Course terminology

Credits

Certificate, diploma and degree programmes are defined in terms of credits. Every course has a credit value associated with it that indicates its contribution to the qualification enrolled for. Each course’s credit value applies to all qualifications to which that course can contribute.

The standard undergraduate course is 15 credits, except in some professional qualifications.

Prerequisites

A course that must be completed to a defined standard or waived before a student's enrolment in another course is confirmed. For this purpose the minimum grade required is a C-, except where a different grade is specified in the Schedule for the qualification; eg P(B) means that the minimum grade that satisfies the requirement is B.

Corequisites

A course that must be completed in the same semester as another course, unless the corequisite course has already been passed or waived as a requirement due to prior completion of an equivalent course.

Restrictions

Some courses that are similar in content are restricted against each other. Students will not be permitted to enrol in both courses nor credit them both to a qualification.

Year

This column displays the year the course is offered.

Mode

This column displays the delivery mode for the course. Courses at Massey can be studied internally, by distance or by block mode.

• Internal mode requires attendance at regularly scheduled classes on one of Massey's campuses.
• Distance mode allows students to study via correspondence and/or by electronic means, with the opportunity usually provided for one or more Contact Workshops.
• Block mode refers to internal courses where the class contact is in a compressed time period.

Semester

This column displays the time of year the course runs in.

• Semester One:
  • Semester One full semester (S1FS): Runs from late February to late June.
  • Semester One non-standard (S1N1): Non-standard start and/or end date(s)
  • Semester One block one (S1B1): Course runs in 'block mode'
  • Semester One block two (S1B2): Course runs in 'block mode'
  • Semester One block three (S1B3): Course runs in 'block mode'
• Semester Two:
  • Semester Two full semester (S2FS): Runs from mid-July to mid-November.
  • Semester Two non-standard (S2N1): Non-standard start and/or end date(s)
  • Semester Two block one (S2B1): Course runs in 'block mode'
  • Semester Two block two (S2B2): Course runs in 'block mode'
  • Semester Two block three (S2B3): Course runs in 'block mode'
• Double Semester (DBLE): Courses span two adjacent semesters, usually mid-February to mid-November.
   
• Summer School:
  • Summer School (SSHL): Runs from mid-November to mid-February.
  • Summer School non-standard (SSN1): Non-standard start and/or end date(s)
  • Summer School block one (SSB1): Course runs in 'block mode'
  • Summer School block two (SSB2): Course runs in 'block mode'
• Full Year (FLYR): Courses will run over the full calendar year. These are usually PhD courses.

Location

This column displays the campus the course is offered from:

• Auckland (AKL)
• Palmerston North (MTU)
• Wellington (WLG)

Coordinator

The name of the course coordinator.

Online component

Courses can have one of the following online component categories.

None

There is no online learning environment for this course. Study resources will be supplied directly to students.

Course Guide and Administration

Access to an online learning environment is required so students can access the Course Guide, expected learning outcomes and assessment tasks. The online learning environment may also be required to access supplementary study resources and for the electronic submission of assignments. Core study resources will be supplied directly to students.

Partially Taught Online

As part of the course is taught online, broadband access is required. In addition to accessing the Course Guide, students will be required to access core and supplementary digital study resources, contribute to discussion fora and complete online activities and assessment tasks. Core study resources that can be published in print will be supplied to the students who request them.

Fully Taught Online

As all of the course is taught online and there are no on-campus components (attendance at an examination venue may be required), broadband access is required. In addition to accessing the Course Guide, students will be required to access core and supplementary digital study resources, contribute to discussion fora and complete online activities and assessment tasks. Core study resources that can be published in print will be supplied to the students who request them.

Dates

• Start date: The date the course begins.
• End date: The date the course ends.
• Withdrawal dates – the last date you can withdraw from a course without either financial or academic penalty. Please read more information about withdrawing from study.

Expected prior learning

Some courses may specify relevant knowledge or experience that you will need to successfully complete the course.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes specify the knowledge, skills and attitudes that you are expected to demonstrate as a result of successfully completing the course. Learning outcomes are usually stated in terms of observable and/or measurable behaviour.

Assessments

Computer programmes

These can include computer animation and screening, design, programming, models and other computer work.

Creative compositions

These can include a range of compositions including animations, films, models, textiles and websites.

Exam College/GRS-based (not centrally scheduled)

The exam for the course offering will be scheduled by a college or the Graduate Research School (GRS). There are many different types of possible exams including online, oral, field, practical skills and written exams.

Exam (centrally scheduled)

The exam for this course offering will be scheduled by Assessment Services (centrally) and is held in the specified exam period. Students are notified of the date, time and location for the exam usually via the exam timetable in the student portal.

Oral/Performance/Presentation

Examples of oral, performance and presentation assessments include debates, demonstrations, exhibitions, interviews, oral proposals, role play and speech. 

Participation

Participation-based assessment tasks offer opportunities for collaborative effort and facilitate learning through engagement and co-construction of knowledge. Participation includes a range of activities (eg online fora, laboratories, debates, tutorials, exercises, seminars, etc) and can be used for assessment when there is alignment between required participation of the task and the learning outcomes for the course.

Portfolio

There are a range of different portfolios which can be assessed. These include creative, learning, online, narrative, photographic and written portfolios.

Practical/Placement

These can include a range of things including field trips, field work, placements, seminars, workshops and voluntary work.

Simulation

These can be technology-based or experiential.

Test

Examples of tests include laboratory, online, multi-choice, short answer and spoken. Tests are arranged by the school.

Written Assignment

There are a large variety of written assignments which can be assessed. These include essays, group or individual projects, proposals, reports, reviews and writing exercises.

Completion requirements

Some courses may provide further explanation regarding what is required for successful completion of the course.

Page authorised by Director, Student Administration
Last updated on Friday 20 December 2019