Critical and Creative Thinking

Subject PHIL90021 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

March, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 01-Mar-2016 to 15-Apr-2016
Assessment Period End 20-May-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 10-Mar-2016
Census Date 18-Mar-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 22-Apr-2016


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 hours (6 x 3 hr seminars + 1 x 6hr seminar)
Total Time Commitment:

170 hours

Prerequisites:

Admission into the MC-EMA Executive Master of Arts program.

Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject focuses on critical and creative thinking and how we can best develop and harness good ideas. The critical thinking component explores critical reasoning, causal reasoning and decision theory. The creative thinking component explores how we understand the relationship between critical and creative thinking, acknowledging that ideas about creative thinking are often ‘fuzzy’. Exercises and assessments in the first half of the subject will provide a framework for exploring how critical thinking works with creativity; the creative workshops in the second half will be geared to assessment and how we put knowledge into practice.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • understand, identify, analyse and synthesise major theories of critical and creative thinking;
  • demonstrate an effective critical understanding of critical and creative processes;
  • demonstrate effective critical and creative thinking and the application of these forms of thinking to the workplace;
  • demonstrate the ability to undertake effective independent research; and
  • conduct all activities in an ethical and responsible manner, demonstrating high levels of acadmic integrity.

Assessment:
  1. An essay on critical reasoning, 2,000 words (50%), due late March.
  2. A manifesto, 500 words or equivalent (10%), draft due mid-April.
  3. One peer review, 500 words (10%), due late April.
  4. A critical reflection/exegesis, 2,000 words (30%), due early May.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject.

Prescribed Texts:

Readings for this subject are drawn from a variety of textbooks and articles on critical and creative thinking, and will be available in reading packs that can be purchased at the bookstore or via LMS.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://graduate.arts.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: EMA 100 point program - full time over 1 year
EMA 150 point program - full time over 1.5 years
EMA 200 point program - full time over 1.5 years
EMA 200 point program - full time over 2 years

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