Postgraduate - Course3902 - Master of Environmental Science

Candidature in a master's degree involves the independent investigation of a research problem that has been formulated by the candidate. It is expected that the research undertaken will make a contribution to the discipline in which the candidate is enrolled by applying, clarifying, critiquing or interpreting that knowledge. Candidates are supported by a minimum of two supervisors throughout their candidature.

In some discipline areas on some campuses, candidates are required to complete a compulsory program of coursework and/or training. These discipline-specific programs are designed to impart skills and knowledge that will assist candidates to conduct their research.

Successful completion of the program will signify that the holder has completed a course of postgraduate training in research under proper academic supervision and has submitted a thesis that the examiners have declared to be a significant contribution to knowledge and which demonstrates the candidate's capacity to carry out independent research.

Candidature rules

For all candidature rules and other important information for candidates refer to the 'Handbook for Research Master's Degrees' available at http://www.monash.edu/migr/research-degrees/handbook/masters.

This course consists of:

• a research and thesis component
• for candidates enrolled at a Monash Australia campus a coursework study and training program.

Studies in the School of Geography and Environmental Science are concerned with understanding the dimensions, complexities and relationships of the physical, human and environmental world. The school has an active research program that provides research training and the foundations for interactions across a range of government, non-government and industry sectors. There are a number of broad research strengths within the school including:

(a.) urban and regional sustainability - associated with social, cultural, economic, environmental and political change across a range of scales (global to local); dealing with a range of activities (housing, economic development, resource management, sustainability) and contexts (Australia, Africa and Indo-Pacific Region)

(b.) short and long-term changes in climate, vegetation and the physical and human landscape

(c.) the socio-political structures shaping human interactions with the biosphere and the exploration of the community governance of environmental and ecological change at the local, national and international scale

(d.) specialisation in the archaeology of Aboriginal Australia and Torres Strait

(e.) Geographic Information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, with strong emphasis on scientific applications to environmental and resource management, GIS for mapping and modelling in local government, transport and land use planning applications.

Research topics are available in relevant areas of the faculty's research strength, depending on supervision and resource availability. For more detail refer to postgraduate entries at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2013handbooks/aos/index-byfaculty-arts.html.

Each candidate enrolled at a Monash Australia campus will be assigned to the following coursework study and training program:

• Geography, environment and sustainability HDR program

Candidates must, in consultation with and under the direct supervision of a member/s of the academic staff:

(a.) carry out a program of research on an agreed topic approved by the school of enrolment in the candidate's chosen discipline for a specified period, including attending and/or presenting at seminars and other related activities as indicated by the relevant department/school

(b.) submit for assessment a thesis of not more than 40,000 words on the program of research which meets the requirements of the examiners. Submission of the thesis based on or partially based on conjointly published or unpublished work may be permitted.

(c.) satisfactorily complete one of the programs of coursework study and/or training as outlined under 'Areas of study'.

Candidates must pass all coursework units. If a candidate fails a coursework component of their degree, they can repeat the relevant unit once in a later semester. Candidates who fail to pass the repeat attempt of the unit will be subject to a termination process under the Candidature Progress Management RegulationsCandidature Progress Management Regulations (http://adm.monash.edu/legal/legislation/council-regulations/candidature-progress-management-regulations.pdf) (refer also to the Candidature Progress Management policypolicy (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/research/mrgs/candidature-progress-management-policy.html) and proceduresprocedures (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/research/mrgs/termination-of-candidature-procedures.html)).

Master of Environmental Science