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 / 2021
- Administered by
- Faculty of 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 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
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP; or postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Schedule 2: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- 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 2021; 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 2022 or 2023.
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 Faculty:
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| N/A | SCOM2205 | Science Presentations | lectures and online activities: 2 hours per week; tutorials/practicals: 2 hours per week | |
| S1 | SCOM2208 | Science Writing |
| lectures: 4 x 15 minute online lectures per week; workshops: 1 x 2 hours per week |
| S1 | SCOM3319 | Exhibitions and Interpretation |
| lectures: 4 x 15 mins of online lectures per week workshops: 2 hours per week |
Take all units (36 points):
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | COMM5703 | Strategic Communications Planning and Management | up to 24 hours | |
| NS | POLS5501 | The Politics of Public Policy |
| Seminars for this unit are delivered intensively |
| S1, S2 | SCIE5004 | Professional Skills in Science |
| |
| 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. |
| S2 | SCOM5309 | Citizen Science | 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 | |
| S1 | SCOM5311 | Science Communication as an Academic Discipline |
| 3 x 15 minute online lectures per week; 1 x 2 hour workshop per week |
For students in course by coursework and dissertation only, take all units (30points):
| Availability | Unitcode | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | MIXD5005 | Designing Social Research |
| up to 30 hours |
| S1, S2 | SCOM4402 | Science Communication Literature Review |
| as arranged with unit coordinator |
| 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.
| 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 |
| S1, S2 | APHB5518 | Biological Art Integration Studies II |
| seminars: 1.5 hours per week; labs/tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | APHB5519 | Biological Art Integration Studies I |
| seminars: 1.5 hours per week, labs/tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| NS | COMM5605 | Issues in Contemporary Global Journalism | This unit will be delivered online and it will consist of a mix of recorded lectures, structured activities and zoom tutorials. | |
| NS | COMM5701 | Strategic Communications in a Digital Era | up to 24 hours | |
| S1 | COMM5702 | Digital Media: Theory and Practice | 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 | |
| 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 | EDUC5636 | Assessment and Measurement | lectures/seminars: 2 hours per week (for 13 weeks) | |
| NS | EDUC5658 | Globalising Education Policy | 12 x 2 hour online workshops | |
| N/A | HERI5101 | Debates in Contemporary Heritage Studies | 4 hours per week (over 6 weeks from week 1) | |
| N/A | HERI5103 | The Business of Sustainable Heritage | 4 hours per week (over 6 weeks from week 7) | |
| S1, S2 | MIXD5005 | Designing Social Research |
| up to 30 hours |
| NS | POLS5010 | NGOs, Governance and Development | seminars: 18 hours | |
| S2 | PUBH5749 | Foundations of Public Health | seminars: 3 hours per week | |
| S1 | PUBH5754 | Health Promotion I | lectures: 3 hours per week | |
| S1 | PUBH5805 | Qualitative Research Methods in Health | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week | |
| S1, S2 | SCOM4402 | Science Communication Literature Review |
| as arranged with unit coordinator |
| 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 |
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) 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) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.
(3) 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 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, but after completing 48 points excluding conversion units, with at least 24 points of core units, 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 including a minor 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 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. 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.