UWA's admission requirements for some postgraduate courses have changed for Semester 2, 2020 to facilitate student access to study during the COVID-19 situation. In many cases, these changes may not be extended beyond 2020. Contact Future Students for more information.
Master of Science Communication (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
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 overview
- 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 / 2020
- Administered by
- Faculty of Science
- 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 Faculty
- 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
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Heather Bray & Dr Sam Illingworth
- 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.
Course structure
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2020; NS = non-standard teaching period |
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2021 or 2022.
Students who have not completed prior tertiary studies in science communication, or equivalent, must complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 24 points from this group, as advised by the Faculty:
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | SCOM2208 | Science Writing |
| lectures: 4 x 15 minute online lectures per week; workshops: 1 x 2 hours per week |
| S2 | SCOM3205 | Science Presentations |
| 1 hour (total) online lectures per week. 1 x 2 hour workshop per week. |
| S1 | SCOM3319 | Exhibitions and Interpretation |
| workshops: 3 hours per week |
| N/A | SCOM3321 | Science and the Media |
| tutorials: 3 hours per week |
Take all units (36 points):
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SCIE5304 | Science Practicum |
| 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. |
| S1 | SCOM4402 | Science Communication Literature Review |
| as arranged with unit coordinator |
| N/A | SCOM5302 | Contemporary Issues in Science Communication | as arranged with unit coordinator | |
| S2 | SCOM5309 | Citizen Science | Lectures: 4 x 15 minute online lectures per week for 6 weeks Workshops: 6 x 4 hour workshops Self-directed learning (reading/online): 2 hours per week for 10 weeks | |
| NS, S2 | SOCS5003 | Research Design |
| up to 30 hours |
| NS | SOCS5501 | Evaluation | Taught intensively over 6 weeks (second half of S1), |
For students in course by coursework and dissertation only, take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unitcode | 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 |
For students in course by coursework only, take unit(s) to the value of 36 points of which at least 6 points (one unit) must be taken at Level 5. For students in course by coursework and dissertation only, take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:
Group B
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | APHB5510 | Advanced Aesthetic Crossovers of Art and Science |
| lectures: 1 hour per week; labs/tutorials: 2 hours per week |
| S2 | APHB5511 | Advanced Art and Life Manipulation |
| lectures: 1 hour per week; labs/tutorials: 2 hours per week |
| NS | COMM5303 | Communication Strategies for Change |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials/practicals: 1 hour per week |
| NS | COMM5605 | Issues in Contemporary Global Journalism | 24 hours | |
| NS | COMM5701 | Strategic Communications in a Digital Era | up to 24 hours | |
| S1 | COMM5702 | Digital Media: Theory and Practice | up to 24 hours | |
| NS | COMM5703 | Communication, Innovation and Project Management | up to 24 hours | |
| N/A | COMM5704 | Global Media and Cross-cultural Communication | 24–36 hours | |
| N/A | COMM5705 | Representation and Promotion | 24–36 hours | |
| S1 | EDUC5492 | Understanding and Managing Disruptive Behaviour Disorders | lectures/seminars: 2.5 hours per week for 10 weeks | |
| NS | EDUC5494 | Approaches to Student Assessment | lectures/seminars: 2.5 hours per week (for 10 weeks) | |
| NS | EDUC5608 | Integrating Pedagogy and Technology | lectures: 2.5 hours per week for 10 weeks—face-to-face (50 per cent) and online (50 per cent) | |
| NS | EDUC5631 | Approaches to Research |
| 25 hours compressed mode over 4 full days; offshore as required |
| N/A | EDUC5633 | Quantitative Inquiry | 25 hours | |
| N/A | EDUC5634 | Qualitative Inquiry | 25 hours | |
| NS | EDUC5658 | Globalising Education Policy | up to 4x6 hour sessions held on Saturdays | |
| S1 | GEOG5502 | Conservation, Development and Sustainability |
| lectures/discussions: 2 hours per week for 10 weeks |
| NS | HERI5101 | Debates in Contemporary Heritage Studies | 4 hours per week (over 6 weeks from week 1) | |
| S2 | MKTG5406 | Buyer Behaviour and Decision Making | lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week | |
| NS | MKTG5604 | Technology Commercialisation |
| lectures/seminars: 36 hours (12 x 3 hours) |
| S1 | PUBH5754 | Health Promotion I | lectures: 3 hours per week | |
| S1, S2 | PUBH5805 | Qualitative Research Methods in Health | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week | |
| S1, S2 | SCIE4403 | The Conduct, Ethics and Communication of Science |
| 7 workshops running once a fortnight. This unit runs in both Semester 1 and Semester 2 and taken in either semester. |
| 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. |
| N/A | SOCS5005 | Social Research Ethics | 24 hours—taught intensively and may include evening and/or Saturday classes | |
| N/A | SOCS5009 | Innovative Social Research Methods | up to 3 hours per week | |
| NS | SOCS5010 | NGOs, Governance and Development | seminars: 18 hours | |
| S1 | SSEH5491 | Health Education |
| lectures: 3 hours per week |
| NS | SSEH5492 | Health Promotion in the Schools |
| lectures: 3 hours per week; field work/labs: 2 hours per week; one debating night |
| S1 | SSEH5654 | Fundamentals in Research Methods |
| lectures/seminars: 3 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 module
2.(1) Except as stated in (2), 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).
(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE module is not required to repeat the module.
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; and
(c) successfully completed prior tertiary study in science communication or in a related cognate discipline as recognised by UWA.
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, of which a minimum of 6 points must be degree core, may apply to the Faculty to be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Science Communication.
(3) A student who withdraws from the Master of Science Communication course before completing it, eight units at level 4/5 four of which must be core, may apply to the Faculty 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, or equivalent, are granted credit for conversion units up to a value of 24 points.
Satisfactory progress
8. A student who does not pass units to a value of at least half the total points value of units for which they are enrolled, or who fails the same unit twice, will not have made satisfactory progress.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE 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. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded' unless the Faculty decides otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances.
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.
Additional rules
Research Project
13. 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.