Programs and Courses - Graduate Certificate in Science (GCSC)

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Graduate Certificate in Science (GCSC) - GradCertSci

CRICOS code (International applicants): 069701A

	On-campus	Distance education
Semester intake:	Semester 1 (February) Semester 2 (July)	Semester 1 (February) Semester 2 (July)
Campus:	Toowoomba	-
Fees:	Commonwealth supported place Domestic full fee paying place International full fee paying place	Commonwealth supported place Domestic full fee paying place International full fee paying place
Standard duration:	1 semester full-time, 1 year part-time

Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students	Future International students	Current students
Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315 Email: studysci@usq.edu.au	Phone: +61 7 4631 5543 Email: international@usq.edu.au	Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285 Email: usq.support@usq.edu.au

Program focus

The Graduate Certificate in Science focuses on providing educators, science communicators and others with an opportunity to further their knowledge in areas critical to their professional responsibilities and interests.

Program aims

The Graduate Certificate in Science provides students with the opportunity to further their knowledge in areas critical to their professional responsibilities and interests.

Program objectives

On completion of this program graduates will be able to demonstrate:

understanding of current issues in their chosen discipline
enhanced breadth and depth of their knowledge base relevant to teaching
practical skills in relevant laboratory practice and/or field work.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to this program, applicants must have a three-year degree from an Australian or other recognized ��ýapp or equivalent.

International Applicants

International applicants must have met the requirements or have completed the .

How to apply

Domestic students

may be made directly to USQ.

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who reside outside Australia pay full tuition fees.
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Program structure

The program comprises four one-semester courses in the disciplines of science, or mathematics, or computing, and can also be used to study a combination of courses in these disciplines. The Program Coordinator also may grant substitution of one course from outside these disciplines.
Students may choose up to four first-level courses to complete the program.

Subject Area	Residential School Requirements for EXT Courses
Astronomy (PHY)	External only – no residential school requirement
Biology (BIO)	All courses available on-campus, some courses available in both modes – some external courses have compulsory residential schools
Biomedical Sciences	Courses are available on-campus, or externally using a residential school
Chemistry (CHE)	Chemistry courses are available on-campus, and externally through the use of compulsory residential schools
Computing (CSC)	Available in both modes — no residential school requirement
Environment and Sustainability	Available in both modes — no residential school requirement
Mathematics (MAT)	Available in both modes – no residential school requirement
Physics (PHY)	Available in both modes – recommended courses have no residential school requirement
Plant Science (BIO)	Available externally — some courses have a residential school
Primary Teaching	Available externally — all courses have a residential school
Wine Technology (WIN)	Some courses available externally with no residential schools, some courses available on-campus with a compulsory residential school.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 4 years to complete this program.

Practical experience

Students will obtain practical and/or field work experience as part of individual courses studied.

IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

Residential schools

Some science courses offered in on-campus mode have laboratory and/or fieldwork attendance requirements. Similarly, some external courses in the sciences have a compulsory that requires on-campus attendance for up to one week during the mid-semester teaching break for on-campus students. Details of any residential school requirements are contained within individual course specifications.

Exemptions

No exemptions are available for this program.

In this section:

Recommended Enrolment Pattern
Astronomy
Biomedical Science (Cellular Emphasis)
Biomedical Science (Whole Body Emphasis)
Biology
Chemistry
Computing
Environment and Sustainability
Mathematics
Mathematics for Primary/Middle School teaching
Physics
Plant Science
Primary Science Teaching
Wine Technology

Recommended Enrolment Pattern

There is no set enrolment pattern as this program is designed to allow students flexibility to choose courses according to individual needs, interests and prior study. However, please note that:

The student must select courses according to the pre- and co-requisite requirements contained in individual course specifications.
Some courses include a compulsory residential school.
Students have a maximum of 4 years to complete this program.
Those teachers studying who are relying on government scholarships are advised to check with their funding agency that they are enrolled in an appropriate approved combination of courses.
Students seeking specific course combinations to upgrade their skills may wish to follow one of the following recommended enrolment patterns listed below. For further advice on these and other possible course combinations please contact the Program Coordinator.

Astronomy

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
†				1
†				1
†				2
#				2

Footnotes
†	Astronomical observations for each course are made remotely via Internet access to USQ’s Mt Kent Observatory. Voluntary field nights will also be made available.
#	Students enrolling in need to arrange project supervision in advance.

Biomedical Science (Cellular Emphasis)

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Choose four of the following courses:
		1					Pre-requisite:
		1					Pre-requisite: Co-requisite:
		1					Pre-requisite:
BIO3317		1
		2					Pre-requisite: and
		2					Pre-requisite:
		2					Pre-requisite:

Notes

Recommended enrolment pattern may alter slightly in 2013.

Biomedical Science (Whole Body Emphasis)

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Choose four of the following courses
		1						Pre-requisite: or
		1						Pre-requisite: and
		2		2,3			C
		2						Pre-requisite:
		2						Pre-requisite: or equivalent
		2						Pre-requisite:

Notes

Recommended enrolment pattern may alter slightly in 2013.

Biology

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Take the following two courses:
^		1		1			C
^		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:
Plus choose two from the following:
		1		1			C
**		1						Pre-requisite:
**		1						Pre-requisite: and
		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:
**		2						Pre-requisite:
		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:

Footnotes
^	Recommended for a one-year enrolment pattern
**	, and are offered on-campus but not externally.

Notes

Recommended enrolment pattern may alter slightly in 2013.

Chemistry

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Take the following two courses:
^#		1		1			C
^#		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:
Plus choose two from the following:
^		1		1			C
#		1						Pre-requisite:
		1						Pre-requisite: and
+^				1
^		1		1
^		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:
		2						Pre-requisite:
		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:
+^				2
^		2		2				Pre-requisite: and

Footnotes
^	Recommended for a one-year enrolment pattern.
#	A 2-year enrolment allows studies of Chemistry in year 1 and Biochemistry in year 2.
+	This course uses in-home practical kits. There is no residential school requirement.

Notes

Recommended enrolment pattern may alter slightly in 2013.

Computing

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Choose four of the following courses
		1		1
~		1		1
		2		2
One of the following two courses:
		2		2			Pre-requisite: or USQIT16 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GDGS or GCEN or GDET or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MSBN or MSMS
		2		2			Pre-requisite: or USQIT16 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GDGS or GCEN or GDET or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MSBN or MSMS

Footnotes
~	Some schools offer information technology courses that are linked to the Cisco IT Essentials and Cisco CCNA Discovery curriculum, and covers some of the IT skills and knowledge required. has no pre-requisites, so that it can be taken in parallel with .

Environment and Sustainability

Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied
On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
	1		1
	1
	2		2
	2		2
	1		1
	1
	2		2
	2		2

Notes

For a one-year external enrolment, suited to secondary teachers teaching into environment and sustainability (including SOSE).
Specialisations in climate, ecology and conservation can be studied by enrolling in the GCCA Graduate Certificate in Climate Adaptation or the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Science.

Mathematics

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Choose a total of four of the following courses
One of the following two courses
		1		1
#		1		1
One of the following two courses
*		1, 2		1, 2			Pre-requisite: Only Students enrolled in Program BENG must have done or
#		2		2			Pre-requisite: ( or ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MSBI or GCEN or GDET or METC
Two of the following four courses
		1, 2, 3		1, 2, 3
		1		1
		1		1			Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPIT or MCOT or MCTE
		2		2

Footnotes
#	and give a higher level of Algebra & Calculus that are useful for teaching Maths B & C in schools. Students without an appropriate mathematics background for MAT2100 should first take , and students without an appropriate background for MAT1102 should first take USQ’s Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) course in mathematics.
*	is equivalent to . Other course combinations are possible - please contact the Program Coordinator

Mathematics for Primary/Middle School teaching

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Choose a total of four of the following courses:
Choose ONE of the following three courses
		1		1
		1		1
		1		1
Choose ONE of the following two courses:
		1, 2, 3		1, 2, 3
		2		2
Choose ONE of the following two courses:
		1		1
		2		2
You can also choose:
		2		2
						3

Notes

Other course combinations are possible - please contact the Program Coordinator

Physics

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
+				1
†				1
+				2
+				2

Footnotes
+	This course uses in-home practical kits. There is no residential school requirement.
†	Astronomical observations for are made remotely via Internet access to USQ’s Mt Kent Observatory. Voluntary field nights will also be made available.

Plant Science

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
BIO8417 Plant Biotechnology				1			C
BIO8419 Cell and Molecular Biology				1
		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:
BIO8418 Plant Breeding				2			C

Notes

The above shows a one-year external enrolment pattern but this can be extended over two years. The above suite of courses will particularly suit (1) secondary teachers in the agricultural or biological sciences who wish to upgrade their knowledge of recent advances in plant science and biotechnology and (2) ��ýapp graduates working in plant-related industries.

Primary Science Teaching

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
The courses below form the currently approved enrolment choices for a one-year fully external GCSC program for primary teachers holding a Science Scholarship. Four first level courses may be selected. Two courses must be completed each semester. Choose four of the following courses
		1		1			C
		1		1			C
		1		1
+				1
		1		1
†				2
		2		2
				2

Footnotes
+	This course uses in-home practical kits. There is no residential school requirement.
†	Astronomical observations for each course are made remotely via Internet access to USQ’s Mt Kent Observatory. Voluntary field nights will also be made available.

Wine Technology

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
*		1		1			C
*		2		2			C	Pre-requisite:
*		1		1
*		2		2				Pre-requisite: and
If you have already studied the equivalent chemistry subjects, you may choose two of the following depending on prior knowledge and prerequisite studies:
		3					C	Pre-requisite:
		1					C	Pre-requisite:
				2				Pre-requisite: and and
				2				Pre-requisite: and
		1		1			C
Other Bachelor of Technology (Wine) courses, subject to approval by the GCSC Program Coordinator

Footnotes
*	These courses particularly suit (1) secondary teachers in the chemical or biological sciences who wish to upgrade their knowledge of recent advances in wine science and (2) ��ýapp graduates working in the wine industry. They are recommended for a one or two year program.

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Graduate Certificate in Science (GCSC) - GradCertSci

Contact us

Program focus

Program aims

Program objectives

Admission requirements

How to apply

Domestic students

International students

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

Domestic full fee paying place

International full fee paying place

Program structure

Required time limits

Practical experience

IT requirements

Residential schools

Exemptions

Recommended Enrolment Pattern

Astronomy

Biomedical Science (Cellular Emphasis)

Biomedical Science (Whole Body Emphasis)

Biology

Chemistry

Computing

Environment and Sustainability

Mathematics

Mathematics for Primary/Middle School teaching

Physics

Plant Science

Primary Science Teaching

Wine Technology

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