Graduate Certificate in Science Studies

Course code: 3515 + Course abbreviation: GradCertScStud + Total credit points required: 24 + 0.5 years full-time, 2 years part-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton; Gippsland)

Off-campus (Gippsland)

Course description

This graduate certificate enables students with an existing undergraduate degree in any discipline to obtain a minor undergraduate sequence of specialist training in a science discipline without having to undertake a complete Bachelor of Science degree. This course is currently not available outside Australia.

Course duration

The normal time for completion of the certificate is two years part-time, with one unit taken in both the first and second semesters of each year. More than one unit may be taken in any semester if those units are available and all prerequisite requirements have been completed. The course can be completed in a minimum of one-semester of full-time study.

Course objectives

The course aims to provide students with a detailed level of understanding of one specialised area of contemporary science up to second-year undergraduate level and, where appropriate to that discipline, competence in the use of information technology, data handling, laboratory skills, communication skills and team work.

Entry requirements

Entry is open to students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline. Selection will be based on academic merit, in particular achievement in the final year of undergraduate study. This course is currently not available to international students.

Credit for prior studies or learning

Students with previous studies in the discipline to be undertaken, or who have been assessed and approved for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), may be granted credit up to a maximum of 12 points of relevant science units, provided those studies were completed within the last 10 years. The normal faculty RPL policies and procedures apply to this course.

Course structure

The course offers graduates of any discipline an opportunity to undertake additional studies in one specialist area of science up to second-year undergraduate level, through the completion of a 24-point minor sequence in a science discipline. Disciplines available include astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric science, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, developmental biology, environmental and conservation biology, environmental geosciences, genetics, geography and environmental science, geosciences, immunology, materials science, mathematics, microbiology, molecular biology, pharmacology, physics, physiology, plant sciences, soil science, statistics and zoology.

The specific units to be taken towards a minor sequence are those described for each science discipline that is available as a minor sequence towards the Bachelor of Science. For details consult the 2007 Undergraduate Handbook for the Bachelor of Science entry or visit www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/undergrad/.

Students should be aware that many areas of study are only available for part-time study and that some areas of study require the completion of additional prerequisite units which are not normally available as part of this course.

The course provides students with the opportunity to articulate their studies into a graduate diploma course.

Course progression requirements

Students are normally expected to pass all prerequisite units before proceeding to studies at the next level, and the normal academic progress requirements for undergraduate science courses apply.

Contact details

Email enquiries@sci.monash.edu.au or visit www.sci.monash.edu.au/postgrad/

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