Frequently Asked Questions
When should I enrol in the Arts Practicum?You can enrol at any time after completing 48 points of Level 1 Arts units. Some organisations have a preference for particular year-level students, so it might be worth checking if you have a strong preference for a certain placement. You will need to both officially enrol in the Arts Practicum through Student Connect or Student Administration and submit an expression of interest form to the Arts Practicum Co-ordinator. It does take some time to organise a placement, so make sure that your expression of interest form is handed in well before the start of the semester when you want to do your practicum. What is the unit code for Arts Practicum?HUMA2210 = Arts Practicum I Can I do a practicum in the holidays?Yes, if you mean the summer holidays. Select 'summer' on the semester section of the expression of interest form. Can I organise my own practicum?Yes and no! While you are certainly free (and encouraged) to suggest organisations where you would like to undertake your practicum, your placement does need to be officially approved and organised through the University. You are advised not to approach potential hosts about undertaking the practicum; rather, you should ask the Arts Practicum Co-ordinator to do this for you. What happens once I submit my expression of interest form?Your expression of interest is sent electronically to the Arts Practicum Co-ordinator, who will attempt to match your preferences, experience and ideas with an organisation interested in hosting a practicum student. Once the placement is negotiated, you will be contacted and given all of the details about your placement and the process involved in completing the practicum. What is the difference between Arts Practicum I and Arts Practicum II?The main difference between the two is that Arts Practicum II is more closely related to a discipline of study within the Arts Faculty. An Arts Practicum II project will involve specific disciplinary skills and knowledge, and will gain the student credit towards the relevant major. Students doing the Arts Practicum II must arrange a disciplinary supervisor (a UWA staff member) in addition to their placement supervisor, and permission to take this unit must be obtained from both the Arts Practicum Co-ordinator and the relevant discipline chair. Arts Practicum I placements are more broad in scope, and do not contribute towards any particular major sequence. Can I do both Arts Practicum I and Arts Practicum II?
No
- you cannot enrol in both units over the course of your degree. An
exception is made for students enrolled in Albany, as they have a
limited number of Arts options. What kind of work will I be doing in the practicum?This really varies depending on your own skills, the organisation where you are placed and the project you undertake. Ideally, you should indicate the kind of work you want to do on your expression of interest form (writing? research? web design? policy development?) Have a look at the gallery for some examples of previous practicum projects. What is certain is that the practicum is not 'work experience' and you will be working on a discrete project for the organisation, not making cups of coffee or photocopying! How is the practicum assessed?Arts Practicum I is assessed on a pass/fail basis due
to the variety of situations in which it is undertaken. Arts Practicum
II is a graded unit as it is discipline-specific, closely related to a student's major area of study and supervised by an academic. Both units
involve the completion of a minimum 100 hours of project work in a host
organisation, the submission of a 2000 word report on the project and
placement, attendance at two workshops and the completion of a
Practicum Portfolio. Can my practicum contribute to my major?Arts Practicum I (HUMA2210) gives you six points towards your Arts degree, but is not part of any major. However, the six points of the Arts Practicum II (HUMA2211) do count towards the discipline area in which the practicum is undertaken, which may be your major. Given that Arts Practicum I is graded as a Pass (or Fail), will it affect my course weighted average or grade point average mark?No. The practicum will not be included in these calculations. Does the practicum affect my application for Honours, or my ability to graduate?The practicum won't affect your application for Honours in terms of your course weighted average, but if you are doing the practicum in the final semester of your third year you should ensure that you complete your placement hours and all other assessment requirements before the end of semester. Having an incomplete unit on your academic transcript can affect your ability to apply for Honours and your ability to graduate. How do I fit my practicum responsibilities into my timetable?You are required to do a minimum of 100 hours of work on your practicum project. You can negotiate with your practicum supervisor how those hours will be scheduled. Some students prefer to spread the hours out over the semester. Some complete the required hours in a full-time block (but this in usually only possible during semester three placements, over the summer break). Others work mornings or afternoons only. What should I do if I'm an Albany student?The procedure for enrolling is exactly the same. Just be sure to indicate that you are an Albany student on your expression of interest form, and the Arts Practicum Co-ordinator will forward a copy of your form onto Barbara Black in Albany. Where should I submit my practicum assessments?All practicum-related paperwork (report, timesheets, portfolio and student evaluations) should be clearly addressed to the Arts Practicum Co-ordinator and handed in at the Student Office in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (G.26). |
