These inherent requirements apply to the following course:

  • Bachelor of Human Rights BHRTS

Australian Catholic University and the National School of Arts and Humanities strongly supports the right of all people to pursue a degree.

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete the course that must be met by all students.

Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.

The School is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional practice and other activities to enable students to participate in their course. Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.

To support prospective and current students' decision making, a series of inherent requirement statements have been developed. These statements specify the essential skills, knowledge and abilities required for the Bachelor of Arts. Students should use this information to make informed decisions about their chosen course of study.

The inherent requirements outlined below provide a guide to inform decision making for students and staff.

If you are intending to enrol in the Bachelor of Human Rights you should look at these inherent requirement statements and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements.

If you think you may experience challenges for any reason including a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with the campus Disability Advisor who will liaise with the Deputy Head of School and Course Coordinator. These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine reasonable adjustments to assist you to meet the inherent requirements. In the case where it is determined that inherent requirements cannot be met with reasonable adjustments, the University staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.

These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other course information.

The inherent requirements are made up of the following five components:

  • Level 1 - introduction to the inherent requirement
  • Level 2 - description of the inherent requirement
  • Level 3 - explanation of why this is an inherent requirement of the course
  • Level 4 - the nature of any adjustments that may be made to allow you to meet the requirement
  • Level 5 - examples of tasks you must be able to do to show you've met the requirement (in-class and clinical). These are examples only and not a comprehensive list.

Inherent requirement domains

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

Students studying degrees within the National School of Arts and Humanities must understand and act in ways consistent with section 3 of the ACU Student Conduct Policy.

2

Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in, and understands the requirements of ethical behaviour.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: Compliance with codes, guidelines, and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of all.

4

Adjustments must not compromise codes of conduct or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Demonstrating honesty, and compliance with academic conduct rules, confidentiality requirements, rules of natural justice, taught ethics requirements, professional etiquette, and procedural requirements. Treating others respectfully and fairly in classroom or online discussions, regardless of differences in background or opinion.

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively in a program of study in arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies.

2

Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic environment or while on community engagement placement.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in groups in changing, challenging, and unpredictable environments. Students may be exposed to emotionally challenging and intellectually demanding situations and examples of human suffering. They will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively.

4

Adjustments must support stable, effective, and professional behaviour in the academic environment. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Being perceptive and receptive in responding appropriately to constructive feedback. Managing own emotions and behaviour effectively when engaging with individuals in the academic environment.

Verbal Communication

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

Effective and efficient verbal communication, including communication in English, is fundamental to arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies.

2

Student demonstrates: Comprehension of spoken English delivered at conversational speed. Ability to communicate clearly, audibly, and intelligibly in English. Ability to communicate respectfully with people of different gender, sexuality, and age, and from diverse cultural, religious, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: The ability to understand and make verbal submissions accurately, appropriately, and in a timely manner. Students should be able to communicate effectively and coherently adapting in diverse learning situations.

4

Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in academic settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Making and responding to verbal submissions in academic settings including verbal interaction, verbal presentations. Participating in tutorials, class discussions, group activities, oral presentations or dramatic performances.

Non-Verbal Communication

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

The capacity to use, recognise, interpret, and respond appropriately to non-verbal behavioural cues and gestures is a fundamental part of effective communication with a range of stakeholders.

2

Student demonstrates: The capacity to recognise, interpret, and respond appropriately to non-verbal behavioural cues and gestures. Displays consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours. Responds with sensitivity to individual differences.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential in developing and maintaining effective relationships academic and professional relationships. Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of personal space, body movements, and gestures, and moderating these for cultural differences; promotes the trust and respect necessary to develop effective professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships.

4

Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Recognising non-verbal cues and responding appropriately in academic settings.

Written Communication

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

Effective written communication, including written communication in English, is fundamental to arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies.

2

Student demonstrates: The capacity to construct coherent written communication in English that is appropriate to the circumstances. The ability to read and comprehend written information presented in a variety of formats.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to the required academic standards, is necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter, make evidence-based academic arguments, and for discipline-based practice.

4

Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in academic and placement settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Constructing academic works including essays, problem questions, quizzes, and creative or reflective work to appropriate academic standards. Presenting written work in a variety of formats such as posters, PowerPoint slides, online blogs, or other formats.

Knowledge and Cognitive Skills

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to undertake arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies.

2

Student demonstrates: Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information. Capacity to process information relevant to practice. Capacity to integrate and implement knowledge. Capacity to comprehend and follow academic honesty processes and requirements.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: Competent practice requires the sourcing, understanding, and application of knowledge and skills relevant to the subject area being studied. The ability to read, decode, interpret, comprehend, and reference multiple sources of information is fundamental for understanding and applying knowledge.

4

Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Demonstrates the ability to think critically and create evidence-based analysis. Understand and use referencing techniques to acknowledge sources of research or sources of information.

Literacy (Language)

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

Competent literacy skills are essential to arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies.

2

Student demonstrates: Ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages in a scholarly manner. Ability to read, comprehend, and synthesize a range of different types of literature and information.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: The ability to acquire information and accurately convey messages is fundamental to understanding knowledge, evidence, theories, and ideas used in arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies. The ability to read, decode, interpret, and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental to learning in the arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies. The ability to convey accurate and appropriate messages is essential to create text-based arts, humanities, philosophical, and legal studies assessment tasks.

4

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply, and communicate accurate and appropriate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Demonstrates the ability to paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic conventions. Demonstrates the ability to find, analyse, and synthesize accurate and appropriate information for use in a variety of tasks, such as essays, projects, oral or poster presentations, tests or exams.

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

The ability to use thoughtful analysis of experience to inform future practice is an essential requirement of successful human rights practitioners.

2

Student demonstrates the ability to: Conceptualise their own experience and behaviour in professional contexts as valuable information to be retained. Seek and apply feedback on their learning. Analyse past practice in relation to discipline and professional knowledge. Use insights from their analysis of past experience to inform more effective professional practice.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: The ability to collect and analyse experiential data and use it in planning effective future practice is essential to developing human rights practice that responds effectively to the needs of diverse stakeholders and to changing human rights contexts.

4

Adjustments must address the student's ability to acquire, analyse their attitudes and behaviours in professional environments, and apply insights from that analysis to future practice. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Particularly in the human rights clinic, students should be able to prepare human rights-related work, respond to feedback from supervisors and stakeholders, and respond accordingly.

Level

Inherent Requirement Statements

1

Relational Skills are essential to work effectively, sensitively, and build relationships.

2

Student demonstrates: The ability to create rapport with peers, academic, and professional staff. Cultural competence, sensitivity, and willingness to work with individuals in a complex and diverse Australian society.

3

Justification of Inherent Requirement: The ability to relate effectively and sensitively to others is fundamental to a career in human rights.

4

Adjustments must enable appropriate levels of interpersonal engagement and behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

5

Exemplars: Participating in a respectful and culturally competent manner in tutorial discussion. Interacting with mutual respect, equity, and dignity towards others.

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