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This program provides opportunities for motivated and highly qualified students to undertake advanced study and to produce a research-based dissertation. Students will develop appropriate research skills and specialist area knowledge that will enhance their career prospects or allow them to proceed to further appropriate higher degree studies.
Applied Research majorThe major is designed to provide students with a combination of coursework and related research which will provide and enhance student knowledge across a range of science based disciplines.
Advanced Research majorThis major is designed to provide students who have already undertaken substantial prior studies in a relevant area with the opportunity to focus on a significant research project in a related area.
Transfer between majors within this program is not possible.
Program objectives
General objectives
Successful completion of this program will enable graduates to:
identify, interpret and evaluate major issues of contemporary theory and practice in their discipline area
comprehend and evaluate developments in a chosen discipline area and critically examine the relationships between such developments and contemporary theory
apply a knowledge of the principles and ethics of research within their chosen discipline area
identify research topics and undertake research using appropriate methodology and current techniques
report and publish research outcomes.
Major Objectives
Applied Research major
Successful completion of the program will enable a graduate to:
extend the knowledge and research expertise of students entering the major with a three year degree
demonstrate an enhanced understanding of a selected area of science
identify, interpret and evaluate major issues in contemporary theory and practice of scientific research in the disciplines within the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
apply current research techniques and methodology to the pursuit of specific research goals.
Advanced Research major
Successful completion of the program will enable a graduate to:
identify, interpret and evaluate major issues in contemporary theory and practice of scientific research in the disciplines within the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
apply current research techniques and methodology to the pursuit of specific research goals
extend and develop the research expertise and techniques of students entering the major with a four year degree or equivalent. Eligible students may apply to transfer to a PhD from this major.
There are 12 units in the program. There are four coursework units which will include a research training course. Courses are normally at level 3 or above and are selected in consultation with the supervisor to reflect additional training complementary to the area of research to be undertaken. The research training course will consist of SCI4405 Research Practice and Ethics or HSC8050 Research Methodology for the Human Sciences or equivalent (as approved by the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences).
Students who have previously completed SCI4405 Research Practice and Ethics or HSC8050 Research Methodology for the Human Sciences or an equivalent course elsewhere, will be required to undertake an alternative course selected in consultation with both their project supervisor and the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.
The remaining 8-unit research project will be undertaken in consultation with an approved supervisor. The first research project course SCI9012 Master of Science Research Project B is evaluated by a progress report and a dissertation proposal.
The student will prepare a dissertation based on independently conducted research. To successfully complete the dissertation, students will be required to select a research topic, carry out supervised research on the chosen topic using an appropriate research method and present and defend the results.
Advanced Research majorCandidates will be expected to conduct their studies in areas of science research that reflect the expertise of current staff in the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences. Most research active staff are also members of a USQ Research Centre. Details of current research programs and potential supervisors can be found on the relevant Biological and Physical Sciences and Mathematics and Computing Departmental and Research Centre webpages.
The emphasis of the program will be on developing the appropriate knowledge and skills to undertake independent research and professional practice. Accordingly, a major component of the program will be a supervised research project.
There are 12 units in the program. There is one unit of coursework research training and an 11-unit research project. Progress in the research courses is monitored via research reports co-ordinated by the Office of Research and Higher Degrees. In addition two of the research project courses (SCI9012 Master of Science Research Project B and SCI9013 Master of Science Research Project C) are formally evaluated. In the case of SCI9012 evaluation is by both a confirmation seminar and written confirmation proposal and in the case of SCI9013 by a progress seminar. The student will prepare a dissertation based on independently conducted research. To successfully complete the dissertation, students will be required to select a research topic, carry out supervised research on the chosen topic using an appropriate research method and present and defend the results.
The research training course will consist of SCI4405 Research Practice and Ethics or HSC8050 Research Methodology for the Human Sciences or equivalent (as approved by the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences).
Students who have previously completed SCI4405 Research Practice and Ethics or HSC8050 Research Methodology for the Human Sciences or an equivalent course elsewhere, will be required to undertake an alternative course selected in consultation with the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.
Required time limitsStudents have a maximum of 4 years to complete either major in this program.
Exit pointsStudents enrolled in the Applied Research major, who have successfully complete four coursework units and wish to exit without completing the program, may seek, with approval of the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, to exit via Graduate Certificate of Science . Students must successfully complete this major prior to application for entry to the PhD program.
Students enrolled in the Advanced Research major, who wish to exit without completing the program, may on the basis of outstanding performance, seek to transfer to the PhD program on the completion of at least eight units within this major. To be eligible for transfer, students will have obtained an overall GPA of at least 6.0 averaged across both SCI9012 Master of Science Research Project B and SCI9013 Master of Science Research Project C. Following satisfactory completion of SCI9014 Master of Science Research Project D and subject to support from their supervisor, eligible students may apply for transfer to the PhD program. As such a transfer will involve an extension of the scope of the existing approved MSCR project, any such transfer will require the evaluation of a full PhD confirmation proposal and seminar. The material will be assessed via a Faculty PhD confirmation panel. As a result, a recommendation may be made to the University with respect to articulation to the PhD program with credit being given for the 8 units successfully undertaken within the MSCR. Students wishing to exit as above must discuss the procedures with the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.
