Master of Science Communication (coursework or coursework and dissertation) (51580)
The University of Western Australia
About
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.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.
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 | Prerequisites: completion of 36 credit points or enrolment in the Master of Science Communication (51580) Incompatibility: COMM3324 Science Communication—Writing | lectures: 4 x 15 minute online lectures per week; workshops: 1 x 2 hours per week |
| S2 | SCOM3205 | Science Presentations | Prerequisites: completion of 60 credit points OR enrolment in the Masters of Science Communication (51580) Incompatibility: SCOM2205 Science Presentations | 1 hour (total) online lectures per week. 1 x 2 hour workshop per week. |
| S1 | SCOM3319 | Exhibitions and Interpretation | Prerequisites: any Level 2 COMM unit or any Level 2 SCOM unit or enrolment in Master of Science Communication (51580) | workshops: 3 hours per week |
| N/A | SCOM3321 | Science and the Media | Prerequisites: any Level 2 COMM unit or any Level 2 SCOM unit or enrolment in Master of Science Communication (51580) | tutorials: 3 hours per week |
Take all units (36 points):
| AVAILABILITY | UNITCODE | UNITNAME | UNIT REQUIREMENTS | CONTACT HOURS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | SCIE5304 | Science Practicum | Prerequisites: enrollment in Master of Science Communication (51580) or the Master of Exercise Science (52510), or the Master of Environmental Science (72530), or the Master of Biological Science (72520), or the Master of Biological Arts (71530), or the Master of Agricultural Science (72510), or the Master of Biomedical Science (71520) and approval of the unit coordinator | 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 | Prerequisites: enrolment in Science Communication honours or Master of Science Communication (51580) or Master of Clinical Research (90620) or Master of Social Science Research Methods (12560) | as arranged with unit coordinator |
| N/A | SCOM5302 | Contemporary Issues in Science Communication | as arranged with unit coordinator | |
| 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 | |
| NS | SOCS5003 | Research Design | Prerequisites: for Social Research Methods students and Science Communication students : none; for other postgraduate course (International Relations, Strategic Communications, Asian Studies, International Development, Public Policy) students: completion of 24 points of their coursework, three core units and one option unit, and have achieved a 70 per cent WAM in those units. | 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 | Prerequisites: enrolment in the Master of Science Communication (51580) and SCOM4402 Science Communication Literature Review and SOCS5003 Research Design. Students who want to undertake a research project as an optional unit must have (a)(i) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in at least 24 points of Level 3 units in their undergraduate major. These units must be relevant to the master's specialisation; or (ii) the equivalent of a UWA 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; and (b) a supervisor, approved by the Faculty, must have confirmed their willingness and availability to supervise the research project. | as arranged with unit coordinator |
| S1, S2 | SCOM5811 | Science Communication Dissertation Part 2 | Prerequisites: enrolment in the Master of Science Communication (51580) or honours in Science Communication and SCOM4402 Science Communication Literature Review and SOCS5003 Research Design | as arranged with unit coordinator |
| S1, S2 | SCOM5812 | Science Communication Dissertation Part 3 | Prerequisites: enrolment in the Master of Science Communication (51580) or honours in Science Communication and SCOM4402 Science Communication Literature Review and SOCS5003 Research Design | as arranged with unit coordinator |
| S1, S2 | SCOM5813 | Science Communication Dissertation Part 4 | Prerequisites: enrolment in the Master of Science Communication (51580) or honours in Science Communication and SCOM4402 Science Communication Literature Review and SOCS5003 Research Design | 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 | Incompatibility: VISA2214 Aesthetic Crossovers of Art and Science | lectures: 1 hour per week; labs/tutorials: 2 hours per week |
| S2 | APHB5511 | Advanced Art and Life Manipulation | Incompatibility: VISA2249 Art and Life Manipulation | lectures: 1 hour per week; labs/tutorials: 2 hours per week |
| NS | COMM5303 | Communication Strategies for Change | Prerequisites: enrolment in a postgraduate course Incompatibility: COMM3303/COMM8303 Science Communication for Change in Industry and Community; SCOM3320 Communication Strategies for Change | lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials/practicals: 1 hour per week |
| S2 | 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 | |
| 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 | Prerequisites: enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Educational Leadership (30520); Master of Education (30580); Graduate Diploma in Professional Education (31310); Graduate Diploma in Educational Assessment; Master of Education (31500); Master of Teaching (31520); Master of Education in Assessment, Measurement and Evaulation (31530); Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (31560); Master of Educational Studies (31600); Master of Special Education (31620); Master of Education in Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation (31630); Master of Educational Leadership (31650); Master of Education (31670); Master of Education (31700); Graduate Diploma in Curriculum Studies (32310); Graduate Diploma in School Leadership (32320); Master of Curriculum Studies (32510); Master of School Leadership (32520) | 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 | Incompatibility: SOCS5502 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 | Prerequisites: MKTG5503 Enterprise and Innovation or enrolment in the Master of Professional Engineering (Biomedical Engineering specialisation) Incompatibility: MKTG5603 Management of Technology and Innovation | 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 | Prerequisites: enrolment in postgraduate course or honours | 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 | Prerequisites: enrolment in honours or postgraduate course | 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 | Prerequisites: enrolment in Master of Teaching (Secondary) | lectures: 3 hours per week |
| NS | SSEH5492 | Health Promotion in the Schools | Prerequisites: enrolment in Master of Teaching (Secondary) | lectures: 3 hours per week; field work/labs: 2 hours per week; one debating night |
| S1 | SSEH5654 | Fundamentals in Research Methods | Prerequisites: enrolment in the Bachelor of Exercise Rehabilitation Science honours; or postgraduate study in Sport Science, Exercise and Health; or the Master of Exercise Science (coursework) (52510); or the Graduate Diploma in Sport and Recreation Management (51390) | lectures/seminars: 3 hours per week |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Entry 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.
Institution
