Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate Handbook 2001: Subjects indexed by faculty
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Geography and environmental science


Coordinator: Associate Professor Kevin O'Connor

Geography

The diverse research interests of the teaching staff and the variety of facilities available offer a wide range of research possibilities to students in physical geography and environmental science. Many of the graduate theses already completed have been concerned with research problems in Australia but there is increasing research interest in the Asian region and depending on available research funds, research outside Australia may also be possible. Strong research interests include geomorphic process studies, basic and applied climatology, environmental history, palaeoecology, landscape evolution, geographical information systems and remote sensing, environmental conflicts and the interpretation of changing attitudes to the environment.
Candidates for the PhD degree normally should have a masters degree in geography or allied environmental discipline for which the major requirement is substantial research accomplishment. Normally, graduate students without a masters degree are enrolled in the first instance for the MSc. If the research topic appears to have PhD potential and if the candidate's progress warrants promotion, a recommendation may be made to the PhD and Scholarships Committee to change the candidature to that of PhD.
Further information can be gained from the Arts entry in this handbook and the School of Geography and Environmental Science graduate studies handbook. Inquiries should be referred to the head of the department.

Graduate School of Environmental Science

The school's purpose is to promote understanding of the interactions of ecological and social processes, leading to action to facilitate a sustainable world. It emphasises the value of understanding the environment through practical projects undertaken within a framework of social and philosophical theory, thereby encouraging an understanding of how environmental action can be achieved.
Coursework and research involve multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, and there is an emphasis on collaborative and applied team projects.
Students with an honours degree in any discipline may apply for enrolment in masters programs in environmental science. Students with H2B honours may enrol in the MEnvSc by coursework and students with H2A honours may enrol in either the MEnvSc by coursework or the MEnvSc by research combined with coursework.
Students with a bachelors degree without honours may enrol in the masters qualifying in environmental science by either coursework or by research or in a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science.
Further information on the environmental science programs can be gained from the Arts section in this handbook. The Course Details handbook is available from the graduate coordinator, School of Geography and Environmental Science. Inquiries should be referred to the postgraduate administrative officer, Graduate School of Environmental Science.

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