Course overview
- Description
Students learn principles of effective science communication, develop practical skills necessary for effective science communication, and design strategies that address communication needs of groups such as government organisations, informal museums, science centres and research centres. Students will gain an understanding of the theory underlying the discipline and be able to apply their knowledge to a research project.
- Course title
- Master of Science Communication (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MSc(Comm)
- Course code
- 51580
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Biological Sciences
- CRICOS code
- 061841J
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Articulation
- The Master of Science Communication has the following exit awards: 51240 Graduate Certificate in Science Communication (24 points) (24 points), 51340 Graduate Diploma in Science Communication (48 points) (48 points)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 1.5 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising 72 points of taught units and 24 points of admission credit, as recognised and granted by the School
- Maximum course duration
- 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) comprising up to 96 points of taught study (see Rule 5 for further information)
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP; or postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Heather Bray
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Students who have not completed prior tertiary studies in science communication including a minor in Science Communication, or equivalent, must complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 24 points from this group, as advised by the School(s):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SCIE4403 | Ethical Conduct and Communication in Science | Weekly face-to-face OR online workshops. This unit runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2, and can be taken in either semester. | |
| S2 | SCOM2205 | Science Presentations | None | Lectures: 1 hour recorded content eg 3 x 20 mins per week Workshops: 1 x 2 hours per week |
| S1 | SCOM2208 | Science Writing |
| lectures: 3 x 20 minute online lectures per week; workshops: 1 x 2 hours per week |
| S1 | SCOM3319 | Exhibitions and Interpretation | lectures: 3 x 20 mins of online lectures per week workshops: 2 hours per week |
Take all units (36 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | COMM5704 | Global Media and Cross-cultural Communication | None | 24–36 hours |
| NS | POLS5501 | The Politics of Public Policy |
| 18 hours per semester. |
| S1, S2 | SCIE5004 | Professional Skills in Science |
| |
| S1, S2 | SCOM4402 | Synthesising Research Literature: Reviewing, Analysing, and Reporting |
| online workshop: 2 hours per week |
| S2 | SCOM5309 | Citizen Science | None | Lectures: 3 x 15 minute online lectures per week for 11 weeks Workshops: 12 x 2 hour workshops Self-directed learning (reading/online): 2 hours per week for 10 weeks |
| NS | SCOM5311 | Science and Society | 6 x 20 minute online lectures per week; 2 x 2 hour workshop per week |
Take one unit to the value of 6 points from this group (6 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SCIE5304 | Science Practicum |
| 100 hours of work placement paired with learning content and assessment. Contact hours in Practicum placement (the majority of student time in the unit) as arranged with the unit coordinator and host/supervisor. Additional, minor, contact hours for initial and post-placement discussions with coordinator, and final presentation and review. |
| NS, S1, S2 | SVLG5001 | McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship |
| Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours |
For students in course by coursework and dissertation only, take all units (30points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SCOM5810 | Science Communication Dissertation Part 1 |
| as arranged with unit coordinator |
| S1, S2 | SCOM5811 | Science Communication Dissertation Part 2 |
| as arranged with unit coordinator |
| S1, S2 | SCOM5812 | Science Communication Dissertation Part 3 |
| as arranged with unit coordinator |
| S1, S2 | SCOM5813 | Science Communication Dissertation Part 4 |
| as arranged with unit coordinator |
| NS | SOCS4100 | Social Sciences Research Skills |
| seminars: 4 hours per week |
For students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) to the value of 30 points.
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | COMM5605 | Issues in Global Journalism and Strategic Communication | None | Up to 24 hours |
| NS | COMM5701 | Strategic Communications in a Digital Era | None | up to 24 hours |
| NS | COMM5702 | Digital Media: Theory and Practice | None | lectures: up to 1 hr per week. seminars: 2 hours per week for 6 weeks |
| N/A | COMM5705 | Representation and Promotion | None | 24–36 hours |
| NS | EDUC5608 | Integrating Pedagogy and Technology | None | 4 days of intensive teaching |
| S2 | EDUC5636 | Assessment, Data and Learning | None | Face to face with intensive sessions |
| S1 | EDUC5658 | Globalising Education Policy | None | 9 x 2 hour face to face workshops |
| NS | POLS5010 | NGOs, Governance and Development | None | seminars: 18 hours |
| S1 | PUBH5749 | Foundations of Public Health | None | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week |
| S1 | PUBH5754 | Health Promotion I | None | lectures: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | PUBH5805 | Qualitative Research Methods in Health | None | seminar: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | SCIE4481 | Good, Bogus and Corrupted Science |
| seminars: 3 hours per week for 12 weeks—theory is provided by the unit coordinators and guest speakers; tutorials: 2 hour per week for 12 weeks—students present cases of bogus and corrupted science in classes, discuss further the material covered in the seminars, and are asked to support their learning with examples of their choice, thus guaranteeing a multidisciplinary flavour to this unit. The advanced academic training and research experience required of the postgraduate and honours students attending this unit provide the grounds for scholarly and informed discussions during the tutorials. |
| S1, S2 | SCOM4402 | Synthesising Research Literature: Reviewing, Analysing, and Reporting |
| online workshop: 2 hours per week |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) This course has the following exit awards:
- 51240 Graduate Certificate in Science Communication (24 points)
- 51340 Graduate Diploma in Science Communication (48 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Science Communication course before completing it, but after completing 24 points excluding conversion units, with at least 12 points of core units, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Science Communication.
(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Science Communication course before completing it, but after completing 48 points excluding conversion units, with at least 24 points of core units, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Science Communication.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points (maximum value) which include conversion units to a value of 24 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
(3) Students who have completed prior tertiary studies in science communication including a minor in Science Communication, or equivalent, are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Research Project
14. Students who wish to undertake a Research Project must—
(a) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3 units in their UWA undergraduate major. These units must be relevant to the master's specialisation;
or
(b) have a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3, 4 and 5 units completed within the course; or equivalent as recognised by the Faculty.