Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Course

This graduate diploma enables students with an existing undergraduate degree in any discipline to obtain a major undergraduate sequence of specialist training in a science discipline without having to undertake a complete Bachelor of Science degree.

The course aims to provide students with a detailed level of understanding of one specialised area of contemporary science up to third-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.

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 24 points of relevant science units, provided those studies were completed within the last 10 years.

Students complete a 48-point major sequence in one science area.

A major sequence in science comprises an approved combination of eight 6-point science units in the same, or closely related, area of study over three years (or full-time equivalent). These must include a total of at least six 6-point units at levels two and three, with at least three 6-point units at level three.

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.

Students intending to apply for honours in Science should include a minimum of 24 points of studies in relevant units at level three.

At Clayton, students complete a major sequence in one of the following:

• applied mathematics
• astrophysics
• atmospheric science
• biochemistry
• biochemistry and molecular biology
• chemistry
• computational mathematics
• developmental biology
• ecology and conservation biology
• genetics
• genetics and molecular biology
• geographical science
• geosciences
• human pathology
• immunology
• immunology and human pathology
• marine and freshwater biology
• materials science
• mathematical statistics
• mathematics
• microbiology
• microbiology and molecular biology
• pharmacology
• physics
• physiology
• plant sciences
• pure mathematics
• zoology.

The specific requirements for each major sequence available are outlined under the relevant science area of study and sequences which can be found by going to http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2011handbooks/undergrad/sci-aos-clayton.html.

At Gippsland (on- and off-campus), students complete a major sequence in one of the following:

• applied biochemistry
• applied chemistry
• applied microbiology
• ecology and environmental management
• medical bioscience
• veterinary bioscience.

The specific requirements for each major sequence available are outlined under the relevant science area of study and sequences which can be found by going to http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2011handbooks/undergrad/sci-aos-gippsland.html.

Graduate Diploma in Science