Master of Science

Master of Science

Learn from research and industry experts and diversify your knowledge studying the unique environments of North Queensland, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, dry savannahs, and tropical rainforests.

Enhance your employability and advance your career in Australia and globally through the  Masters Employability Program. Complete a structured co-curricular employability skills and development program, which runs for the duration of the degree. This includes a tailored plan to support your employment objectives, beginning from semester one through to graduation.

During this flexible, 18-month full-time course, you will learn from research and industry experts through practical experiences in varied environments. Choose from one of seven majors, with each offering a range of electives to extend and specialize your core knowledge components.

You will also have the opportunity to study subjects in Singapore, the Galapagos Islands, Thailand, or Vietnam.

Majors

Students choose from seven majors and can select elective subjects within the same major, or from another discipline to enhance their learning. Only the Environmental Earth Science and Tropical Biology and Conservation majors are available at the Cairns campus.

Aquaculture Science and Technology

Students benefit from practical, experience based learning in JCU’s Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility and on location with industry partners.

You will explore the science of aquaculture and learn about the husbandry and nutrition of various species. 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’s surface. Investigate the latest techniques to minimize 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 how natural environments function and change over time.

Gain specialized technical skills in remote sensing, geographic information systems, and environmental and social impact assessment. Become an expert in the interconnected ecological and social aspects of managing complex ecosystems.

Fisheries Science and Management
Explore the fundamentals of fisheries science and its application in tropical environments. 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, mineralogy, and plate tectonics. Benefit from practical experience studying rocks, sediments and soils in the Great Artesian Basin, the savannah and the areas surrounding the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Learn about feasible and sustainable ways to extract resources and evaluate geological natural hazards that may threaten communities.

Marine Biology
Study one of the most diverse and fragile marine ecosystems in the world—the Great Barrier Reef. Evaluate the impact of human society on tropical marine populations, species, habitats, and ecosystems.

Attain the technical skills and knowledge necessary for working in the marine conservation sector and for conducting excellent ecological research. You’ll be taught by JCU’s leading researchers while working at the JCU Orpheus Island Field Station and in award-winning laboratories. Explore and deliver innovative solutions for the marine environment and its dependent communities.

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 of 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.

Master of Science (Professional)

In this flexible, 2-year full-time course, you will complete advanced coursework subjects and then undertake your own independent research project or choose to apply your skills in an industry-based project. The research project is a pathway toward a PhD by research program. You’ll learn from research and industry experts and diversify your knowledge studying the unique environments of North Queensland, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, dry savannahs, and tropical rainforests.

Enhance your employability and advance your career in Australia and globally through the Masters Employability Program. Complete a structured co-curricular employability skills and development program, which runs for the duration of the degree. This includes a tailored plan to support your employment objectives, beginning from semester one through to graduation.

Masters of Science (Professional) graduates are well-equipped to evaluate global environmental challenges and driven to design innovate, sustainable, and holistic solutions.

Choose one of seven majors, and take specialized elective subjects from the same discipline or broaden your skills with subjects from a complementary discipline. You will also have the opportunity to study subjects in Singapore, the Galapagos Islands, Thailand, or Vietnam.

If you choose to major in the same field of study as your undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree, you may be eligible to receive up to six months’ advanced standing.

Majors

• Marine Biology
  • Marine conservation biology, coral reef ecology, biological oceanography, design, and analysis in ecological studies
  • Practicals: weekly laboratory classes and 3- to 4-day field trips to Orpheus Island Research Station (Inner GBR)
  • Workshops / tutorial based discussion groups / research seminars
• Fisheries Science & Management
  • Fisheries science, managing tropical fisheries, fishing gear and technology, human dimensions (social science), grand challenges in fisheries, sampling design and analyses, marine reserves…
  • Practicals: weekly laboratory classes, fishing port activities, 4-day field trips to Orpheus Island Research Station (Inner GBR)
  • Workshops: postgraduate discussion groups, debates, seminars, computer software training
• Aquaculture, Science & Technology
  • Principles and practices, feeds and nutrition, propagation, hatchery techniques, sustainable aquaculture
  • Practicals: weekly classes in JCU aquaculture facilities and laboratories, farm visits
  • Workshops: weekly tutorial classes, computer-based training, seminars, group activities
• Environmental Management
  • Environmental impact assessment, social science methods, natural resource management practices, international policy and environmental governance, GIS, remote sensing
  • Workshops / tutorial-based discussion groups / research seminars / computer practicals
• Environmental Earth Science
  • Hydrology, soil science, geochemistry, impact assessments, remote sensing, marine geoscience
  • Practicals: weekly laboratory classes, field trips to outback and coastal Queensland
  • Workshops / discussion groups / research seminars / computer practicals
• Tropical Biology & Conservation
  • Wildlife ecology and management, conservation biology, behavioural ecology, design and analysis in ecological studies
  • Practicals: weekly laboratory classes and 3- to 4-day field trips to the Queensland outback / Daintree Rainforest
  • Workshops / tutorial-based discussion groups / research seminars
• Geology
  • Geological mapping, minerals and magnas, structural geology and tectonics, sedimentary energy resources
  • Practicals: weekly laboratory classes, field trips to outback and coastal Queensland
  • Workshops / discussion groups / research seminars / computer practicals

You must have a completed undergraduate degree in science with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (approximately 70%) or above to apply.

Master of Science (Professional)

Advance your career with a JCU professional post-graduate course. JCU Master of Science graduates are highly regarded and find employment in a range of organizations around the world.

You could pursue a career in the public or private sector for business, government, educational, research, and not-for-profit agencies.

JCU Master of Science graduates work in roles such as biologist, conservation agent, educator, environmental manager, field or laboratory technician, geologist, research scientist, or resource consultant. This course is also a pathway toward a JCU PhD.

Master of Science 

Master of Science graduates are well regarded and highly skilled. You will have the potential to find employment in a wide range of industries in Australia and internationally. Depending on your area of specialization, you could work across the public or private sector for business, government, education, research, or not-for-profit agencies.

You could find employment in roles such as biologist, conservation agent, educator, environmental manager, field or laboratory technician, geologist, research scientist, resource consultant, or science communicator.

Students seeking a pathway to full research degrees or a substantive placement program should apply for the Master of Science (Professional) degree from the outset. Subjects completed in the Master of Science degree can be credited toward the Master of Science (Professional).