Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February, July
- Cairns: February, July
Fees
$8,510.00+
$33,741.00^
+estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load
^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
1 year full-time
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in science; or equivalent
Course Code
105006
Course detail
JCU students study in the diverse environmental region of North Queensland. You will gain advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in a range of specialised scientific fields, through practical workshops, projects and directed study.
This flexible one year full-time course is offered at JCU’s Townsville and Cairns campuses and is designed for you to expand your knowledge in your chosen science specialisation. Choose from one of eight discipline streams described below, plus choose from a range of elective subjects to complement your training.
View the handbook for detailed information on the subjects included in each discipline stream and available electives.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Science.
Streams
Aquaculture Science and Technology
Students benefit from laboratory and field based learning in JCU’s Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility. You will explore the science of aquaculture and learn about the husbandry and nutrition of various aquaculture species.
Learn to maintain your own organisms in an intensive aquaculture system. Investigate the scope and role of aquaculture as a food source and critically assess the environmental sustainability and suitability of existing and developing aquaculture industries.
Environmental Earth Science
Learn from world-class lecturers about the impacts of land use, land management, and climate change on the earth surface. Investigate the latest techniques to minimise the harmful effects of human activity on the environment.
Apply your learnings to the diverse environments of the tropics, including the Daintree Rainforest, fertile agricultural regions, the vast savannah outback, magnificent tropical rivers and diverse coastlines.
Environmental Management
Reap the benefits of hands-on fieldwork experience to develop your capability in natural resource management. Work with research and industry experts to deepen your understanding of the impacts of human activities on our natural resources.
Become an expert in best practice approaches to the sustainable management of terrestrial landscapes and natural resources in the tropics.
Fisheries Science and Management
Explore the fundamentals of fisheries science and its application in tropical environments. Students gain knowledge, technical skills and experience in fisheries assessments, sustainable development and management approaches.
Tackle the grand challenges in fisheries across small scale and industrial contexts, to ensure the best possible outcomes for human communities, fish stocks, and ecosystems globally.
Geology
Develop your knowledge of geological structures and plate tectonics. Build a core understanding of mineralogy as applied to rocks, sediments and soils. Learn about the distribution of earth resources and the mechanisms by which metalliferous ores, industrial minerals and fossil fuels are formed.
Students gain a practical appreciation of global environmental change and develop an informed perspective of global natural resources.
Global Change Biology
Develop your knowledge of global changes, patterns of biodiversity, conservation planning and evolutionary adaptation and be equipped to address the threats and challenges to global biodiversity. Learn how to identify major issues impacting species and ecosystems, analyse the contributing factors and formulate methods of solving some of our world's biggest problems.
With the natural environment changing at an unprecedented rate, it has never been more important to understand and reduce the accelerating impacts on our ecosystems.
Marine Biology
Access one of the most diverse and fragile marine ecosystems in the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Students undertake field trips to study the impact of human society on tropical marine populations, species, habitats and ecosystems. Learn how coral reefs, oceanic and coastal ecosystems function in the tropics.
Study corals, fish, turtles, marine mammals, fisheries, marine reserve design, conservation biology and genetics, biodiversity and more. Attain the technical skills and knowledge necessary for working in the marine education, science and conservation sector.
Tropical Biology and Conservation
Benefit from access to natural environments in close proximity to JCU campuses, including savannahs, the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest, and coastal marine habitats. Your studies will integrate a range of disciplines such as zoology, ecology, botany, and behaviour and evolution biology across an array terrestrial and marine habitats.
Observe, explore and build your understanding of the diversity of the biological world while developing the skills necessary to conduct applied research and / or work in environmental science industries delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for conserving the natural environment.
Broaden your career opportunities with a JCU Graduate Diploma of Science. Enhance your current qualifications by extending your knowledge and technical skills in your profession or learn the fundamentals for a new career track in the natural and environmental sciences.
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of Science find work in public and private sectors both in Australia and beyond.
You could work in such roles as a marine biologist, conservation agent, educator, environmental manager, field or laboratory technician, geologist, research assistant, resource consultant, or science communicator.
Students who complete the Graduate Diploma of Science are eligible for credit towards the Master of Science (Professional) and Master of Science degrees.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2024. |
Course code | 105006 |
Course type | Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8) |
Owner | Academy |
College | Science and Engineering |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in science or equivalent. |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
Post Admission requirements | Some subjects require attendance in intensive mode subjects on either the Townsville or Cairns campus. Students may be required to attend intensive mode classes at a campus other than that at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 24 credit points |
Course learning outcomes | The graduates of ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û are prepared and equipped to create a brighter future for life in the tropics world-wide. JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics. On successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Science, graduates will be able to:
|
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Graduate Diploma of Science. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
Core Subjects
:03 Career Planning
PLUS
Select one of the following 12 credit point discipline streams
PLUS
Select 9 credit points of any level 5 AQ, BS, BZ, CH, CP, EA, EV, MA, MB, MI, SC or TV subjects
Stream 1: Aquaculture Science and Technology
Select 6 credit points of subjects from:
:03 Aquaculture: Feeds and Nutrition
:03 Aquaculture: Propagation
:03 Aquaculture: Principles and Practices
:03 Sustainable Aquaculture
PLUS
:06 Hatchery Techniques
Stream 2: Environmental Earth Science
Select 6 credit points of subjects from:
:03 Hydrology
:03 Soil Properties and Processes
:03 Earth and Environmental Geochemistry
:03 Earth's Climate: Past, Present and Future
PLUS
:03 Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
Stream 3: Environmental Management
Select 6 credit points of subjects from:
:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation
:03 Natural Resource Management
:03 Coastal and Marine Management and Conservation
PLUS
:03 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
Stream 4: Fisheries Science and Management
Select 6 credit points of subjects from:
:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation
:03 Fisheries Science
:03 Managing Tropical Fisheries
:03 Fishing Gear and Technologies
:03 Grand Challenges in Fisheries
PLUS
:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
Stream 5: Geology
Select 6 credit points of subjects from:
:03 Minerals and Magmas
:03 Structural Geology and Tectonics
:03 Earth Resources, Exploration and Environment
:03 Energy Resources and Basin Analysis
:03 Earth and Environmental Geochemistry
PLUS
:03 Geological Mapping
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
Stream 6: Global Change Biology
Select 6 credit points of subjects from:
:03 Climate Change and Biodiversity
:03 Conservation in a Changing World: Issues and Solutions
:03 Ecophysiology
:03 Evolutionary Adaptation in a Changing World
PLUS
:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
Stream 7: Marine Biology
:03 Advances in Marine Biology
:03 Evidence and Controversy in Marine Science
PLUS
Select 6 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
Note: Students articulating into the Master of Marine Biology degree should select skills and elective subjects that align to the structure of the Masters program.
Stream 8: Tropical Biology and Conservation
Select 6 credit points of subjects from:
:03 Behavioural Ecology
:03 Conservation Biology
:03 Population and Community Ecology
:03 Ecological Research Methods
:03 Biological Invasions
:03 Wildlife Ecology and Management
:03 Tropical Entomology
PLUS
:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1 (Skills)
List 1 (Skills)
:03 Advanced Bioinformatics
:03 Modelling Ecological Dynamics
:03 Technological Applications In Ecology
:03 Ecological and Conservation Genetics
03 Toolkit for the Field Biologist
:03 Analytical Chemistry
:03 Field Studies in Tropical Land and Water Science
:03 Geological Mapping
:03 Field Techniques in Geology
:03 Advanced Petrology
:03 Introductory Outback Field Mapping
:03 Advanced Marine Geoscience Technologies and Applications
:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation
:03 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
:03 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
:03 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
:03 Remote Sensing
:03 Data Mining
:03 Quantitative Methods in Science
:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Cairns | Only Environmental Earth Science, Global Change Biology, and Tropical Biology and Conservation Streams are available Mid-year entry is available |
JCU Townsville | Mid-year entry is available |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 4 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Special assessment requirements | Nil |
Professional accreditation requirements | Nil |
Supplementary exam for final subject | Not applicable |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure Credit will only be granted for subjects aligned to the current course’s learning outcomes and if the applicant demonstrates sufficient prior knowledge and skills to achieve the course learning outcomes in the time available in the course. |
Maximum allowed | 6 credit points, unless part of an approved articulation process |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course. |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 14 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree. |
Other restrictions | Nil |
Award Details
Award title | GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF SCIENCE |
Approved abbreviation | GDipSc |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | Not applicable - this course does not have majors |
Exit with lesser award | Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 12 credit points of study, may, depending on the subjects studied, be eligible to receive the award of Graduate Certificate of Science. |
Course articulation | Students who complete the Graduate Diploma of Science are eligible for entry to the Master of Science, Master of Science (Professional), and Master of Marine Biology and may be granted credit for all subjects completed under the Graduate Diploma. |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD8,510.00
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD33,741.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Complete an online application through our
Real stories
-
Lecturer
Dr Naomi Gardiner
Senior Lecturer, Marine & Aquaculture Sciences
The best part of working at JCU is being part of an incredibly vibrant, active and diverse team of students and staff. Together our JCU Science team regularly make breakthrough discoveries that change paradigms and practices globally. It is great to be able to contribute to work that really does make a difference.
-
Employer
Dr. Lyndon Llewellyn
Australian Institute of Marine Science
JCU students are of a like mind to us. They want to make the world a better place and they bring that desire into their work with us. They are practical, passionate and willing to tackle challenging problems through science.