BVSc Honours Program 2010

Agenda Why choose honours? What is required? Who will be my supervisor? How do I complete an honours project? What help is available? Questions

Why choose honours? Future qualifications and research –Post graduate research funding –Definite or possible interest Because you can –Y1-4 WAM ≥ 70 Australian residency Because you are the finest of Australia’s finest

What is required? Year 4 –Choose an area of veterinary science that interests you –Determine a suitable research problem that you can address through research during Y5 –Consult academic staff –Write a draft research proposal and submit an honours application form

What is required? Year 5 –Submit final research proposal –Honours learning agreement form –Research progress report form –Submit dissertation and reflective statement –Research supervisor report form –Oral defence –Satisfactory completion of all standard elective forms and non- written assessment during Year 5

Research proposal form Introduction –Research question, problem or issue and value Statement of aim and objectives Statement of methods –Methods used to answer the research question and achieve the aim and objectives of your research Statement of ethical considerations –Ethical implications and how these will be addressed Statement of timescale

Research proposal form Statement of timescale –Linked to Y5 rotations –Including milestones –Gantt chart format

Honours application form Proposed title Your details Proposed supervisor details –Include 2 potential supervisors Projects and supervisors are approved by the Honours Committee –Provisional approval before Y4 results –Final approval after WAM

Who will be my supervisor? Student nominations provided through the honours application form –Discuss your project with potential supervisors Honours committee will review project proposals, check with supervisors and allocate Limit of 2 honours students per academic staff member At least one supervisor must be a member of Faculty

How do I complete an honours project? Early in 2010 change your standard electives to an honours elective You still complete two elective placements but there is no written assignment Work on your project throughout the year Try to do your oral defence during a relevant intramural rotation – negotiate this with your supervisor If you need to develop a specific skill (e.g. laboratory skills) you can negotiate a non-database placement with your supervisor as one of your elective placements

What help is available? Year 4 –Year 5 coordinator –Honours unit of study coordinator –Academic staff –Faculty office staff –Library staff

What help is available? Year 5 –Supervisor and co-supervisor –Year 5 WebCT site –Virtual Veterinary Campus –Library staff –Faculty office staff –Year 5 coordinator –Honours unit of study coordinator –Academic staff

Timelines Y4 –Draft research proposal and honours application form are due Monday 5 th October –Submit by to unit of study coordinator Y5 –Final research proposal and honours learning agreement form by end rotation 3 –Research progress report form by end rotation 6 –Dissertation and reflective statement by end rotation 10 –Oral defence by end rotation of year –Submissions by Y5 WebCT site

Questions