Master of Science (Zoology) (MC-SCIZOO) // Course structure

Course structure

Students must complete 200 pts over a two year full-time (or four year part-time). The program will begin on the Monday of semester of entry (semesters 1 and 2) and continue for up to 88 weeks until the end of the fourth semester, minus recreation leave of between 4 and 8 weeks, and will comprise:

• Discipline Core subject (12.5 points);
• Discipline Elective subject (12.5 points);
• Further Discipline Elective subjects (25 points);
• Professional Skills subjects (25 points);
• Research Project (125 points).

Subject options

Discipline core

Students must take:

or equivalent subject at the 900-level with the approval of the program coordinator

Discipline Elective

Students must take one of:

Further Discipline Electives

Students will select 25 points of elective subjects appropriate to their research project, in consultation with their supervisor. A student may complete a third-year level subject if no suitable alternative is available at the graduate level. Students wishing to take a second-year subject or more than one third-year subject will need the approval of the MSc Coordinators and the Associate Dean.

Professional Skills

Students must select two subjects:

Research Project

This subject provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct, under supervision, independent research. Students will also develop skills in critically evaluating new knowledge within a scientific paradigm. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but will address questions in ecology, conservation, animal behaviour, marine biology, reproductive physiology and developmental biology. Students will take responsibility for their own research project, including the design and management of field and/or laboratory experiments; collection, analysis and interpretation of data; and communicating the results through oral and written presentations. The assessment for the research project consists of a research proposal in the first year (up to 4000 words; 15%), a final oral presentation (20 minutes; 10%); research performance evaluation from the supervisor(s) (10%) and a final research report (up to 10,000 words, 65%).

The project will be taken over four consecutive semesters and will begin on the Monday of semester of entry (semesters 1 or 2) and continue for up to 88 weeks until the end of the fourth semester, minus recreation leave of between 4 and 8 weeks (22 weeks per semester over the four semesters).

For how long and at what time within the enrolment the actual period of leave is to be taken needs to be negotiated with a student’s supervisor.

The Research Project will be due for submission by the end of the formal examination period of the fourth semester of enrolment if an earlier date is not specified.

Exceptions can be negotiated with the supervisor and with approval from the subject coordinator, including for part-time study in the course, as long as the consecutive enrolment requirement is met.

Last updated: 30 January 2024