PRL3000 Public Relations Project

PRL	3000	78595	2, 2008	EXT	Public Relations Project	1.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOART
Academic org:	FOA003
Student contribution band:	3A
ASCED code:	080509

Staffing
Requisites
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Texts
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Barbara Ryan
Moderator: Alison Feldman

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: PRL2001 and PRL2000

SYNOPSIS

This course provides advanced professional preparation for students in the planning of public relations campaigns. The course builds on theory and practice taught previously in the major. The course allows students to initiate an original campaign through the stages of research, planning, implementation and evaluation. Students are directed to develop a public relations campaign that demonstrates a concerted effort to build socially responsible relationships by achieving research based goals through the application of strategic planning and the measurement of outcomes. Fieldwork is designed to stimulate discussion and lateral thinking of public relations objectives.

OBJECTIVES

Objectives for this course are:

1.: That students will become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of key contemporary communitication strategies in the context of their applicability to various industrial problems and needs.
2.: That students will gain field experience in the design, application and evaluation of a project requiring the incorporation of public relations theory and techniques.
3.: That students will have developed critical skills and a level of professional expertise in an organisational work environment that would be sufficient to justify their employment as public relations consultants.

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Research Skills	45.00
2.	Program Development	40.00
3.	Evaluation Techniques	15.00

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).

Austin, EW & Pinkleton, BE 2006, Strategic public relations management: planning and managing effective communication programs, 2nd edn, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ.

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.

Please refer to Introductory Book.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Directed Study	25.00
Private Study	140.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description		Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
PROJECT WRITTEN REPORT		100.00	100.00	03 Nov 2008	(see note 1)

NOTES

1.: This assessment item relates to all of the Objectives.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this external course. However, it is the student's responsibility 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.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances and without prior approval, then a penalty of a maximum of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late, up to a maximum of 10 working days, at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
There is no exam for this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

(a) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner. (b) Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if requested by the Examiner. (c) In accordance with University's Assignment Extension Policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner of a course may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances such as documented ill-health. (d) In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience. (e) Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements. (f) Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in the course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of the course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete-Makeup). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study. (g) Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or sit for an examination at the scheduled time, may apply to defer an assessment in the course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students are strongly advised to maintain regular contact with their supervisor(s).
It is imperative that Dissertation/Project students check with their supervisor(s) whether they need to obtain ethics clearance for their Dissertation/Project.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.