Master of Earth and Environmental Sciences

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

The Visual Arts and Design major is for those who love not only painting and making, but also designing for real-world environments. The course will develop your skills in traditional areas such as painting and drawing, print-making and photography, and sculpture and textiles. You will also learn contemporary digital design skills, including visual communication design, innovations in design practice and interface design – all underpinned by learnings in history and theory. This dynamic major offers extensive studio time, while equipping you with the design skills essential for success in the contemporary arts and creative industries.

What you will study
The structure of the course is based on a common Creative Arts first year, followed by parallel studies in visual arts and design. This will lead to a capstone project-based subject, which brings together both fields of study. You will also take part in a major showcase and public exhibition by the end of your degree. Student work is exhibited throughout the year.

As data sets continue to expand exponentially, connecting data with artificial intelligence technology can provide new insights that are critical to solving complex problems.

Big Data can solve problems in science, society and business including population growth, transport, security, medical technology, trade and commerce. However, data first needs to be processed and refined so we can gain intelligence and make better decisions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) aims to develop computer software and hardware to enable machines to learn from experience, adapt to new, incoming information and tackle tasks that require human-like thinking.

The most common examples of AI today - from chess computers to driverless vehicles - are based on deep learning, computer vision and natural language processing and various other methods. With these technologies, computers can be trained for specific tasks by processing large amounts of data and recognising patterns in the data.

AI is being integrated into every major technological system in the world in healthcare, legal and financial services, manufacturing, education, transport, agriculture, mining and other industries where automation and robotics can enhance production and improve safety.

What you will study
You will study subjects in the foundation of AI and Big Data, augmented and virtual reality and complete subjects in foundations of AI, modern AI, Big Data management, Big data mining techniques and implementation.

The Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation will expose you to ideas that have been inspiring people since their inception — in Ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the Modern Era. You will have the unique opportunity to directly engage with a carefully curated selection of some of the most influential works in the Western tradition of thought and art.

This degree also offers thirty generous scholarship opportunities valued at up to $30,000 per annum across the full course of study, as well as an opportunity to engage in a bespoke scholarly experience.

What you will study
You will philosophically reflect on questions about art, literature, science and religion while also investigating such topics as the nature of selfhood, truth, reason and wisdom. You will discover how great ideas and art can shape us - our understanding of ourselves and the world - and how ideas can make a difference for good or ill.

You will develop informed and reasoned views about significant contemporary concerns, such as the value of democracy, benefiting from your acquired knowledge of the history of ideas. You will become acquainted with diverging perspectives from within various Western traditions of thought and art as well as under-represented voices and perspectives from outside of those traditions.

You will choose one major from the following: Archaeology and Ancient History; Creative Writing; History; Indigenous Studies; Languages; Sociology; English Literatures; Philosophy; Politics; International Relations; Global Sustainable Development.

The Master of Engineering (Electrical) provides graduate engineers with discipline-specific knowledge and technical skills in electrical engineering, including renewable energy and high-voltage systems. You will learn how electrical energy is produced and used in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. You will gain advanced knowledge in designing and building systems that generate, transmit, control and use electrical energy. Areas include wireless engineering, high voltage engineering, and digital integrated circuit design.

The program will suit you if you're an engineering graduate wanting specialist knowledge in the latest power engineering technologies, or seeking a career change in this sector.

This degree

The Master of Engineering delivers expert skills and applied competencies required for the professional engineer. It is designed to train and enhance professional practice, advance technical and specialist skills, and provide an opportunity to put theory into practice with applied projects and research. The degree also delivers communication, strategic and project management skills essential to the practising engineer.

What you will study

You will complete the core subjects in Professional Communications and Engineering Workplace Practice, Innovation and Design, Advanced Laboratory, and Research Methods.

For the Electrical major you will study subjects in Advanced Signals and Systems, Power System Analysis, Renewable and Distributed Generation, plus electives from Electrical, Computer, Mechanical or Engineering subjects. You will also complete an advanced project.

The study of Philosophy at UOW teaches you how to think, not what to think. As lovers of wisdom, philosophers are deeply, personally invested in their quest for truth and enlightenment. There are no questions that philosophers will not consider.  How should we live and treat others? Do our lives have meaning? Does science have all the answers?  In studying philosophy at UOW you will explore the most fundamental topics, ask the deepest questions and –rigorously and systematically– scrutinize the answers given by the best minds down the ages.

Studying for a UOW degree in Philosophy will train you in logic and argumentation. It will enlarge and enrich your conception of what is possible. You will acquire the intellectual discipline needed to challenge the assumptions that frame the way we think about the world and how we should behave in it. You will learn to bring philosophical considerations to bear on practical problems in order to make informed decisions about important issues such as:  social justice; free speech; global poverty; climate change, animal welfare; humane psychotherapy; education and expertise.

A philosophical education is valuable in just about any line of work. It develops your persuasive powers; critical thinking, problem solving abilities; and communication skills. A 2016 report by the Foundation for Young Australians reveals that these skills are in great demand today in professions that require people who can stand back and think with an open mind. Past UOW Philosophy graduates have found work in such diverse careers as: administration; art and design; business development; community and social services; consulting; education; entrepreneurship; healthcare; human resources; IT; legal; management; media; program and project research.

What you will study

Core subjects will teach you about: ethics, politics, mind, self, knowledge, science, and the relevance of philosophy to the wider world and the workplace. Elective areas of study include media; art and society; logic; the meaning of life; philosophy in film and literature; global and environmental ethics; bioethics; political philosophy; narrative psychology and selfhood; imagination and emotion; health and happiness; and Eastern philosophy.

Pure Mathematics is concerned with exploring patterns and solving problems; it can provide new insights into nature, technology and business, and create a pathway for innovative solutions. Pure mathematics focuses on developing and analysing unifying mathematical concepts and principles through deductive reasoning.

This Degree
The Bachelor of Mathematics degree teaches highly transferable skills in problem solving, data analysis, probability and variability, mathematical modelling, logistics and logic. The degree is flexible, so you can take subjects from other disciplines to expand your career options.

There are opportunities for scholarships from corporate partners, summer scholarships and undergraduate research projects with academic staff, access to programs offered by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) and inter-university courses via our Access Grid Room.

What you will study
The Pure Mathematics major gives you quantitative skills that are in demand across all industries and serves as an initial preparation for employment as a professional mathematician. You will study subjects in pure mathematics and in applied mathematics and statistics.

You will learn problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical skills that are in demand across all government and private sectors.

The Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation combined with the Bachelor of Creative Arts is an exciting and unique double degree combination. It will take you on a unique philosophical adventure through which you will engage with a carefully curated selection of some of the greatest intellectual and artistic masterpieces ever produced. It will also allow you to express and develop your own creativity in one of the disciplines of creative writing, music, visual arts or visual arts and design.

What you will study

You will philosophically reflect on questions about art, literature, science and religion while also investigating such topics as the nature of selfhood, truth, reason and wisdom. You will discover how great ideas and art can shape us - our understanding of ourselves and the world - and how ideas can make a difference for good or ill. By studying the double degree your studies will be enhanced while learning the theory and history behind contemporary creative arts.

You will develop informed and reasoned views about significant contemporary concerns, such as the nature of aesthetics, benefiting from your acquired knowledge of the history of ideas. You will become acquainted with diverging perspectives from within various Western traditions of thought and art as well as under-represented voices and perspectives from outside of those traditions.

Critical examination of topics in ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, and political philosophy will underpin your studies while you spend time in the studio refining your technique and carving out your own creative niche.

In addition to studying the core subjects in the Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation (96 credit points) and the Bachelor of Creative Arts (24 credit points), students studying this combination will also complete a major within each degree.

The Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health is a three-year undergraduate degree providing a solid foundation towards graduate medicine, dentistry, veterinary studies, optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy or pharmacy. Depending on which major/minor you choose, this course also leads to a wide range of postgraduate study or professional career options in the physical and life sciences, allied health or health informatics. High performing students from a diverse range of backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, in particular, Indigenous and rural students.

This degree will explore core content for medical school entry including academic literacy, critical thinking skills and an understanding of what it takes to be a successful health practitioner. Extracurricular activities will demonstrate your leadership, dedication, and cooperation. From your first year, you will have opportunities to participate in a wide range of volunteer and enrichment activities in the community. These will assist you in developing real-world skills and ready for a career in health and medicine.

In the first year, you will study core foundational topics in anatomy, biology, chemistry, exercise physiology, and nutrition. In year two, under the guidance of the course coordinator, you can tailor your interests by selecting one of the following study areas:

• Biomedical Research
• Exercise Science
• Medical Science
• Molecular Medicine
• Nutrition

In year three, a capstone subject examines medical case studies across topics in the same case-based learning format used by graduate medical schools across the world. The cases are explored and managed via patient-oriented evidence summaries, group video presentations, clinical trial critiques and debates on ethical issues.

The BCA Honours year is for students who’ve done well throughout their Bachelor of Creative Arts degree. If you have a Distinction average or higher, the Honours year offers an additional year of study to pursue both critical and creative projects. For your critical work, you’ll focus on one topic from your undergraduate degree, writing a thesis of 10,000-15,000 words; and for your creative project, you’ll pursue a body of work in your chosen discipline. In both instances, the Honours year allows you to pursue a topic or theme you are really interested in with a supervisor who’s there to encourage and support you.

Potential employers appreciate the Honours degree because it demonstrates that students can: achieve complex goals, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively, and write clearly.

What you will study
The Honours year has two functions at UOW: it offers students the chance to pursue in-depth critical and creative projects at the end of undergraduate study, and it acts as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research.

Studying Honours is about:

• Pursuing a creative project in a field you are passionate about
• Learning research skills, navigation skills and information systems (archives, the library, databases, electronic research networks)
• The opportunity to practise articulating complex ideas orally and in writing. It provides the experience of working closely with a supervisor on a project and working with firm deadlines
• Experiences in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument or thesis.

The Master of Education (Educational Leadership) is for people who are currently in educational leadership roles or who wish to pursue leadership positions in educational settings such as schools, early childhood, higher education and vocational education. During this degree you will study the fundamentals of educational leadership and management, and learn how to apply this to your practice as an educator. You will also enhance your skills in areas such as mentoring new educators, managing curricula and assessment, supporting staff development, and leading organisational change. Throughout the degree, you will build the skills to investigate and solve complex issues in a rapidly changing educational climate and conduct an individualised research project that ties in with your work and interests.

You will have the opportunity to incorporate electives from other education areas such as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), or Digital Technologies for Learning, in order to tailor your degree. You will also benefit from flexible study options that allow you to study online or in the classroom.