T
he Faculty of Science is one of the largest and oldest faculties in the t(niversity, with over 3.000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.The international standing of the Faculty is reflected by its remarkable success rate in attracting funding through peer-assessed grants, the Australian Research Council (ARC), the National Health and Medical Research Council (NIIMR(:), Special and Key Research Centres, and other national funding agencies.The Faculty's research activities include the work of its own research centres, and collaborative ventures and joint facilities with universities and other bodies within Australia and internationally.
The Faculty of Science has nine departments:
Botany. Chemistry. Earth Sciences, Genetics, Information Systems. Mathematics and Statistics, Optometry. Physics and Zoology. In addition the Faculty has strong teaching programs in Environmental Science and Biomedical Science.
Programs in Geography and History & Philosophy of Science may also he undertaken within Science degrees.
Entry requirements
Applicants wishing to study at postgraduate level in the Faculty of Science must meet the following general requirements. Prospective students should also refer to the Faculty of Science for further information on
Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma Programs and Masters Coursework or to the School of Graduate Studies for further information on Masters Research or Doctor of Philosophy.
Graduate Certificate
A four year degree in any discipline; or a three year degree and significant relevant work experience of at least two years.
Graduate Diploma
An undergraduate degree course. Some Graduate Diploma courses may require a background in a particular discipline/s.
Postgraduate Diploma
A undergraduate degree with a major or sequence in the same or a closely related discipline, or equivalent.
.Hasten degree
A Bachelor of Science Honours degree or equivalent, with H1 (first class or 'A') or H2A (upper second class or 'B+') standard in the appropriate or closely related discipline.
Prospective students who have completed a Masters Preliminary program or Postgraduate Diploma are expected to have reached a similar standard.
Doctor of Philosophy
The minimum requirement for admission is a first class four- year honours degree from an Australian university, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the University to be equivalent.
Course list
Coursework
Graduate Certificate in Environmental Science This course provides students with opportunities to complete subjects in the Environmental Science area. The program equips graduates with qualitative and quantitative research skills for field-based applications in the Environmental Science sector. Subjects are available in areas such as:
Conservation Biology and Diversity; Site Remediation and Risk Management; and Hydrogeology.
Length of Course: one semester full-time;
two semesters part-time
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2 (requires approval from the Specialisation Coordinator).
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science
This course provides students with opportunities to complete subjects and a research project in the Environmental Science area. The program equips graduates with qualitative and quantitative research skills for field-based applications in the Environmental Science sector. Subjects and research are available in areas such as: Conservation Biology and Diversity;
Site Remediation and Risk Management; and Hydrogeology.
Length of Course: one year full-time; two years part-time.
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2 (requires approval from the Specialisation Coordinator).
Graduate Diploma in Information Systems
This diploma is based on 200-level (i.e. second year) and 300- level (i.e. third year) subjects taught within the Bachelor of Information Systems undergraduate degree course. Students will learn how to use information technology, including hardware, software and telecommunication, as the technological basis of formal organisation systems.
Length of Course: one year full-time; part-time study also available.
Graduate Diploma in Operations Research
This course aims to provide students with an understanding of Operations Research. Operations Research is a branch of mathematics that is concerned with applying scientific methods to complex problems in management and planning.
These problems often involve the allocation of scarce resources.
Length of Course: 2 years part-time.
Full-time enrolment is not possible.
Entry Point: Semester 1 or Semester 2 (subject to approval from the course coordinator).
Postgraduate Diploma in Science
The course enables students to carry out a research project in a specialist field of study, and provides knowledge of the research and theoretical preoccupations current in that field.
It is a fourth year equivalent program: students who successfully complete this course are eligible to apply for Master of Science candidature. A high academic standard is required for entry into Master of Science candidature.
The disciplines currently available are: Anatomy and Cell Biology; Applied Statistics; Chemistry; Computer Science;
Dental Science; Genetics; Geography and Environmental Studies; History and Philosophy of Science; Mathematics and Statistics; Medicine; Microbiology and Immunology;
Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Otolaryngology; Paediatrics;
Pathology; Pharmacology; Physics; Physiology; Public Health and Community Medicine; Vision Science and Zoology.
Length of Course: Normally 1 year full-time (18 months full-time for students who are required to undertake 300-level (i.e. third year) subjects in addition to the advanced
coursework and research project). Part-time study is possible in some disciplines.
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2 (subject to approval from the course coordinator).
Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems
This is an advanced course of study for students who want to understand information systems from a technological perspective as well as the organisational contexts in which these systems are used to create value.
Length of course: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time.
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2 (subject to approval from the course coordinator).
Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Optometry The course aims to further the knowledge and skills of optometry graduates in selected fields of clinical optometry.
Length of course: 1 year
Entry point: faculty to advise (Semester 1/Semester 2/other).
Master of Science
Master of Science programs comprising coursework and a minor thesis are offered in Applied Statistics and Mathematics and Statistics.
Length of Course: 1 - 2 years full-time; 2 - 4 years part-time Entry point: Commencement of Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Master of Environmental Science
This course provides subject-based learning and a significant independent research project. The program equips graduates with qualitative and quantitative research for field-based applications in the Environmental sector.
Specialisations are available in the following areas:
Conservation Biology and Diversity; Site Remediation and Risk Management; and Hydrogeology.
Length of Course: 18 months full-time. Part-time study also available.
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2 (subject to approval by Specialisation Coordinator).
Course Structure
This course involves coursework and research. Students must successfully complete a total of 150 points. The 150 points must comprise:
• between 25 and 50 points for the successful completion of an original research project;
• between 100 and 125 points credit for the completion of coursework subjects. The coursework must include 3 - 4 core subjects (up to 50 points) and elective subjects, as approved by the Specialisation Coordinator.
Master of Information Systems
This course provides an advanced study of information systems from a technological perspective and the organisational contexts in which these systems are used to create value. It can be completed by coursework and research, coursework only, or research only.
Length of course: 1 - 2 years
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2 (requires approval from the Course Coordinator).
Research
Master of Science
This course provides students with the opportunity to carry out independent and sustained research, and present their findings in documented, scholarly form.
The disciplines in which Master of Science candidature are possible are: Anatomy and Cell Biology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology;
Chemistry: Computer Science; Dental Science; Earth Sciences; Epidemiology; Genetics; Geography and Environmental Studies; History and Philosophy of Science;
Mathematics and Statistics; Medicine; Microbiology and Immunology; Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Ophthalmology;
Otolaryngology; Paediatrics; Pathology; Pharmacology;
Physics; Physiology; Physiotherapy; Psychiatry; Psychology;
Radiology; Surgery; Veterinary Science; Vision Science;
and Zoology.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant department and refer to the section below `Research Strengths' to establish what specialisations are available.
Length of course: 1 - 2 years full-time; 2 - 4 years part-time.
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Master of Information Systems
This course provides students with the opportunity to carry out independent and sustained research in information systems. The Department of Information Systems has established as its key research focus Internet Commerce and Strategies. Specific areas of research include multimedia applications; electronic marketing (collaboration with Management); social impacts; design and construction of Internet-based systems; legal policy (collaboration with Law);
digital cash, electronic money and similar technologies;
security, electronic data interchange (EDI); collaborative work systems; and virtual organisations.
Length of Course: 1 - 2 years full-time; 2 -4 years part-time.
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Master of Optometry
Principal areas of specialisation are visual psychophysics, clinical visual function, clinical optics and neurophysiology of vision.
Length of course: 1-2 years.
Entry point: Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's major research degree. Students undertake independent and sustained research under academic supervision, and present their findings in thesis format Research may be undertaken on a wide variety of projects within the following departments:
Botany, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Genetics, Information Systems, Mathematics and Statistics, Optometry and Vision Science, Physics and Zoology.
Length of Course: 3 years full-time.
Part-time enrolment is also possible.
Entry point Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Research
Research strengths
Life sciences: anatomy, animal biotechnology, animal physiology, animal behaviour, audiology, bacterial genetics, bacteriology, biochemistry, biochemistry of the eye, biomedical science, biotechnology, cancer, cardiovascular physiology, cataract, cell biology, cellular physiology, conse rvation biology, developmental biology, ecology, endocrinology, environmental biology, epidemiology, evolutionary biology, exercise physiology, gene regulation in micro-organisms, gene regulation of ocular growth and decay, immunology, insecticide resistance, marine ecology, marine invertebrates, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, neuropathology, nutrition, oral diseases, pathology, perinatal medicine, pharmacology, plant biodiversity, plant cells, plant diseases, population genetics, quantitative psychology, reproductive biology, toxicology, virology, visual ergonomics, visual neuroscience, and wildlife biology.
Chemical sciences: analytical chemistry, colloid and surface chemistry, electrochemistry, inorganic reaction mechanisms, marine chemistry, radiation and laser spectroscopy, structural inorganic chemistry, synthesis of biologically active molecules.
Earth sciences: antarctic geoscience, economic geology, exploration, geochemistry and petrology, geomorphology and remote sensing, hydrogeology, organic geochemistry, palaeontology and palaeoecology, regolith mapping, sedimentology and stratigraphy, structure, tectonics and metamorphism.
Environmental sciences: biodiversity management, conservation biology, hydrogeology, risk assessment, site remediation.
Information systems: databases and data warehousing, decision suppo rt systems, electronic commerce, information and systems security, information policy, information systems effectiveness, information technology outsourcing, knowledge management and information intelligence, multimedia and collaborative systems, organisational processes, systems analysis and design.
Mathematical sciences: algebra; applied statistics, industrial mathematics, interfacial continuum mathematics, low dimensional topology, operations research, statistical mechanics, stochastic processes.
Physical sciences: astrophysics/astronomy, condensed matter physics, experimental particle physics, fundamental experiments, high resolution microscopy, nuclear microscopy, optics (x-rays, neutrons, light and atoms), photonuclear physics, theoretical physics.
Research Centres/Programs: Advanced Minerals Products Centre, Co-operative Research Centre in Industrial Plant Biopolymers, Joint Electron Microscope Facility, Micro- Analytical Research Centre, National Vision Research Institute of Australia (NVRI), Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, Queenscliff Marine Station, Statistical Consulting Centre, Victorian Institute for Earth and Planetary Sciences (VI EPS).
Geography and environmental sciences: aquatic ecology, biogeograpy and plant ecology, environmental hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, palaeoecology.
History and philosophy of science: development of physical and biological science, philosophy of science, social history of medicine, social studies of science and technology, working science together with Aboriginal and other knowledge traditions.
Research student enrolments 1998
Total higher degree (by research) students: 403 (312 PhD, 91 Masters).
Academic Teaching and Research Centres
• Advanced Mineral Products Centre
• CRC for Industrial Plant Biopolymers
• Key Centre for Statistical Sciences
• Micro-analytical Research Centre
• Plant Cell Biology Research Centre
• Research Centre for High Energy Physics
• Statistical Consulting Centre
• Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Further information
For further information on Faculty of Science courses, please refer in the first instance the Faculty of Science for information on Graduate/Postgraduate Diploma Programs and Masters Coursework and to the School of Graduate Studies for information on Masters Research and the Doctor of Philosophy.
Faculty of Science Academic Programs Unit Tel. +61 3 9344 6404 Fax +61 3 9347 5803
Email: query@science.unimelb.edu.au WWW: http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au School of Graduate Studies
Tel. +61 3 9344 8599 Fax +61 3 9344 2103
Faculty of Veterinary Science
Length of course: 1-2 years Entry point: Semester 1 or 2
Research
Master of Science
The degree course can be undertaken in any of the veterinary research programs. Reference research strengths are listed below. The requirements for this degree are set by the Faculty of Science. Reference should be made to that Faculty's handbooks.
Length of course: 1-2 years Entry point: Flexible*
Master of Veterinary Science
The degree course provides the candidate with supervised training in scientific methods applied to the identification and solution of problems by research.
Length of course: 1-2 years Entry point: Flexible*
Doctor of Philosophy
Candidates undertake advanced study and research in the Faculty of Veterinary Science.
Length of course: 3 years Entry point: Flexible*
Doctor of Veterinary Science
There is no program of study. Published research is submitted as a thesis for examination.