Geosciences

COURSES OFFERED
The following courses are available:

1. Doctor of Philosophy

2. Honours Master of Science and Honours Master of Arts by:

a. Coursework

b. Coursework and Research

c. Research

3. Master of Science

4. Master of Arts

5. Graduate Diploma in Science

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Physical Geography and Environments
Human Geography and Environments
Fuels & Sedimentology
Minerals & Hard Rock Geology
and other studies in Geoscience.


CURRENT RESEARCH AREAS

The following areas of research are available to candidates undertaking the Honours Master degrees by research and the Doctor of Philosophy degree:

Physical Geography
Quaternary studies
Australian prehistory
Coastal geomorphology
Fluvial geomorphology
Evolution of landforms
Soils and landscapes
Environmental impact
Environmental management
Remote sensing applications
Geographical information systems
Biogeography
Palynology
Natural hazards

Human Geography
Agricultural geography
Asia-Pacific Rim
Environmental management
Rural Studies
Geographical information systems
Australian prehistory
Urban studies
Population studies
Health and welfare
Food resources and World economy
Economic restructuring
Cultural landscapes
Development Studies

Geology
Coal geology
Environmental geology
Environmental geochemistry
Hydrology
Igneous petrology
Isotope geochemistry
Marine Geoscience
Metamorphic petrology
Ore geology
Palaeontology and stratigraphy
Petroleum geology and oil shales
Sedimentology
Structural geology and tectonics
Volcanology


1. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Students complete a major thesis and undertake a research project arranged in consultation with the appropriate member of staff and approved by the Head of Department before enrolment. PhD theses must make a major original contribution to scientific knowledge in the chosen area of research.

Candidates enrol in GEOS999 Major Thesis. The degree carries a weighting of 48 credit points per year for a minimum of 3 years.

Entry Requirements
Honours bachelor degree in a relevant discipline at Class II, Division 2 or higher (or equivalent). Students wishing to enter this degree with qualifications below this standard will normally be required to successfully complete 48 credit points (one year) of coursework.


2. HONOURS MASTER OF SCIENCE (GEOGRAPHY or GEOLOGY)

The rapid development of earth sciences has produced a need for postgraduate coursework. The courses offered by the School of Geosciences provide further training to graduates currently employed in government, industry or education. The courses are intended to provide a broad general training. Specialist training is mainly by the preparation of a research thesis, but specialist coursework training is also available. Entry and choice of subjects is subject to the approval of the Head of the School of Geosciences. The subject combinations in each program may be varied to take account of the candidates' qualifications, objectives and study plan. The minimum pre-requisites for all programs is that the student must have graduated with at least the equivalent of 24 credit points of 300-level Geosciences subjects.

Students entering with a degree in Geosciences at the level of at least Bachelor Honours Class II, Division 2 will take subjects to a value of 48 credit points. Students entering with a pass or Bachelor Honours Class III degree will take subjects to a value of 96 credit points. The course consists of subjects selected from one of the listed postgraduate programs and/or a 48 credit point research thesis.

3. HONOURS MASTER OF ARTS (GEOGRAPHY)

The primary aim of the Honours Masters program in Geosciences is to provide research training at the postgraduate level. Students are required to have at least an Honours Class II, Division 2 degree in an appropriate discipline and will be required to complete a thesis with a value of at least 48 credit points. (GEOS944)

4. MASTER OF SCIENCE (GEOGRAPHY or GEOLOGY)
        and MASTER OF ARTS (GEOGRAPHY)

These coursework programs have been devised to meet the needs of students who wish to proceed to the postgraduate level in Geography or Geology to enhance their qualifications in an area without undertaking a research project.

Students with a satisfactory background in Geosciences will be required to complete subjects with a value of 48 credit points. Other students will be required to complete postgraduate subjects with a value of 72 points. The subjects are grouped in four strands which reflect the major research strengths of the school of Geosciences. Students are encouraged to focus their studies on one of these strands. Entry to the program and the choice of subjects require the approval of the Head of the School of Geosciences.


POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Master of Science and Master of Arts (Physical Geography and Environments)

5. GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN SCIENCE

The Graduate Diploma in Science offers graduates lacking a major strand of Geosciences in their degree the opportunity to acquire competence in the discipline. Alternatively, Geosciences graduates may enrol in the program in order to update, broaden and/or intensify their knowledge, e.g. for teaching, or to equip themselves for work in applied fields such as environmental studies, fuels or mining resources, or in urban, regional or social planning. In addition to the University's Rules for Graduate Diplomas, candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Science shall:

i) complete Geoscience subjects to a value of not less than 48 credit points from those listed in the General Schedule, at least 24 credit points being for subjects at the 300-level and the remainder at 200-level, provided that by approval of the Head of School, up to 12 credit points at 200-level may be obtained for cognate subjects offered by another Department;

ii) not include in the diploma program subjects which, in the opinion of the Head of School, are substantially equivalent in content to those for which credit has already been obtained towards some other degree or diploma;

iii) have their program approved by the Head of School before enrolling;

iv) successfully complete the graduate diploma program in not more than four academic sessions.