BUS4401 Honours Thesis

Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus
BUS	4401	67176	2, 2007	ONC	Honours Thesis	4.00	Toowoomba

---

Academic group:	FOBUS
Academic org:	FOBUSN
Student contribution band:	2
ASCED code:	080399

---

Contents

• Staffing
• Other requisites
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Production date
• PDF version

---

STAFFING

Moderator: Ronel Erwee

---

OTHER REQUISITES

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to USQConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/business/aboutfob.htm

---

RATIONALE

Research skills, once the prerogative of academics and a few specialist professionals, are now increasingly useful for managers generally. Consequently, this course, by requiring students to complete a substantial research dissertation, provides basic training and research experience to meet the needs of both business and higher level research studies (eg PhD).

---

SYNOPSIS

The Honours degree serves to foster a research ethos and provides opportunities for motivated and high-achieving students to undertake advanced study in a business discipline to produce substantial research dissertations (maximum of 25,000 words). Each candidate for the dissertation is required to submit a research proposal for approval and endorsement prior to the commencement of research. By completing the required research methods course, and by working under the guidance of a supervisor during the course of the dissertation, a student should successfully acquire the appropriate research skills which will allow him/her to undertake research oriented careers and/or doctoral level studies.

---

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Summers, J & Smith, B 2006, Communication skills handbook: how to succeed in written and oral communication, 2nd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Queensland.

---

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Existing theses in USQ and other libraries may be consulted.

2002, The style manual for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn, Wiley, Australia.

Cooper, DR & Schindler, PS 2003, Business research methods, 8th edn, Irwin/McGraw-Hill, Boston, Massachusetts.

Davis, D 2000, Business research for decision making, 5th edn, Duxbury Press, Pacific Grove, California.
(ISBN: 05343739)


Lester, JD 1999, Writing research papers - a complete guide, 9th edn, Longman, New York.
(ISBN: 0321049802)


Lewing, F 1993, Writing a thesis, a guide to its nature and organisation, 4th edn, Australian National University, Canberra.

Roget, PM 1988, Roget's thesaurus of English words and phrases, Penguin, London.

Zikmund, WG 2003, Business research methods, 7th edn, Thomson/South-Western, Cincinnati, Ohio.

---

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Directed Study	680.00

---

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description		Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date
THESIS		1.00	100.00	23 Jul 2007	(see note 1)

NOTES

1.

Examiner to advise submission date.

---

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. If you are an international student in Australia you are advised to attend all classes at your campus.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   Not applicable.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   Not applicable.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To obtain a final grade for the dissertation, the dissertation must be certified by two Examiners as satisfactory for an Honours degree to be awarded.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   Upon successful completion of this course, the student's final grade for the dissertation will be based on the reports of the two Examiners. A grade of HD, A, B, C or F will be awarded and this will be recorded.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Not applicable.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Student Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene university regulations. These regulations can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm. Students should also read the Faculty of Business Policies and Procedures which can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/business/aboutfob.htm.

---

This version produced 20 Dec 2007.