Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February, July
- Cairns: February, July
Fees
$4,150.00+
$16,300.00^
+total estimated Commonwealth Supported Fee
^total estimated tuition fee
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
6 months full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in science; or equivalent
Course Code
53911
Course detail
Pursue your passion and expand your knowledge and skills in your chosen science specialisation. Build on your undergraduate science degree or broaden your academic experience with the Graduate Certificate of Science. In this six-month degree, you will gain an in-depth understanding of a specific scientific area. Your knowledge and skills can prepare you for further study (such as Master of Science) or equip you to pursue research, professional practice and leadership roles within your chosen field.
With seven streams to choose from, you will gain hands-on experience in the area of science that sparks your passion. You will choose two subjects designed to increase your knowledge base and understanding of your field as well as a third subject designed to help you develop the skills vital to your chosen field. You will gain theoretical, practical and technical knowledge and skills as you learn from expert lecturers and participate in practical workshops and projects.
As a JCU Graduate Certificate of Science student, you will have unique access to world-class research facilities such as the JCU Orpheus Island Research Centre or the LEED Gold certified JCU Science Place. You will get hands-on experience in the diverse environmental region of North Queensland, home to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. When you study in North Queensland, you’re studying in a region with the highest biodiversity in the world. JCU Townsville is ranked #2 in the world for research related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal, “Life below water” (SDG 14)1.
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate of Science, you will be equipped to pursue further study, research and professional development. You will be able to organise, analyse and interpret complex scientific data, communicate complex ideas and draw conclusions, identify problems and generate effective solutions, plan and conduct reliable laboratory or field experiments, and apply your research within multiple contexts.
1Nature Index 2021
View the handbook for detailed information on the subjects included in each discipline stream.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Science.
Streams
Aquaculture Science and Technology
Students benefit from laboratory and field-based learning in JCU’s Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility. You will explore the science of aquaculture and learn about the husbandry and nutrition of various aquaculture species.
Learn to maintain your own organisms in an intensive aquaculture system. Investigate the scope and role of aquaculture as a food source and critically assess the environmental sustainability and suitability of existing and developing aquaculture industries.
Environmental Earth Science
Learn from world-class lecturers about the impacts of land use, land management, and climate change on the earth surface. Investigate the latest techniques to minimise the harmful effects of human activity on the environment.
Apply your learnings to the diverse environments of the tropics, including the Daintree Rainforest, fertile agricultural regions, the vast savannah outback, magnificent tropical rivers and diverse coastlines.
Environmental Management
Reap the benefits of hands-on fieldwork experience to develop your capability in natural resource management. Work with research and industry experts to deepen your understanding of the impacts of human activities on our natural resources.
Become an expert in best practice approaches to the sustainable management of terrestrial landscapes and natural resources in the tropics.
Fisheries Science and Management
Explore the fundamentals of fisheries science and its application in tropical environments. Students gain knowledge, technical skills and experience in fisheries assessments, sustainable development and management approaches.
Tackle the grand challenges in fisheries across small scale and industrial contexts, to ensure the best possible outcomes for human communities, fish stocks, and ecosystems globally.
Geology
Develop your knowledge of geological structures and plate tectonics. Build a core understanding of mineralogy as applied to rocks, sediments and soils. Learn about the distribution of earth resources and the mechanisms by which metalliferous ores, industrial minerals and fossil fuels are formed.
Students gain a practical appreciation of global environmental change and develop an informed perspective of global natural resources.
Marine Biology
Access one of the most diverse and fragile marine ecosystems in the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Students undertake field trips to study the impact of human society on tropical marine populations, species, habitats and ecosystems. Learn how coral reefs, oceanic and coastal ecosystems function in the tropics.
Study corals, fish, turtles, marine mammals, fisheries, marine reserve design, conservation biology and genetics, biodiversity and more. Attain the technical skills and knowledge necessary for working in the marine education, science and conservation sector.
Planning and Design
Access JCU’s extensive industry networks across a broad range of planning organisations. Study how cities and towns develop and learn how to deliver thriving regions and healthy urban environments.
Plan for a rapidly changing world and learn how to balance political, environmental and economic wellbeing.
Tropical Biology and Conservation
Benefit from access to natural environments in close proximity to JCU campuses, including savannahs, the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest, and coastal marine habitats. Your studies will integrate a range of disciplines such as zoology, ecology, botany, and behaviour and evolution biology across an array terrestrial and marine habitats.
Observe, explore and build your understanding of the diversity of the biological world while developing the skills necessary to conduct applied research and/or work in environmental science industries delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for conserving the natural environment.
Expand your career options with a JCU Graduate Certificate of Science. Enhance your current qualifications by extending your knowledge and technical skills in your profession or learn the fundamentals for a new career track in the natural and environmental sciences.
Your JCU Graduate Certificate in Science could help you to gain employment as a biologist, geologist, environmental scientist or manager, or conservation specialist.
Students who complete the Graduate Certificate of Science are eligible for credit towards the Master of Science (Professional) and Master of Science degrees.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2023 |
Course code | 53911 |
Course type | Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8) |
Owner | Academy |
College | Science and Engineering |
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:
|
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Graduate Certificate of Science. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
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
or
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 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
or
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 or EV5701:03 Coastal and Marine Management and Conservation
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
or
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
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:
EA3210:03 Structural Geology and Tectonics
EA5048:03 Minerals and Magmas
EA5320:03 Earth Resources, Exploration and Environment
EA5650:03 Energy Resources and Basin Analysis
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 (JCU Townsville)
BZ5215:03 Conservation Biology (JCU Cairns, JCU Townsville)
BZ5220:03 Population and Community Ecology (JCU Townsville)
BZ5230:03 Ecological Research Methods (JCU Cairns)
BZ5235:03 Biological Invasions (JCU Cairns)
BZ5740:03 Wildlife Ecology and Management (JCU Townsville)
BZ5745:03 Tropical Entomology (JCU Cairns)
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)
Stream 8: Planning and Design
Select 6 credit points from:
EV5001:03 Environmental and Regional Planning
EV5301:03 Urban Geography and Design
EV5603:03 Planning Legislation and Professional Practice
EV5505:03 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject
PLUS
EV5602:03 Urban Design Studio or EV5120:03 Advanced Design Communication or EV5404:03 Field Studies in Tropical Geography 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 (Advanced)
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 | Only Streams 2, 7 and 8 are available at JCU Cairns |
JCU Townsville |
Stream Availabilities
STREAM | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Aquaculture Science and Technology | JCU 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 | JCU Cairns JCU Townsville | Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Environmental Management | JCU Townsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows part-time study only |
Fisheries Science and Management | JCU Townsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Geology | JCU Townsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry not available |
Marine Biology | JCU Townsville | Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Planning and Design | JCU Cairns | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Planning and Design | JCU Townsville | Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Tropical Biology and Conservation | JCU Cairns JCU Townsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study at JCU Townsville 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 | Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure Credit will only be granted for subjects aligned to the current course’s learning outcomes and if the applicant demonstrates sufficient prior knowledge and skills to achieve the course learning outcomes in the time available in the course. |
Maximum allowed | 6 credit points |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course. |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 12 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit 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 |
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 credit for all subjects completed under the Graduate Certificate. |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,150.00
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD16,300.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
Real stories
-
Lecturer
Dr Naomi Gardiner
Senior Lecturer, Marine & Aquaculture Sciences
The best part of working at JCU is being part of an incredibly vibrant, active and diverse team of students and staff. Together our JCU Science team regularly makes breakthrough discoveries that change paradigms and practices globally. It is great to be able to contribute to work that really does make a difference.