Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February, July
- Cairns: February, July
Fees
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Currently displaying fees for 2024, which are indicative only of the upcoming year's.
Duration
6 months full-time
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 Ò»±¾µÀGraduate Certificate of Science student, you will have unique access to world-class research facilities such as the Ò»±¾µÀOrpheus Island Research Centre or the LEED Gold certified Ò»±¾µÀScience 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. Ò»±¾µÀTownsville 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 Ò»±¾µÀcampuses, 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 Ò»±¾µÀGraduate 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 Ò»±¾µÀGraduate 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 2024 |
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 Ò»±¾µÀAdmissions 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 Ò»±¾µÀstudents 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:
:03 Aquaculture: Feeds and Nutrition
:03 Aquaculture: Propagation
:03 Aquaculture: Principles and Practices
:03 Sustainable Aquaculture
PLUS
Select either:
: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:
:03 Hydrology
:03 Soil Properties and Processes
:03 Earth and Environmental Geochemistry
: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:
: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:
:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation
:03 International Environmental Policy and Governance
:03 Natural Resource Management or :03 Coastal and Marine Management and Conservation
: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:
: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:
:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation
:03 Fisheries Science
:03 Managing Tropical Fisheries
: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
: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:
:03 Structural Geology and Tectonics
:03 Minerals and Magmas
:03 Earth Resources, Exploration and Environment
: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
:03 Geological Mapping or select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
Stream 6: Marine Biology
Select 6 credit points from:
:03 Marine Conservation Biology
:03 Biological Oceanography
:03 Coral Reef Ecology
: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
: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:
:03 Behavioural Ecology (Ò»±¾µÀTownsville)
:03 Conservation Biology (Ò»±¾µÀCairns, Ò»±¾µÀTownsville)
:03 Population and Community Ecology (Ò»±¾µÀTownsville)
:03 Ecological Research Methods (Ò»±¾µÀCairns)
:03 Biological Invasions (Ò»±¾µÀCairns)
:03 Wildlife Ecology and Management (Ò»±¾µÀTownsville)
:03 Tropical Entomology (Ò»±¾µÀCairns)
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subject
PLUS
:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies or 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:
:03 Environmental and Regional Planning
:03 Urban Geography and Design
:03 Planning Legislation and Professional Practice
: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
:03 Urban Design Studio or :03 Advanced Design Communication or :03 Field Studies in Tropical Geography or select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
List 1 (Skills)
:03 Aquaculture: Stock Improvement
:03 Advanced Bioinformatics
:03 Modelling Ecological Dynamics
:03 Ecological and Conservation Genetics
03 Toolkit for the Field Biologist
:03 Analytical Chemistry
:03 Advanced Petrology
:03 Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science
:03 Geological Mapping
:03 Introductory Outback Field Geology
:03 Advanced Marine Geoscience Technologies and Applications
:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation
:03 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
:03 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
:03 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
:03 Remote Sensing
:03 Data Mining
:03 Quantitative Methods in Science
:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Ò»±¾µÀCairns | Only Streams 2, 7 and 8 are available at Ò»±¾µÀCairns |
Ò»±¾µÀTownsville |
Stream Availabilities
STREAM | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Aquaculture Science and Technology | Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Environmental Earth Science | Ò»±¾µÀCairns Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Environmental Management | Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows part-time study only |
Fisheries Science and Management | Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Geology | Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry not available |
Marine Biology | Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Planning and Design | Ò»±¾µÀCairns | Beginning of year entry allows full-time and part-time study Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Planning and Design | Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | Beginning of year entry allows part-time study only Mid-year entry allows full-time and part-time study |
Tropical Biology and Conservation | Ò»±¾µÀCairns Ò»±¾µÀTownsville | 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 |
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.
Ò»±¾µÀoffers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, consider exploring our available Pathways options.
Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.
Complete an online application through our
Real stories
-
Lecturer
Dr Naomi Gardiner
Senior Lecturer, Marine & Aquaculture Sciences
The best part of working at Ò»±¾µÀis being part of an incredibly vibrant, active and diverse team of students and staff. Together our Ò»±¾µÀScience 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.