Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate Handbook 2001: Subjects indexed by faculty
Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents

Geography


The discipline

Geography is concerned with the interactions between the physical and human world. It has an active research agenda which provides research training and the foundations for contact with government and private sector research and policy employment. This agenda is based on three broad academic strengths. The first explores the key factors associated with evolving patterns of urban and regional development at a range of scales (metropolitan to local community), activities (housing, farming, services), environments (urban and rural) and contexts (Australia and the Asia Pacific), utilising a variety of innovative methodologies. The second addresses short and long-term changes in climate, vegetation and the physical and the human landscape. The approaches adopted aim to explain the present-day environment and provide essential baseline data for realistic modelling and prediction of future change and its impacts. The third area is concerned with the socio-political structures shaping human interactions with the biosphere and explores the community governance of environmental and ecological change at the local national and international scale. See also entry for ´Environmental science' and http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/prospective/postgraduate/disciplines/
Mid-year entry is available for all of the courses and programs listed below.

Master of Arts in Geography by coursework and research

General information

Course code: 2846 * Course fees: Local students - HECS; international students - $A13,000 * pa * Course director: Kevin O'Connor
The MA by coursework and research is available on Clayton campus, and is intended for students wishing to obtain the internationally accepted research degree which testifies to high standards of initiative, independence and innovation and which, if gained at a sufficient standard, is accepted as a qualification for admission to the PhD
Note that the department also offers a Master of Environmental Science degree by coursework and research, details for which are outlined under the ´Environmental science' entry.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirements are a four-year honours degree in a related discipline, with a grade of H2A or H1, or a masters qualifying with a substantial research component with an overall grade of H2A or above and a distinction or above in the research component, or a qualification deemed to be equivalent. In normal circumstances, no credit will be granted for the coursework component of this degree.

Course structure

The MA in Geography by coursework and research entails a thesis of 25,000 to 35,000 words (66 per cent), plus 24 points of coursework chosen from the fifth-year-level subjects listed below. The MA may also be taken by 100 per cent research.
Whether a student is allowed to undertake a thesis on a particular topic is contingent upon the availability of appropriate supervision. Individual subjects are offered according to the availability of staff and subject to sufficient enrolments. The research only degree is completed in two years of full-time work (or the equivalent part-time), while the coursework combined research degree is completed in one-and-a-half years full-time or three years part-time.

Geography graduate subjects (fifth-year level)

Fifth-year subjects from other schools may be chosen, subject to approval.
Note that the minimum pass grade for subjects in the Master of Arts is 60 C, ie a grade of credit or above is required in every subject and for the thesis.

Masters Qualifying in Geography with a research component

General information

Program code: 1988 * Program fees: Local students - HECS; international students - $A13,000 * pa * Program director: Fourth-year coordinator
The masters qualifying with a research component is designed for students with at least a three-year pass degree who wish to proceed to a masters by research program in geography. The program is one year full-time or two years part-time.

Entry requirements

Applicants must have a pass degree with a major in geography or an allied discipline with at least a credit-level average in the third part (the last year) of the major, or qualifications deemed to be equivalent. Students who have completed relevant subjects at the fourth-year level with grades of credit or above may request at the time of their application for a maximum of 24 points (or 50 per cent) to be credited to the program. Credit will not be granted for subjects for which a degree or an award of any kind has been taken out or towards the core subject or the research project. All requests for credit are subject to the approval of the department and the faculty.

Program structure

The program undertaken is the same as that undertaken by fourth-year honours students in the department but has a slightly more substantial research component. It consists of the 12-point, one-semester GYM4820 (Seminar in geography); a further subject or subjects to the value of 12 points chosen, in normal circumstances, from the fourth-year-level subjects listed below; and a research project (GYM4960) which is the 24 point project.
Students who complete the masters qualifying program with a grade of honours 2A or above (that is, distinction or high distinction level result) are eligible for admission into the PhD/masters program.

Geography graduate subjects: fourth-year level

Subjects are offered according to the availability of staff and sufficient enrolments.

Postgraduate Diploma of Arts (Geographical Information Systems)

General information

Course code: To be advised * Course fees: Local students (FT) - $9600; international students - $13000 * Coordinator: Dr * J * Peterson
This course seeks to provide education and training in recently adopted methods of digital spatial data handling, with special reference to thematic mapping relevant to the environmental and social sciences, planning and facilities management. Students will learn how to test and derive information from a range of data products, including satellite images and data sets from public and commercial spatial data vendors. In addition, subjects offered include one that introduces students to the Global Positioning System run by NAVSTAR, and others that deal with analysis of the digital data behind satellite images, spatial analysis using the vector and the raster data models, and spatial modelling for network analysis and for decision making and conflict resolution. Application of knowledge gained is then tested and explored in stage 2 of the course, which involves training in GIS project formulation and execution.

Entry requirements

Candidates for admission to this course should normally hold a first degree with a major sequence in a social or an environmental (including forestry cartography, planning, landscape architecture and building) or social science, or a Faculty Certificate in GIS with a credit average.

Course structure

Candidates will complete four level-four subjects from stage 1 (below) and then two 12-point GIS applications subjects formulated in collaboration with and supervised by the course coordinator and designated colleagues.
Students who have completed relevant subjects at fourth-year level may apply for a maximum of 50 per cent advanced standing. Advanced standing will not normally be granted for subjects undertaken in a course where the student has subsequently taken out a degree or an award of any kind. Students who hold the Faculty Certificate in GIS with grades of at least credit average may obtain a maximum of 50 per cent (24 points) credit towards this course.

Stage 1

All students must enrol for the following.

Core subjects

Both of these subjects are available on campus or by flexible delivery.
Students must take two of the following subjects:

Stage 2

Either semester (from mid-2002):
Two 12-point core subjects:

Faculty Certificate in GIS

General information

Course Code: To be advised * Course fees: Local students - $4800 * Coordinator: Dr * J * Peterson
This program seeks to provide education and training in recently adopted methods of digital spatial data handling, with special reference to thematic mapping relevant to the environmental and social sciences, planning and facilities management. Students will learn how to test and derive information from a range of data products, including satellite images and data sets from public and commercial spatial data vendors. In addition, subjects offered include one that introduces students to the use and applications of the Global Positioning System run by NAVSTAR, another about analysis of the digital data behind satellite images, and others that deal with spatial analysis using the vector and the raster data models, and spatial modelling for network analysis and for decision making and conflict resolution.

Entry requirements

The program of study is open to candidates with a bachelors degree. Those who do not have a bachelors degree but who have a minimum of five years relevant work experience may also be admitted. Relevant experience includes work at senior level in mapping activities. Those seeking admission on the basis of relevant work experience must submit a dossier including a curriculum vitae, position description and three letters of recommendation, and a statement of up to 1000 words outlining their career objectives and reasons for applying for the program.

Course structure
Core subjects

Both of these subjects are available on campus or by flexible delivery.

Students must take two of the following subjects:

Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents