Postgraduate Degrees - 2012 Handbook

Courses Offered

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Master of Science - Research
• Master of Environmental Science - Research
• Master of Science (Coastal Planning and Management)
• Master of Science (Geography or Geology)
• Master of Environmental Science - Advanced (by research and coursework)
• Master of Environmental Science
• Graduate Diploma in Science (Geography or Geology)
• Graduate Certificate in Spatial Science

Why do a research degree in the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences?

The School of Earth & Environmental Sciences is at the forefront of research in many fields and provides opportunities for research degrees at both the Masters and PhD levels. Students are invited to explore the diversity of the School's research beginning on the research page.

The School encompasses the disciplines of:
~  Human Geography
~  Physical Geography
~  Geology
~  Interdisciplinary programs in Environmental Science

Postgraduate teaching in Physical Geography focuses heavily upon:
~  coastal and fluvial geomorphology
~  quaternary studies and landscape evolution and
~  remote sensing and GIS

The Human Geography program has an emphasis on global restructuring and social & environmental changes. These areas have major relevance to Australia and surrounding region.

In the Geology program postgraduate coursework offerings allow specialisation in:
~  sedimentary basin and fossil fuels research
~  environmental geology and
~  geochemistry and regional geology

In the Environmental Science program, postgraduate coursework offerings are in Environmental Planning and Management, with opportunities to take units from other disciplines including, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Statistics, Environmental Policy, Environmental law, Remote Sensing and GIS, Physical Geography and Geology.

Postgraduate Research Degrees

 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Students complete a major thesis and undertake a research project arranged in consultation with an 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.

Duration: 3 Years or Part-Time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry requirements:
Honours degree of at least four years duration in a relevant discipline at Class II, Division 2, or higher (or equivalent).

Program Structure:
Candidates enrol in the major thesis subject for their discipline. As a guide, the Doctoral dissertation will be approx. 60,000 - 80,000 words in length. Students enrol in 48 credit points per year.

 Master of Science - Research

Courses provide for the specific needs and interests of students wishing to obtain experience in a modern research program.

Duration: 1.5 Years or Part-Time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry Requirements:
Minimum entry requirement is a Bachelor degree with a major study in the relevant discipline.

Program Structure:
The course consists of 72 credit points to be completed in a maximum time of two years full-time (four sessions), as follows:

• 24 credit points of coursework; and
• 48 credit point research project.

Students entering with a degree at the level of at least a Bachelor Honours Class II, Division 2 may be awarded the 24 credit points of coursework as advanced standing based on prior research training.

Students undertaking the 24 credit points of coursework will select appropriate postgraduate subjects (900 level) from those offered in the discipline in consultation with the Head of School or the Postgraduate Co-ordinator. For detailed possible subject programs consult the Postgraduate Course Handbook

 Master of Environmental Science - Research

Duration: 1.5 Years or Part-Time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry Requirements:
A Bachelor degree with Honours in Environmental Science, Science or Engineering at a level of at least Class II, Division 2, or a Master of Environmental Science or Master of Science (by coursework with a credit average), or equivalent qualifications, or appropriate publications and work experience. Entry must be approved by the  Environmental Science Postgraduate Coordinator (Prof John Morrison ) and, if thesis work is supervised by staff from another academic unit, the Head of that unit.

Program Structure:
The course consists of 72 credit points to be completed in a maximum time of two years full-time (four sessions), as follows:

• A 48 credit point research project ENVI940 (Environmental Science Research Thesis); and
• A maximum of 24 credit points of subjects, chosen from the Environmental Science postgraduate schedule (see Master of Environmental Science) in consultation with the Head of School.

Special Note: Students entering with a Bachelor Honours degree at the level of at least a Class II, Division 2, or a Master of Environmental Science Degree (or equivalent), will normally be awarded advanced standing for the 24 credit points of coursework, except for candidates with no background in environmental science, who will be required to complete the coursework component.

Postgraduate Coursework Degrees

 Master of Science (Coastal Planning and Management)

Duration: 1.5 -2 years or Part-time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry Requirements:
A relevant undergraduate degree of at least three years duration, or a similar tertiary qualification with relevant work experience.

Purpose of Program:
This program is designed to produce graduates able to assess, plan and manage the range of environmental and social issues experienced in coastal regions.
 

Program Structure:
Students in the Master of Science complete a common core of 24 credit points and a Major Study of 48 credit points in Coastal Planning and Management.  Students must complete ENVI923 Environmental Planning; plus one of: EESC902 Advanced Coastal Environments or EESC916 Coastal Population Studies; plus 24 credit points selected from listed electives.  See course structure in postgraduate course handbook.

 Master of Science (Geography or Geology)

Duration: 1.5 Years or Part-Time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry requirements:
A relevant undergraduate degree of at least three years duration, or a similar tertiary qualification with relevant work experience.

Purpose of Program:
These 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.

Program Structure:
Students with a satisfactory background in Earth and Environmental Sciences will be required to complete subjects to a value of 48 credit points. Other students will be required to complete subjects to a value of 72 credit points. The subjects are grouped in three strands. These reflect the major research strengths within the Earth & Environmental Sciences. Students are encouraged to focus their studies on one of these strands with approval by the Head of School. Please see course handbook.

 Master of Environmental Science - Advanced (by research and coursework)

Duration: 2 Years or Part-Time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry requirements:
Bachelor degree of at least three years duration in Environmental Science, Science, Applied Science, Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Science or Engineering, or equivalent tertiary qualifications and/or professional experience. Students must consult with the co-ordinator of the Environmental Science Postgraduate Coordinator (Prof John Morrison) for approval of overall entry.

Purpose of the program:
This program is aimed primarily at international students and combines research and coursework to provide a two-year degree for Science and Engineering graduates or others with a limited undergraduate background in the Environmental Science area.

Program Structure:
See postgraduate course handbook

 Master of Environmental Science

Duration: 1 Year or Part-time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry requirements:
Bachelor degree of at least three years duration in Environmental Science, Science, Applied Science, Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Science or Engineering (or equivalent qualifications and/or professional experience).

Alternative entry criteria for students without the appropriate undergraduate degree: the person would be required to have been working in a position for at least five years which, if they left, would be filled by an appropriately qualified graduate. Normally a written statement from a suitably qualified person, usually a senior manager with a strong science background, is required as confirmation of the necessary skills.

Program Structure:
Students will undertake a program of at least 48 credit points approved by the Environmental Science postgraduate co-ordinator (Prof John Morrison) and selected from the subjects listed:

 Graduate Diploma in Science (Geography or Geology)

Duration: 1 year or Part-time Equivalent
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry Requirements:
A relevant undergraduate degree of at least three years duration, or a similar tertiary qualification with relevant work experience.

Program Structure:
A 48 credit point program of study approved by the Head of School.

 Graduate Certificate in Spatial Science 

Duration: 1 year part-time
Starting Session: Autumn/Spring

Entry Requirements:
A relevant undergraduate degree of at least three years duration, or a similar tertiary qualification with relevant work experience.

Program Structure:
Students in the Graduate Certificate in Spatial Science complete a 24 credit program comprising of EESC914 Fundamentals of Spatial Science and either EESC904 Advanced GIS; or, EESC905 Advanced Remote Sensing.

Purpose of Program:
The aim of this course is to provide students with a theoretical basis for, as well as practical experience in, applying geospatial technologies (Geographic Information Science or Remote Sensing, and to a lesser extent, GPS) within an environmental problem solving context using industry standard software.

Further information about entry requirements, purpose of the programs and program structures in the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences can be downloaded from the Course Handbook pages.