Course and Subject Handbook 2018 Courses Postgraduate Courses Graduate Certificate of Science

Graduate Certificate of Science

Information valid for students commencing in 2018.

Graduate Certificate of Science

Course code	53911
Course type	Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8)
Division	Tropical Environments and Societies

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Completion of an AQF Level 7 bachelor degree in science; or

other qualifications or professional/industry-based experience recognised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Environments and Societies as equivalent.

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

12 credit points

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Science, graduates will be able to:

Integrate and apply specialised theoretical and technical knowledge in one or more science disciplines
Retrieve, analyse, synthesise and evaluate knowledge from a range of sources
Plan and conduct reliable, evidence-based laboratory and/or field experiments/practices by selecting and applying methods, techniques and tools, as appropriate to one or more science disciplines
Organise, analyse and interpret complex scientific data using mathematical, statistical and technological skills
Communicate complex scientific ideas, arguments and conclusions clearly and coherently to a variety of audiences through advanced written and oral English language skills and a variety of media
Identify, analyse and generate solutions to unpredictable or complex problems, especially related to tropical, rural, remote or Indigenous contexts, by applying scientific knowledge and skills with initiative and high level judgement
Explain and apply regulatory requirements, ethical principles and, where appropriate, cultural frameworks, to work effectively, responsibly and safely in diverse contexts
Reflect on current skills, knowledge and attitudes to manage their professional learning needs and performance, autonomously and in collaboration with others.

Course Structure

Select one of the following 12 credit point discipline streams:

Stream 1: Aquaculture Science and Technology

Select 6 credit points from:

AQ5002:03 Aquaculture: Feeds and Nutrition

AQ5003:03 Aquaculture: Propagation

AQ5006:03 Aquaculture: Principles and Practices

AQ5015:03 Sustainable Aquaculture

PLUS

Select either:

AQ5012:06 Hatchery Techniques

Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

and

Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject

Stream 2: Environmental Earth Science

Select 6 credit points from:

EA5016:03 Hydrology

EA5017:03 Soil Properties and Processes

EA5046:03 Earth and Environmental Geochemistry

EA5404:03 From Icehouse to Greenhouse

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject

PLUS

Select either:

EA5018:03 Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science

Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

Stream 3: Environmental Management

Select 6 credit points from:

EV5020:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation

EV5107:03 Environmental Management, Policy and Governance

EV5200:03 Terrestrial Resource Management or EV5701:03 Managing Coastal and Marine Environments

EV5209:03 Principles and Practices of Protected Area Management

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject

PLUS

Select either:

EV5110:03 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

Stream 4: Fisheries Science and Management

Select 6 credit points from:

EV5014:03 Managing Tropical Fisheries

EV5020:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation

MB5003:03 Fisheries Science

MB5610:03 Fishing Gear and Technologies

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject

PLUS

MB5300:03 Sampling and Experimental Design or SC5502:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies or select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

Stream 5: Geology

Select 6 credit points from:

EA3210:03 Structural Geology and Tectonics

EA5048:03 Minerals and Magmas

EA5320:03 Earth Resources, Exploration and Environment

EA5650:03 Sedimentary Environments and Energy Resources

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject

PLUS

EA5044:03 Geological Mapping or select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

Stream 6: Marine Biology

Select 6 credit points from:

MB5004:03 Marine Conservation Biology

MB5055:03 Biological Oceanography

MB5190:03 Coral Reef Ecology

MB5270:03 Coastal, Estuarine and Mangrove Ecosystems

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject

PLUS

MB5300:03 Sampling and Experimental Design or SC5502:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies or select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

Stream 7: Tropical Biology and Conservation

Select 6 credit points from:

BZ5061:03 Behavioural Ecology (Townsville)

BZ5215:03 Conservation Biology (Cairns, Townsville)

BZ5220:03 Population and Community Ecology (Townsville)

BZ5230:03 Ecological Research Methods (Cairns)

BZ5235:03 Biological Invasions (Cairns)

BZ5740:03 Wildlife Ecology and Management (Townsville)

BZ5745:03 Tropical Entomology (Cairns)

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject

PLUS

MB5300:03 Sampling and Experimental Design or SC5502:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies or select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

List 1 (Skills)

AQ5004:03 Aquaculture: Stock Improvement

BC5203:03 Introduction to Bioinformatics

BS5260:03 Modelling Ecological Dynamics

BZ5450:03 Ecological and Conservation Genetics

BZ5990:03 Toolkit for the Field Biologist

CH5203:03 Analytical Chemistry (Advanced)

EA5018:03 Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science

EA5044:03 Geological Mapping

EA5330:03 Field Techniques

EA5640:03 Advanced Marine Geoscience Technologies and Applications

EV5110:03 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

EV5502:03 Advanced Geographic Information Systems

EV5505:03 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

EV5506:03 Remote Sensing

MA5405:03 Data Mining

MB5300:03 Sampling and Experimental Design

SC5202:03 Quantitative Methods in Science

SC5232:03 Marine Sensor Technologies and Applications

SC5502:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Cairns	Only Stream 7 is available in Cairns
Townsville

Stream Availabilities

STREAM	AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Aquaculture Science and Technology	Townsville	Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study
Environmental Earth Science	Townsville	Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study
Environmental Management	Townsville	Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows part-time study only
Fisheries Science and Management	Townsville	Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study
Geology	Townsville	Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry not available
Marine Biology	Townsville	Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study
Tropical Biology and Conservation	Cairns Townsville	Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study in Townsville only

Candidature

Expected time to complete	6 months full-time or equivalent part-time
Maximum time to complete	2 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Special assessment requirements	Nil
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Advanced Standing

Eligibility	Students may apply for advanced standing for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Advanced Standing and Articulation policy and associated procedures.
Maximum allowed	6 credit points
Currency	Advanced standing will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Advanced standing gained for any subject shall be cancelled 12 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree.
Other restrictions	Not applicable

Award Details

Award title	Graduate Certificate of Science
Approved abbreviation	GCertSc
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Students who complete the Graduate Certificate of Science are eligible for entry to the Graduate Diploma of Science, and may be granted advanced standing for all subjects completed under the Graduate Certificate.