design
Progression, Exit and Articulation
Part G - Micro-credentials
Part H - Additional Institutional Requirements
Section 3 - Procedures
Section 4 - Guidelines
Section 5 - Definitions
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Course
AQF Level
Minimum / Maximum Credit Value
Expected Duration (on Full-Time Basis)
Sub-Bachelor
Diploma
Level 5 Diploma
80 CPs
(with a minimum of 80 CPs at 1000 level)
1 year
Undergraduate
Generalist Degree Course
Level 7 Bachelor Degree
240 CPs
(with a minimum of 40 CPs at 3000 level or above)
3 years
Specialist Degree Course
Level 7 Bachelor Degree
240 CPs
(with a minimum of 40 CPs at 3000 level or above)
3 years
Level 8 Bachelor Degree (Honours)
320 CPs
(with a minimum of 80 CPs at 3000 level or above or above)
4 years
Postgraduate
Graduate Certificate
Level 8 Graduate Certificate
40 CPs
(at 6000 level or above)
0.5 year
Graduate Diploma
Level 8 Graduate Diploma
80 CPs
(with a minimum of 40 CPs at 8000 level)
1 year
Masters Degree
Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework)
80 CPs*
120 CPs*
160 CPs*
200 CPs
240 CPs
(with a minimum of 80 CPs at 8000 level)
1 year*
1.5 year*
2 years*
Masters Degree (Extended)
Level 9 Masters Degree (Extended)
Minimum 240 CPs
(with a minimum of 80 CPs at 8000 level)
2.5-4 years
Combined Degrees
Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework)
Minimum 320 CPs
4-5 years
* Depending on entry point