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 towards a PhD by research program.

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

Choose one of seven majors and take specialised elective subjects from the same discipline or broaden your skills with subjects from complementary disciplines.

View the handbook for a detailed overview of available majors and subjects.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Master of Science (Professional).

Majors

Students choose from seven majors and can select elective subjects within the same major or from another discipline to enhance their learning.

Cairns campus only offers the Environmental Earth Science, Global Change Biology, and Tropical Biology and Conservation majors. All programs are available at the Townsville campus

Aquaculture Science and Technology

Students benefit from staff members who are world-leaders in tropical aquaculture research, and a combination of theoretical and hands-on learning. You’ll sharpen your skills in JCU’s Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility, the largest university research aquarium facilities in Australia. You will explore the science behind the innovative and sustainable commercial production of aquatic species.

Gain knowledge and skills on scientific, technological and practical applications of breeding and rearing of aquatic organisms for food, aquarium, pearl and pharmaceutical applications. Through course work with field trips, and unique hands-on Hatchery Technique subject, you will understand how diverse species are farmed and the science and biotechnology approaches to enhance production including physiology, nutrition, genetic selection and disease management.

Our researchers’ strong links to industry will give you a sound professional network and a wide range of career opportunities when you graduate.

Environmental Earth Science

Learn about the impacts of land use, land management, and climate change on the Earth’s surface, about present and future environmental challenges facing modern society, and how applied science is helping to solve these problems.

Gain specialised skills in assessing land and water condition and apply your learnings to the diverse environments of the tropics, including tropical rainforests, fertile agricultural regions, the vast savannah outback, magnificent tropical rivers, diverse coastlines, and various other field areas in North Queensland, Australia and beyond.

Environmental Management

Reap the benefits of hands-on fieldwork experience to develop your capability in natural resource management. Work with research and industry experts and deepen your understanding of how natural environments function and change over time and how to manage them.

Gain specialised 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. Continue your studies with a research project supervised by one of our world experts in fisheries or apply your learnings with one of our industry partners in fishery management.

Geology

Develop your knowledge of geological structures, mineralogy, plate tectonics and geochemistry, as well as the field, instrumental and analytical techniques used to conduct research in these areas. Benefit from practical experience studying minerals, rocks and sediments — and their chemical make-up — in research contexts including the Great Artesian Basin, the Outback, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and other coastal and terrestrial environments.

Learn about feasible and sustainable ways to explore for and extract strategic/critical resources, and evaluate geological natural hazards that may threaten communities.

Global Change Biology

Develop the technical skills and knowledge necessary for environmental conservation, research and analysis in a rapidly changing world.

Gain in-depth knowledge of global changes, patterns of biodiversity, conservation planning and evolutionary adaptation and be equipped to address the threats and challenges to global biodiversity. Learn how to identify major issues impacting species and ecosystems, analyse the contributing factors and formulate methods of solving some of our world's biggest problems.

With the natural environment changing at an unprecedented rate, it has never been more important to understand and reduce the accelerating impacts on our ecosystems.

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 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. Continue your studies with a research project supervised by one of our world experts or apply your learnings with one of our industry partners.

View the handbook for detailed subject information.

International students must attain an IELTS Academic with an average level of 7.5 or more, across the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing; no score below level 7.0 in any of these components; and a score of 8.0 or more in the components of speaking and listening. Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.

English competency requirements may also be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor degree or master degree from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, or
• Undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University.

Advance your scientific career with a professional postgraduate course. JCU Master of Science graduates are highly regarded and find employment in a range of organisations within Australia and around the world.

You could pursue your specialised scientific field in the public or private sector, working for business, government, educational, research or not-for-profit agencies.

As a Master of Science (Professional) graduate, you may find yourself holding positions such as biologist, ecologist, conservation agent, environmental manager/specialist, or within academy as a researcher and/or teacher within these fields. This course is also a pathway towards a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).