Course and Subject Handbook 2025 Courses Postgraduate Courses Graduate Certificate of Science [Exit only]

Graduate Certificate of Science [Exit only]

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2025
Course code	53911
Course type	Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8)
Owner	Academy
College	Science and Engineering

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

The Graduate Certificate of Science may be awarded to students exiting the Graduate Diploma of Science, Master of Science, Master of Science (Professional) or Master of Marine Biology, provided they meet the award requirements of the Graduate Certificate of Science.

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Not applicable – this course is an exit qualification only.

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

EV5401:03 Coastal and Catchment Geomorphology

EA5404:03 Earth's Climate: Past, Present and Future

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 International Environmental Policy and Governance

EV5200:03 Natural Resource Management

EV5701:03 Coastal and Marine Management and Conservation

EV5209:03 Principles and Practices of Protected Area Management

EV5003:03 Environmental Economics

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:

EV5020:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation

MB5003:03 Fisheries Science

MB5014:03 Managing Tropical Fisheries

MB5610:03 Fishing Gear and Technologies

MB5620:03 Grand Challenges in Fisheries

PLUS

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

PLUS

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:

EA5211:03 Structural Geology and Tectonics

EA5048:03 Minerals and Magmas

EA5320:03 Earth Resources, Exploration and Environment

EA5650:03 Energy Resources and Basin Analysis

EA5046:03 Earth and Environmental Geochemistry

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

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

BZ5215:03 Conservation Biology

BZ5220:03 Population and Community Ecology

BZ5230:03 Ecological Research Methods

BZ5235:03 Biological Invasions

BZ5740:03 Wildlife Ecology and Management

BZ5745:03 Tropical Entomology

PLUS

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

PLUS

SC5502:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies or SC5202 Quantitative Methods in Science or select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)

List 1 (Skills)

AQ5004:03 Aquaculture: Stock Improvement

BC5203:03 Advanced Bioinformatics

BS5260:03 Modelling Ecological Dynamics

BZ5450:03 Ecological and Conservation Genetics

BZ5990:03 Toolkit for the Field Biologist

CH5203:03 Analytical Chemistry

EA5046:03 Earth and Environmental Geochemistry

EA5130:03 Advanced Petrology

EA5018:03 Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science

EA5044:03 Geological Mapping

EA5330:03 Introductory Outback Field Geology

EA5640:03 Advanced Marine Geoscience Technologies and Applications

EV5020:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation

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

SC5202:03 Quantitative Methods in Science

SC5502:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Cairns	Exit only
JCU Townsville	Exit only

Candidature

Expected time to complete	6 months full-time or part-time equivalent
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
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Not applicable – this is an exit only degree
Maximum allowed	Not applicable
Currency	Not applicable
Expiry	Not applicable
Other restrictions	Not applicable

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF SCIENCE
Approved abbreviation	GCertSc
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Not applicable
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure