Master of Science (Geography)

The Master of Science (Geography) is a coursework masters degree incorporating a substantial research project.
The Master of Science gives students the opportunity to undertake a substantive research project in a field of choice as well as a broad range of coursework subjects including a professional skills component, as a pathway to PhD study or to the workforce.

At the completion of this course, students should:

• be familiar with current debates in their chosen field of geographic inquiry;
• be able to develop research questions from a critical reading of a body of literature;
• be able to design a field or laboratory based research project; and
• gain an understanding of major conceptual debates in physical and/or human geography, and their implications for research methodology.

Students must complete 200 pts including:

• GEOG90018 Contemporary Geographical Thought (12.5 pts)
• Discipline Core subjects (12.5 points);
• Discipline Elective subjects (50 or 62.5 points);
• Professional Skills subjects (12.5 or 25 points);
• Research Project (100 points).

This course is only available on a full-time basis commencing in semester one.

Core Subject

Students must take:

Physical Geography Stream

Discipline Core Subjects

Students must take one of:

Discipline Elective Subjects

Students must take 4 or 5 of the following subjects:

* Students are permitted to take up to two 3rd-year subjects only.

Human Geography Stream

Discipline Core Subjects

Students must take:

Discipline Elective Subjects

Students must take 4 or 5 of the following subjects:

* Students are permitted to take up to two 3rd-year subjects only.

Integrated Geography Stream

Discipline Core

Students must take one of:

Discipline Elective Subjects

Students must take 4 or 5 of the following subjects:

* Students are permitted to take up to two 3rd-year subjects only.

All Streams

Professional Skills

Students must select 1 or 2 of the following subjects:

All Streams

Research Project

The research project will be taken over four consecutive semesters and will begin on the Monday of the first semester of research project enrolment (semesters 1 or 2) and continue until the end of the final semester of research project enrolment. The research project work continues over summer and winter breaks, minus recreation leave of 4 weeks per year.

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 thesis will be due for submission at the end of the formal examination period of the final semester of research project enrolment (usually fourth semester) if an earlier date is not specified. The assessment requirements below are applicable to the entire 100 point Research Project:

• A research proposal modelled on a research grant application style, due at the end of the first 12.5 points: 12.5%
• A full literature review and research proposal seminar, due at the end of the first 25 points: 12.5%
• A 25,000 word thesis and a research results seminar, due by the end of the full 100 points (i.e. at the end of year 2): 75%

Students select their research project load in consultation with their project supervisor and the program coordinator, and must enrol in at least 12.5 points of research project per semester. Therefore, in each semester students must be enrolled in one of the subjects listed here, with the total research project load equalling 100 points over the two years of full-time study.

EXAMPLE:
Year 1, semester 1: GEOG90010 Geography Research Project 12.5 pts
Year 1, semester 2: GEOG90010 Geography Research Project 12.5 pts
Year 2, semester 1: GEOG90011 Geography Research Project 25 pts
Year 2, semester 2: GEOG90013 Geography Research Project 50 pts

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

• an undergraduate degree in a discipline appropriate to the stream of the Master of Science into which entry is sought, with a weighted average mark of at least H3 (65%) in the best 50 points in appropriate discipline studies at third year; and

• appropriate prerequisite studies for the stream into which entry is sought

For stream specific requirements please click here.

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Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider prior academic performance.

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.

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.

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Notes:

• Quotas may be applied to the degree as a whole, or to an individual stream, and preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research.

• Entry into a stream of the Master of Science is subject to the capacity of the department(s) or schools(s) offering the program stream to provide adequate supervision in a research project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student and may be subject to the agreement of a member of academic staff to supervise the project module.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The Master of Science offers a pathway to a PhD.

Graduates will:

• have the ability to demonstrate advanced independent critical enquiry, analysis and reflection;
• have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
• have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s);
• reach a high level of achievement in writing, research or project activities, problem-solving and communication;
• be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
• be able to examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines;
• have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment; and
• be able to initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces.