Specialist Certificate in Cancer Sciences (SC-CNCRSC)

Overview

Award title	Specialist Certificate in Cancer Sciences
Year & campus	2024 — Parkville
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Graduate Coursework
AQF level	Non-AQF
Credit points	25 credit points
Duration	6 months part-time

The Specialist Certificate in Cancer Sciences gives students an introduction to cancer science, research and care. It utilises a contemporary, evidence-based program for clinicians and scientists to improve the outcomes and experiences of cancer patients.

The Specialist Certificate is a 25-point program that can be completed either over 3 months full-time, or 6 months, part-time. Students will be required to undertake one core subject covering the Foundations of Cancer. They will then choose an additional subject from the elective suite, which covers a wide range of topics relevant to the oncological workforce.

The Cancer Sciences suite has been developed and presented by leading clinicians and researchers from the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC). Designed to broaden the skills of medical practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, allied health practitioners and scientists; this program will hone transferrable knowledge and skills to improve clinical research, education and care.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

An undergraduate degree with honours in an appropriate discipline or equivalent; or
An undergraduate degree in an appropriate discipline and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience; or
At least eight years of documented relevant work experience and demonstrated evidence of written and analytical skills appropriate for postgraduate study.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

Prior academic performance; and
Relevant work experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete this course that must be met by all students. For information on the inherent requirements specific to this course contact the course/program coordinator. In some circumstances reasonable adjustments may be available to enable students to meet these requirements while still preserving the academic integrity of the university's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. For more information on how to seek these adjustments refer to the Student Equity and Disability Support website: https://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Intended learning outcomes

This course is designed to position participants to be effective contributors and leaders in the cancer workforce.

Graduates of the Specialist Certificate in Cancer Sciences will have the ability to:

Identify complex information, problems and theories
Utilise evidence to inform decision making
Show competency in written and oral communication
Demonstrate effective time management and organisational planning
Apply their knowledge and skills to improve the clinical care of cancer
Gather the evidence that underpins cancer research and clinical care
Define current clinical practices, research literature and accepted cancer paradigms
Recognise the importance of communicating and working collaboratively with other cancer care professionals in multidisciplinary teams
Outline knowledge across several domains relevant to the cancer sciences
Identify and evaluate the emerging technologies and techniques in research and clinical care

Generic skills

Advanced analytic skills
Skills in working collaboratively with individuals, groups and organisations
Increased capacity to manage unfamiliar problems
Improved written communication skills
Increased ability to work independently and be self-motivated

Graduate attributes

Academically excellent

Have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
Be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
Be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies

Knowledgeable across disciplines

Have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
Have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment

Leaders in communities

Have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
Engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs

Attuned to cultural diversity

Value different cultures
Be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
Have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
Respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values

Active global citizens

Accept social and civic responsibilities
Be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
Have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics

Course structure

Students will complete 1 mandatory (core) subject:

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
MEDI90084	Foundations of Cancer	Term 1 (Online) Term 3 (Online)	12.5

This subject gives students an introduction to cancer science, research and care.

Students may then choose 1 additional elective subject from either the Cancer Sciences suite, or the extended elective suite:

Cancer Sciences Elective Suite

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
MEDI90085	Supportive Care and Palliative Care	Term 4 (Online)	12.5
MEDI90086	Cancer Research	Term 2 (Online) Term 4 (Online)	12.5
MEDI90087	Cancer in Society	Term 3 (Online)	12.5
MEDI90093	Cancer Diagnostics	Term 1 (Online)	12.5
MEDI90094	Cancer Therapeutics	Term 4 (Online)	12.5
MEDI90095	Cancer Prevention and Control	Term 2 (Online)	12.5
MEDI90097	Drug Discovery and Development	Term 1 (Online)	12.5
MEDI90096	Cancer across the Lifespan	Term 3 (Online)	12.5

Extended Elective Suite

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
EDUC90716	Qualitative Methods for Evaluation	Term 3 (Online)	12.5
MGMT90264	Adaptive Leadership	Term 1 (Online)	12.5

Further study

Students who successfully complete the Specialist Certificate in Cancer Sciences will be eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate in Cancer Sciences with full credit.

Students who successfully complete the Graduate Certificate could then progress to the Master of Cancer Sciences.

Last updated: 30 January 2024

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