Coursework selection for masters
students -- 2012
Before enrolling in any coursework, consult with your
supervisor.
This is information on how to satisfy your coursework requirements for the Master of Science (Earth Sciences). You will probably want to complete much of your coursework in the first year of your masters program.
The Master of Science (Earth Sciences) degree is two years full-time and so consists of a total of 200 points, comprising 75 points of coursework and 125 points of research. Each masters student (either in Geology or Atmospheric Science) needs to select subjects as described in the course handbook page. These subjects consist of professional tools subjects, discipline-based subjects and research subjects. Students first select professional tools subjects and discipline-based subjects, then select research subjects so that as full-time students they are enrolled in a total of 50 points each semester. For instance, if you select 25 points of coursework in a particular semester, you need to select a 25-point research subject to make up the balance of the 50 points.
To decide which discipline-based subjects to select, we note that each discipline-based subject is made up of a combination of VIEPS and MTEC modules. A module will typically last for one week, full-time. Usually, two modules equal one University of Melbourne subject. An exception to this is the atmospheric science modules, which either last for two full weeks or are taken throughout the semester, and so correspond to a full University of Melbourne subject.
The first step is to enroll in your selected VIEPS or MTEC modules. This needs to be done in addition to your University of Melbourne enrollment in the Masters subjects. We’ll tell you how to match modules to subjects below.
The
VIEPS program
VIEPS is a group of several universities who collaborate in teaching and research. To enroll in your selected courses, go to http://www.vieps.org.au/course_info.htm#students and follow the instructions there.
The
MTEC program
The Minerals Geoscience Honours Program is administered by the Minerals Council of Australia, in collaboration with a number of universities throughout Australia. Note that each MTEC course counts as 5 days. Note also that some VIEPS courses are also MTEC courses. This is not important to know for course selection and should not influence your choice, but if an MTEC course is also a VIEPS course, you need to enroll just through the MTEC web site only and don’t have to enroll in it through the VIEPS web site.
Enrolment in MTEC courses must be done at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/mtec/register/?m=auth (username: student_2012 password: student_2012). We recommend that if your supervisor considers it to be appropriate, you should take at least two MTEC courses as part of your program. Masters students may take a maximum of four MTEC modules during their entire degree, two in each year. Each student is also entitled to some travel funding to attend an MTEC course. See http://www.adelaide.edu.au/mtec/program/ for more details on bursaries.
Matching modules to masters subjects
Once you have enrolled in your modules, you need to match them to appropriate University masters subjects so that you can enroll in those subjects. For this purpose, a table is provided below.
Don’t forget that for maximum flexibility in your module selection, we have two masters subjects, Current Topics in Geology A and B, that enable you to select any module as part of them, provided that the later of the two modules selected finishes during the same semester as the selected masters subject. For example, if you want to take two modules, one of which runs in April and the other in September, you can select Current Topics in Geology B, as September is in semester 2. In 2012, we will also have Current Topics C and D, as well as Current Topics in Atmospheric Science 2, for maximum flexibility, but these are not yet in the handbook as of late 2011.
Needless to say, you can’t take the same module twice to satisfy two different subjects, nor count it towards two different subjects.
Masters students have until the second week of the undergraduate semester to change their University of Melbourne subject selections – that is, until March 9, 2012 (note that enrolment deadlines for individual VIEPS and MTEC modules may be earlier – check their websites). In 2012, we anticipate that students will be able to enroll in University of Melbourne subjects online, but if you have any difficulty, please contact the Graduate School of Science or the Masters coordinator.
Also: check the
VIEPS web site for updates. New modules may be added during the year, and this
may affect your masters subject selection for semester
2, 2012.
Three-letter abbreviations for MTEC and VIEPS modules are given at http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/vieps/course_list.php
|
University of
Melbourne Masters subject |
Appropriate
modules |
Semester of
masters subject |
|
ATOC90004
Current topics in Atmospheric Science |
CUR
(taught at Monash – consult Masters coordinator for
module selections) (equivalent to a 10 day module)
|
1/2012 |
|
Current
topics in Atmospheric Science 2 (not yet in handbook) |
CUR
(taught at Monash – consult Masters coordinator for
module selections) (equivalent to a 10 day modules)
|
1
or 2/2012 |
|
ATOC90006--
Climate Analysis and Modelling |
CAM
(a 10-day module) |
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90012
-- Current topics in Geology A |
Any
two geology modules |
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90013
-- Current topics in Geology B |
Any
two geology modules |
2/2012 |
|
Current
topics in Geology C (not yet in handbook) |
Any
two geology modules |
1/2012 |
|
Current
topics in Geology D (not yet in handbook) |
Any
two geology modules |
2/2012 |
|
GEOL90014
-- Deposit models and mineral exploration |
Any
two of AUG, IGD, PIP, ODM, ORE, MSE, MEX (MTEC), MGR (MTEC), OTX (MTEC), BAP,
ASG (MTEC) |
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90008
-- Digital Geoscience |
GIS,
IIS |
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90006
-- Energy |
Not
running in 2012 |
|
|
GEOL90007
-- Geochemistry and Geochronology |
Any
two of GTC, IGD, PIP, EGC |
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90009
-- Geophysics |
Any
two of MSE, GFG (MTEC), GEO |
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90010
-- Geoscience in the Field |
Any
two of ESM, ORE, ASM |
1/2012 |
|
EVSC90018
-- Hydrogeology and the Environment |
Any
two of HYA, CEF, MSE, EGC, REG
|
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90011
-- Paleontology and Biogeochemistry |
Not
running in 2012 |
|
|
GEOL90018
– Mineralogy and Mineral Identification |
IMN,
AMN |
2/2012 |
|
GEOL90017
-- Structural Geology and Geodynamics |
Any
two of GFG (MTEC), ASG (MTEC), BAP, ASM, GEO, IGD |
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90016
-- Surface Processes and Geodynamics |
Any
two of CEF, REG (MTEC), GEO, ESM
|
1/2012 |
|
GEOL90015
-- The Geology of Ore Deposits |
Any
two of AUG, IGD, ODM, ORE, MSE, MEX (MTEC), MGR (MTEC), OTX (MTEC), BAP |
1/2012 |
Other ways of satisfying your electives
Don’t forget that you can take up to 25 points of appropriate 3rd-year subjects that can count towards your Masters degree. Discuss with your supervisor regarding appropriate choices. For instance, if you are working on a hydrogeology project and you have no hydrogeology background, consider taking ERTH30001 Hydrogeology. These 3rd-year subjects do not have to be in our department, provided they are relevant. However, electives taken outside of our department must have the approval of the Masters coordinator.
You also might want to think about Masters-level subjects that are offered in other Master of Science coursework programs . We don’t have a list of “approved” subjects that fit into this category, but if a subject in this category is particularly relevant to your project, discuss it with your supervisor.
Filling out your Faculty of Science course selection
form
Once you have
selected all of your modules and their corresponding University of Melbourne
subjects, you will then meet with the Masters coordinator to finalize your
subject selections and to discuss your program. This is done by completing a
form that will be given to you at the beginning of the Masters year. Once your
program is finalized, you can then enroll in your University of Melbourne
subjects.