SCI3930 Career skills for scientists
Faculty of Science
SCI3930 Career skills for scientists is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2025 in Summer A, Semester 1 and Winter at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Summer A, Semester 1, Winter
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before SCI3930
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After SCI3930
No unit lists SCI3930 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Overview
This unit prepares you to apply for graduate level employment. It uses work-related activities to develop and enhance your transferable skills, and focusses on essential career planning.
Commercial awareness is the umbrella theme of the unit due to its critical importance in the workplace. You will explore aspects such as the intellectual property landscape, budgeting, regulation, quality control, marketing strategy, and the business environment through creative problem-solving activities.
The unit also focuses on other important skills for graduate employment, including communication, leadership, collaboration, problem-solving and critical thinking. You will audit your key employability skills, reflect on ongoing development and keep a record of your self-evaluation so you can better articulate your skills to potential employers. The unit also offers opportunities to explore various career pathways, job search strategies, and prepare an effective job application that includes a resume, cover letter and response to selection criteria.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester A | Clayton | Immers blk |
| First semester | Clayton | Flexible |
| Winter semester | Clayton | Immers blk |
Assessment
- Reflective portfolioPortfolioThreshold hurdle30%
- Job application documentsWork integratedThreshold hurdle30%
- Mock interviewWork integrated15%
- Workshop tasksDemonstrationThreshold hurdle25%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Self-evaluate and reflect on your employment readiness with respect to the key employability skills;
- 2
Recognise and develop skills that will be valuable in the workplace;
- 3
Present clear evidence of how your skills and experience can benefit potential employers;
- 4
Articulate your range of scientific and professional skills through preparation of a job application;
- 5
Apply the principles of networking and self-promotion and reflect on their impact in a professional context;
- 6
Develop a sense of inclusivity and professionalism in the workplace.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops16 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
SEMESTER 1
- Eight 2-hour workshop and
- 128 hours of private/independent study
WINTER / SUMMER
- Four 4-hour workshops and
- 128 hours of private/independent study
Problem-based learning will be explored in the workshops through theoretical concepts and will enable the development of relevant observation and descriptive skills, as well as communication skills.
Active learning will occur in workshops.
Online learning will be used to illustrate and explain concepts and to highlight links between learning material and the workplace.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Overton, T., Johnson, S., & Scott, J. (2015). Study and communication skills for the chemical sciences (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Rosemarie Herbert
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Rosemarie Herbert
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for SCI3930?
SCI3930 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is SCI3930 offered?
In 2025, SCI3930 runs in Summer A, Semester 1 and Winter at Clayton.
Does SCI3930 have an exam?
No. SCI3930 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.