Master of Science (Ecosystem Science) (MC-SCIECO) // Course structure

Course structure

Students must complete a total of 200 credit points, comprised of:

• Discipline Core subjects (25 pts)
• Discipline Elective subjects (25 pts)
• Professional Skills subjects (25 pts)
• Research Project undertaken consecutively in sequence (125 pts)

Subject options

Discipline Core (25 points)

One of:

and one of

Discipline Electives (25 points)

Overview:

Students will select 25 points of discipline 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 (25 points)

Students will select two professional skills subjects (25 points). These may include:

Research Project (125 points)

This project provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct independent research in one or more disciplines within the broad field of ecosystem science. Students will also develop skills in critically evaluating new knowledge within one or more scientific paradigms.

Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address questions in conservation biology, ecology, ecophysiology, environmental psychology, environmental and landscape management, forest science, genetics, horticulture, hydrology and/or soil science.

Students will take responsibility for their own research project, including the design and management of field and/or laboratory experiments, where appropriate; collection, analysis and interpretation of data; and communication of research findings through oral and written presentations.

For full-time students (24 months), 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 until the end of the fourth semester. Students will first enrol in Research Project in Ecosystem Science Part 1, and then progress through to Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

For part-time students (48 months), the project will be taken over five consecutive semesters and will begin on the Monday of semester of entry and continue until the end of the fifth semester. Students will first enrol in Research Project in Ecosystem Science Part 1, and then progress to Part 2, Part 3, Pt4 Cont. and Pt 5.

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

Students may only progress through their series of consecutive Research Project in Ecosystem Science subjects upon successful completion of earlier subject assessments.

• End of Semester 1, a 4,000 word literature review (15% of final mark).
• End of Semester 2, an oral presentation (10 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions (5% of final mark).
• End of Semester 4 for full-time students, or end of Semester 5 for part-time students: a final, oral presentation (20 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions) (10% of final mark).
• Exam period after Semester 4 for full-time students, or exam period after Semester 5 for part-time students: A research thesis (up to 20,000 words, as appropriate for the field of study and chosen format), either in traditional thesis format or manuscript format (70% of final mark).

For Part Time Course Enrolments:

Last updated: 21 February 2025