Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information

Master of Science (Groundwater Hydrology)

(MSc(GwHyd))

Program of Study

The program of study for this course changed from 2008. An information session and/or counselling session will be held for all continuing students.

INTRODUCTION

The Master of Science (Groundwater Hydrology) is a 72-unit program offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering on a Commonwealth Supported basis. The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Science (Groundwater Hydrology) and the Graduate Diploma in Science (Groundwater Hydrology), and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards. Candidates who have completed either of these courses are awarded credit for related topics.

COURSE AIMS

The course aims to facilitate skills transfer from another relevant area of engineering or science to the study of groundwater hydrology. Graduates from this award will have:

• an understanding of the basic scientific concepts that underpin the occurrence, distribution, movement and quality of groundwater;
• an understanding of the current pressing groundwater management issues and the technologies employed to deal with them;
• a basic training in a range of commonly employed field, laboratory and computational methods used in the study of groundwater hydrology; and
• the necessary communication, problem-based and critical thinking skills that will promote lifelong learning in their future careers.

In addition, the Masters degree aims to provide students with training in research methodology and the preparation of a professional thesis or report - from project conception, design of methods, collection of results and their analysis, through to final conclusions and recommendations for future work. This will be achieved by way of a significant research/industry training project.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Diploma in Science (Groundwater Hydrology) must normally hold a degree or equivalent qualification in any relevant discipline of science and engineering, from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2007]

To qualify for the Master of Science (Groundwater Hydrology), a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Students must complete 42 units of core topics as follows:

CPES8022	Earth Sciences Field Camp 1 GE^^, or	6
CPES8023	Earth Sciences Field Camp 2 GE^	6
CPES8005	Environmental Research and Statistical Methods	6
CPES8106	Groundwater Hydrology Project A GE	12
CPES8112	Research and Professional Practice in Groundwater Hydrology	6
CPES8151	Groundwater and Soil Hydrology GE	6
CPES8172	Earth Fluid Dynamics and Modelling GE	6

Students must select 30 units from the following:

CPES8004	CGS National Groundwater School	6
CPES8010	Geological Processes GE^	6
CPES8013	Sedimentary Processes GE^^	6
CPES8022	Earth Sciences Field Camp 1 GE^^, or	6
CPES8023	Earth Sciences Field Camp 2 GE^	6
CPES8107	Groundwater Hydrology Project B	12
CPES8110	Introduction to Earth Sciences	6
CPES8114	Special Topic in Groundwater Hydrology	6
CPES8131	Surface Water Hydrology GE	6
CPES8152	Global Climate Change and Natural Hazards	6
CPES8252	Hydrochemistry GE	6
GEOG3013	Geographical Information Systems	6

Some topics are not available every year.

^ = Offered odd years only

^^= Offered even years only