STEPS - Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies
Program at a glance
| Duration: | 12 weeks accelerated mode, 24 weeks extended mode |
| Mode & Location: | internal - BDG/GLD/MKY/ROK/EMD. Not all plans are available at all campuses, enquire for details. |
| Courses/Units of Credit: | see below |
| Faculty: | not applicable |
| Entry: | direct to CQU |
| Accreditation: | not applicable |
| Residential School: | not applicable |
| Practicum/Work placement: | not applicable |
| Exit awards: | not applicable |
| Interim awards: | not applicable |
| Contact: | 07 4150 7149 or email steps-enquiries@cqu.edu.au |
| International students: | not applicable |
| CRICOS program codes: | not applicable |
Program aim
Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) is a program for adults over 19 years of age who would like to prepare for tertiary education by improving their skills in reading; writing; oral communication; elementary mathematics; and basic computer literacy. The STEPS program may be completed in an accelerated mode over a period of 12 weeks, or in an extended mode over a period of 24 weeks, dependent upon campus.
Prerequisites
- applicants must be at least 19 years old;
- applicants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or hold a permanent resident or humanitarian visa;
- it is expected that applicants should have completed the equivalent of Year 10, or show that they have the necessary aptitude to succeed in tertiary studies.
All applicants to the program will be required to complete an entrance test which includes writing as well as mathematics. These tests take place at all Central Queensland Unversity campuses offering the STEPS Program.
STEPS Accelerated CZ01
This program is offered on campus during T1 and T2.
| Course | Study Allowance |
|---|---|
| Language & Learning | 6 hours/week |
| Transition Mathematics 1 | 6 hours/week |
| Computing for Academic Assignment Writing | 3 hours/week |
| Tertiary Preparation Skills | 3 hours/week |
Courses
Language and Learning (LNGE40049)
This course aims to have students acquire the reading, thinking and writing skills necessary for academic purposes. It helps students to apply recent findings on learning to writing and study. Students are familiarised with the stages of the writing process and gain practice in writing in a variety of genres. Particular attention is given to reading for planning and writing the academic essay. Through research, writing and discussion, students gain an understanding of both past and present social, political and economic influences on Australia as it faces social change in the 21st century.Transition Mathematics 1 (MATH40237)
Transition Mathematics is a course in elementary mathematics. It is designed to have students commence work on the foundation concepts, rules and methods of basic mathematics. The main aim of this course is to provide a refresher course in those fundamentals of basic mathematics, which are necessary to develop mathematics as a unified body of knowledge. Topics covered in the course include number types, operations with numbers (including rules of precedence), percentages, introductory algebraic manipulation, introductory statistics, exponents (indices), solving algebraic equations, coordinate geometry of a straight line and units and their conversions.Computing for Academic Assignment Writing (COIT40206)
This course aims to develop skills necessary for word processing assignments correctly using Microsoft Word and creating spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. The use of the Internet (World Wide Web and Webmail in particular) aims to develop research skills necessary for academic studies.Tertiary Preparation Skills (SKIL40013)
Students will be familiarised with university programs and procedures as well as develop organisational strategies, oral presentation and research/information literacy skills necessary for academic studies.
STEPS Extended (CZ04)
This program is offered on campus during T1 and T2.
| Course | Study Allowance |
|---|---|
| Language & Learning A | 5 hours/week |
| Language & Learning B | 5 hours/week |
| Transition Mathematics 1A | 5 hours/week |
| Transition Mathematics 1B | 5 hours/week |
| Computing for Academic Assignment Writing A | 3 hours/week |
| Computing for Academic Assignment Writing B | 3 hours/week |
| Tertiary Preparation Skills | 3 hours/week |
| Tertiary Preparation Skills Extended | 3 hours/week |
Courses
Language and Learning A (LNGE40054)
This course gives an introduction to recent findings on learning and shows how these can be applied to writing and study. Students are also familiarised with the stages of the writing process and gain practice in writing in a variety of genres, particularly personal.Language and Learning B (LNGE40056)
This course further develops the whole-brain learning strategies introduced in Language and Learning A and shows how they can be applied to reading for planning and writing the academic essay. Through research, writing and discussion, students gain an understanding of social, political and economic influences, both past and present, on Australia as it faces social change in the 21st Century.Transition Mathematics 1A (MATH40232)
Transition Mathematics 1A introduces the foundation concepts, rules and methods of basic mathematics. The course aims to assist students to develop confidence in handling mathematical concepts and techniques and to motivate them to undertake further study in mathematics. Topics covered include number types, operations with numbers (including rules of precedence), percentages, introductory algebraic manipulation and introductory statistics. Transition Mathematics 1A is the first part of a two-part mathematics course for STEPS Extended students. It is assumed that students will complete the content of Transition Mathematics 1A before undertaking Transition Mathematics 1B.Transition Mathematics 1B (MATH40233)
Transition Mathematics 1B is the second part of a two-part mathematics course for STEPS students. This course continues on from Transition Mathematics 1A. Transition Mathematics 1B introduces additional foundation concepts, rules and methods of basic mathematics. The course aims to assist the student to develop confidence in handling mathematical concepts and techniques and to motivate them to undertake further study in mathematics and statistics. Topics covered include exponents (indices), solving algebraic equations, coordinating the geometry of a straight line and units and their conversions.Computing for Academic Assignment Writing A (COIT40207)
This course is designed to familiarise new users with the basic skills for setting out an academic assignment. Students will learn to navigate Microsoft Word and how to access shortcuts to reduce the workload associated with preparing an academic assignment. The aim is to have students gain proficiency in the use of Webmail and its protocols as well as in Internet searching.Computing for Academic Assignment Writing B (COIT40208)
This course aims to develop skills necessary for Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. It will consolidate skills acquired in Computing for Academic Assignment Writing A.Tertiary Preparation Skills (SKIL40013)
Students will be familiarised with university programs and procedures as well as develop organisational strategies, oral presentation and research/information literacy skills necessary for academic studies.Tertiary Preparation Skills Extended (SKIL40016)
This course is centred on the theories of optimism and authentic happiness. It seeks to facilitate the acquisition of a range of psychological and practical skills that are necessary for the challenges involved in tertiary study. Through a mixture of psychological theory, reflection and practical class activities students will become aware of the importance of the impact of their personal attitudes and beliefs on the outcomes of study, and of the facilitative nature of an optimistic and positive style. Practical skills relating to the process of study will also form a key component of the course. The course aims for students to learn to adopt a positive and directive attitude towards study and to acquire the time management and study skills necessary to successfully cope with tertiary study.
STEPS Flex (CZ05)
This program is offered on campus during T1 and T2.
| Course | Study Allowance |
|---|---|
| Language & Learning Flex A | 3 hours/week |
| Language & Learning Flex B | 3 hours/week |
| Transition Mathematics 1 Flex A | 3 hours/week |
| Transition Mathematics 1 Flex B | 3 hours/week |
| Computing for Academic Assignment Writing Flex A | 1.5 hours/week |
| Computing for Academic Assignment Writing Flex B | 1.5 hours/week |
| Tertiary Preparation Skills Flex A | 1.5 hours/week |
| Tertiary Preparation Skills Flex B | 1.5 hours/week |
Courses
Language and Learning Flex A (LNGE40040)
This course aims to have students acquire the reading, thinking and writing skills necessary for academic purposes. It helps students to apply recent findings on learning to writing and study. Students are familiarised with the stages of the writing process and gain practice in writing in a variety of genres. Particular attention is given to reading for planning and writing the academic essay. Through research, writing and discussion, students gain an understanding of both past and present social, political and economic influences on Australia as it faces social change in the 21st century.Language and Learning Flex B (LNGE40041)
This course continues on from the Language and Learning Flex A and aims to have students acquire the reading, thinking and writing skills necessary for academic purposes. It helps students to apply recent findings on learning to writing and study. Students are familiarised with the stages of the writing process and gain practice in writing in a variety of genres. Particular attention is given to reading for planning and writing the academic essay. Through research, writing and discussion, students gain an understanding of both past and present social, political and economic influences on Australia as it faces social change in the 21st century.Transition Mathematics 1 Flex A (MATH40230)
Transition Mathematics 1 Flex A introduces the foundation concepts, rules and methods of basic mathematics. The course aims to assist students to develop confidence in handling mathematical concepts and techniques and to motivate them to undertake further study in mathematics. Topics covered include number types, operations with numbers (including rules of precedence), percentages, introductory algebraic manipulation and introductory statistics. Transition Mathematics 1 Flex A is the first part of a two-part mathematics course for STEPS Extended students. It is assumed that students will complete the content of Transition Mathematics 1 Flex A before undertaking Transition Mathematics 1 Flex B.Transition Mathematics 1 Flex B (MATH40231)
Transition Mathematics 1 Flex B is the second part of a two-part mathematics course for STEPS students. This course continues on from Transition Mathematics 1 Flex A. Transition Mathematics 1 Flex B introduces additional foundation concepts, rules and methods of basic mathematics. The course aims to assist the student to develop confidence in handling mathematical concepts and techniques and to motivate them to undertake further study in mathematics and statistics. Topics covered include exponents (indices), solving algebraic equations, coordinate geometry of a straight line and units and their conversions.Computing for Academic Assignment Writing Flex A (COIT40212)
This course aims to develop skills necessary for word processing assignments correctly using Microsoft Word and creating spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. Students will use the Internet (World Wide Web and email in particular) to develop research skills necessary for academic studies.Computing for Academic Assignment Writing Flex B (COIT40213)
This course continues on from Computing for Academic Assignment Writing Flex A. It aims to develop skills necessary for word processing assignments correctly using Microsoft Word and creating spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. Students will use the Internet (World Wide Web and email in particular) to develop research skills necessary for academic studies.Tertiary Preparation Flex A (SKIL40007)
Students will be familiarised with the university programs and procedures as well as develop organisational strategies, oral presentation and research/information literacy skills necessary for academic studies.Tertiary Preparation Flex B (SKIL40008)
This course continues on from Tertiary Preparation Skills Flex A. Students will be familiarised with university programs and procedures as well as develop organisational strategies, oral presentations and research/information literacy skills necessary for academic studies.
Availability table
| Availability | CZ01 STEPS (Accelerated) Day | CZ04 STEPS (Extended) Day | CZ04 STEPS (Flex) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bundaberg | T1/T2 | T1/T2 | N/A |
| Emerald | N/A | N/A | T1/T2 |
| Gladstone | T2 | T1/T2 | T1/T2 |
| Mackay | T2 | T1/T2 | N/A |
| Rockhampton | T1/T2 | T1/T2 | T1/T2 |
| Commences | Concludes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerated | T1 (12 weeks) | 7 March 2005 | 3 June 2005 |
| T2 (12 weeks) | 11 July 2005 | 7 October 2005 | |
| Extended/Flex | T1/T2 (24 weeks) | 7 March 2005 | 7 October 2005 |