Graduate Certificate in Science

The Graduate Certificate in Science is a unique program that provides an understanding of critical science issues affecting our future. Aimed at professionals who are interested in or need to know about science, or anyone with a general interest in the key debates affecting our future, this fully on-line program allows students to choose courses relevant to their interest, taught by acknowledge experts in these fields.

Students completing this program can apply for credit into the Master of Science Management, which provides professional training in how to respond to these critical science issues.

Designed around the contemporary needs of science, the Graduate Certificate in Science will introduce you to the key contemporary issues affecting government, society and the broader economy today.

This program is a generalist postgraduate science qualification for professionals who need greater exposure to science issues. When paired with a 40 unit Graduate Certificate in Education, this program may then allow international teacher-educators to upgrade their qualifications in both science and education. This pattern of meshing graduate certificates across faculties could be of interest to other areas such as Law and Health.

Applications for admission are initially assessed on the basis of an undergraduate degree but, for those who fall outside this criterion, applications will be assessed on the basis of "admissions points" as described in the Additional Selection Criteria. The Master of Science Management requires 100 admission points. Those applications who score 60 points will be offered a place in the Graduate Certificate in Science or the Graduate Certificate in Science Management.

All applicants must satisfy the University's English Language requires as set out in the University's English Proficiency Policy: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/policy/000104.html

Credit may be granted for coursework courses if they can be demonstrated to be directly equivalent in terms of content and depth of study to the corresponding courses in the Science Management program, and they were completed within the previous 5 years. Credit will be granted by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Science and IT in accordance with the Rules Governing Postgraduate Coursework Programs.

Students who have successfully completed the Master of Science Management (including INFO6304) with a credit average may apply for entry into the Master of Science Management Honours Program.

International students can only study this program online and must comply with the University's English Language proficiency requirements before an application is accepted.

Students with disabilities who require reasonable adjustments to undertake their program should contact the Disability Support Service before semester or early in the semester. Some adjustments need up to 4 weeks lead time to organise, so it is imperative that early contact is made. The Disability Support Service and relevant Faculty and School officers will work together to ensure reasonably adjustments are provided in a timely manner.

Please note: All students must fulfil the inherent requirements of the programs and courses they are undertaking. While reasonable adjustments can be made, these adjustments cannot compromise academic integrity. It is the student's responsibility to check all the requirements of courses & consider the effects of any medical condition or disability on their ability to complete course requirements. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/disabilty for more information.

All students can access additional learning development mechanisms provided by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/centre-for-teaching-and-learning/learning-development/

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can draw on the assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Student Support and Development service through the Wollotuka Institute.

The program can be completed over one trimester full-time study or equivalent part-time. Courses are offered online on a trimester basis. Students may commence in January, May or September. Please refer to the Term dates on the University website at: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/dates/

The program requires the completion of 40 units of courses comprising of:

• 30 units selected from the list of approved courses; plus
• 10 units selected from the same list or from any unrestricted postgraduate coursework courses offered by the Faculty of Science and Information Technology.

Students who have satisfactorily completed the Graduate Certificate in Science may proceed to the Master of Science Management with full credit for studies completed.