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Tropical wetlands
Postgraduate Coursework

Master of Applied Spatial Science

Key details

Duration

2 year/s full-time
4 year/s part-time
2 year/s full-time

Intake

Semester 1
On campus - Semester 1
Online - No

Locations

Casuarina campus, Online
Casuarina campus

Credit points required

160

Course code

SSPSC1
SATAC/UAC codes

Overview

The Master of Applied Spatial Science will give you the skills to apply spatial science technologies and analysis techniques to solve real-world problems across a diverse range of fields and vocations. This in-depth program is delivered both online and on-campus from Darwin, which is Australia's gateway to Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The course carries a strong focus upon the application of open-source spatial science technologies as well as teaching applications of commercial platforms such as ArcGIS.

During the course, you will learn essential skills to apply the latest spatial science tools and techniques to data relevant to multiple sectors including, Environmental Science, Precision Agriculture, Disaster & Emergency Management, and Health.

The Graduate Certificate of Spatial Science is nested within the Masters degree course as entry and exit pathways to this program.

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Pathways


Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Fees

Non-Commonwealth supported places

Full fee paying places are available in this course.
Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.

International tuition fees

International Tuition Fees

Environmental science at CDU

Why study science or the environment at CDU?

Interested in solving our planet's biggest environmental issues? There's never been a better time to study a postgraduate degree in science, environmental science and management with CDU. Gain advanced skills and knowledge that help progress your career. Apply critical thinking to future-focused solutions across real-world problems. 

  • #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
Environmental science at CDU

Why study science or the environment at CDU?

If you're interested in finding solutions to our planet's environmental issues, there's never been a better time to study science, environmental science and management at CDU. You'll be prepared to apply the academic theories and principles you learn in class to real-world problems in a diverse range of careers.

  • #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
Environmental science at CDU

Why study science or the environment at CDU?

Interested in solving our planet's biggest environmental issues? There's never been a better time to study a postgraduate degree in science, environmental science and management with CDU. Gain advanced skills and knowledge that help progress your career. Apply critical thinking to future-focused solutions across real-world problems. 

  • #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
Environmental science at CDU

Why study science or the environment at CDU?

If you're interested in finding solutions to our planet's environmental issues, there's never been a better time to study science, environmental science and management at CDU. You'll be prepared to apply the academic theories and principles you learn in class to real-world problems in a diverse range of careers.

  • #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)

What will I study?

This program (160 credit points) contains 60cp of core studies in spatial science (a statistical unit, four spatial science units, and a research skills unit), 40cp of the research project, and 60cp of specialist electives. The special electives include 20cp of research methodology electives and 40cp of electives selected from disciplines such as Environmental Science, Health, Disaster & Emergency Management, Information Technology, Engineering, Project management, or Indigenous knowledge.

Course structure


A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.

Unit typeCredit PointsSpecific requirements

Core
(6 unit

60cp

Compulsory Core units totalling 60 credit points as detailed below:

Select 10 credit points (1 unit) of statistical units from the list below:
SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies
OR
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis

Select all 5 units (50 credit points) from the units listed below:
ENV502 Remote Sensing
ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking
ENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World Problems (title changed 2023)
SID403 Research Skills

Specialist Electives
(6 units

60cp

 

Specialist Elective units totalling 60 credit points.
Students are required to complete 20 credit points of Research Methodology units plus 40 credit points from one or more of the available specialisations identified below:

Select 20 credit points from the list below:

Research Methodology
EMG505 Research Methodologies in Education (unit title change 2022)
IAS501 Research Methods (20cp)
IAS521 Principles of Indigenous Research
IAS522 Indigenous Research Methodologies
MPP503 Realist Research and Evaluation
PHM526 Research Design
PHM527 Research Ethics and Impact
PHM552 Epidemiology
PHM553 Biostatistics
PHM588 Qualitative Research Methods

PLUS

Select 40 credit points of which 20 credit points must be at 500 level from one or more of the specialisation groups listed below:

Environmental Science
ENV501 Tropical Invaders and Biosecurity
ENV503 Ecological Restoration and Connectivity
ENV507 Fire Ecology and Management
ENV509 Ecological and Management of Tropical Forests and Savannas
ENV515 Desert Field Ecology
ENV516 Ecosystem Function: Field Studies in North Australia
ENV517 Natural Resources and Indigenous Livelihoods
ENV519 Aquatic Resource Management
ENV520 Wildlife Management
SID500 Professional Practice

Humanitarian Aid, Emergency and Disaster Management
DEM511 Emergency and Disaster Management in Context
DEM512 Interdisciplinary Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management
DEM513 Leadership in Emergency and Disaster Management
DEM514 Cultural, Social and Psychological Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management
DEM516 Reflective Case Study: Humanitarian, Emergency and Disaster Management

Health
HEA515 Health Informatics
PHM526 Research Design
PHM527 Health Research Skills
PHM536 Health Systems, Planning and Evaluation
PHM553 Biostatistics
PHM554 Public Health Economics and Decision Making
PHM570 Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Diseases
PHM592 Global Health

Information Technology
HIT140 Foundations of Data Science
HIT234 Database Concepts (assumed knowledge for PRT563*)
HIT333 Cyber Security
PRT531 Business Intelligence and Data Mining
PRT551 Project Management, Risk and Reliability
PRT563* Advanced Data Management
PRT564 Data Analytics and Visualisation
PRT565 Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
PRT571 Asset Security and Risk Management

Civil and Structural Engineering
ENG215 Surveying and Construction
ENG311 Geomechanics
ENG515 Water Resource Engineering
ENG516 Road and Traffic Engineering
ENG564 Geotechnical Engineering
ENG566 Design of Concrete Structures

Business and Project Management
PRT551 Project Management, Risk and Reliability
BUS504 Sustainable Enterprise
BUS506 Global Megatrends
BUS507 Global Market and Sustainability Strategy
BUS508 Business Analytics
The following units are no longer available in this course:
EMG505 Research Methodologies in Education (no longer available)
MAN508 Organisational Strategy and Leadership (no longer available)
MAN515 Operations Management (no longer available)
MAN506 Organisational Behaviour (no longer available)

Indigenous Knowledges
IAS225 Cultural Resource and Site Management
IAS223 Representing and Recording Country
IAS353 Indigenous Cultures and the Environment
IAS354 Impact Assessment and Management of Cultural Sites
IAS530 Neo-colonialism, Advocacy, and the Critique of Development
IAS531 Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics
IAS532 Indigenous Knowledges, Property Rights and Economic Participation
IAS533 Indigenous Knowledges and Epistemologies
IAS547 Indigenous Knowledges and Wellbeing

Research Units
(2 units)
 

40cp

Research totalling 40 credit points as detailed below:

ENV820 Research Project x 2 (20cp repeatable unit)

Course Total160cp 

Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)

Study plan


Students commencing in Semester 1

Students are advised to complete either SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies OR ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis before enrolling into ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data.

SBI209: This unit is recommended for students who have no background in statistics.
ENV511: This unit is recommended for students who have some background and skills in statistics

Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.

Legend:CO = Core UnitR = ResearchSE = Specialist Elective

Recommended full-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies

Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOSBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological StudiesCO
SID403 Research SkillsCOSpecialist ElectiveSE
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist ElectiveSE
Year 2
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)RENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
Specialist ElectiveSEENV820 Research Project (20cp)R
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist ElectiveSE

Recommended part-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies

Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOSBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological StudiesCO
Year 2
SID403 Research SkillsCOENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist ElectiveSE
Year 3
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist ElectiveSE
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist Elective SE
Year 4
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)RENV820 Research Project (20cp)R

Top of Page

Legend:CO = Core UnitR = ResearchSE = Specialist Elective

Recommended full-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis

Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
SID403 Research SkillsCOSpecialist ElectiveSE
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact AnalysisCOSpecialist ElectiveSE
Year 2
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)RENV820 Research Project (20cp)R
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist Elective SE
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist Elective SE

Recommended part-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis

Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOSpecialist ElectiveSE
Year 2
SID403 Research SkillsCOENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact AnalysisCOSpecialist ElectiveSE
Year 3
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist ElectiveSE
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist Elective SE
Year 4
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)RENV820 Research Project (20cp)R

Top of Page

 

Students commencing in Semester 2

Students are advised to complete either SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies OR ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis before enrolling into ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data.

SBI209: This unit is recommended for students who have no background in statistics.
ENV511: This unit is recommended for students who have some background and skills in statistics

Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.

Legend:CO = Core UnitR = ResearchSE = Specialist Elective

Recommended full-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies

Semester 1Semester 2
Calendar Year 1
  SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological StudiesCO
  Specialist ElectiveSE
  Specialist ElectiveSE
  Specialist ElectiveSE
Calendar Year 2
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
SID403 Research SkillsCOENV820 Research Project (20cp)R
Specialist ElectiveSE  
Calendar Year 3
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)R  
Specialist ElectiveSE  
Specialist ElectiveSE  

Recommended part-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies

Semester 1Semester 2
Calendar Year 1
  SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological StudiesCO
  Specialist ElectiveSE
Calendar Year 2
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
Calendar Year 3
SID403 Research SkillsCOSpecialist ElectiveSE
Specialist ElectiveSESpecialist Elective SE
Calendar Year 4
Specialist ElectiveSEENV820 Research Project (20cp)R
Specialist ElectiveSE  
Calendar Year 5
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)R  

Top of Page

Legend:CO = Core UnitR = ResearchSE = Specialist Elective

Recommended full-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis

Semester 1Semester 2
Calendar Year 1
  Specialist ElectiveSE
  Specialist ElectiveSE
  Specialist ElectiveSE
  Specialist ElectiveSE
Calendar Year 2
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact AnalysisCOENV820 Research Project (20cp)R
SID403 Research SkillsCO  
    
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)R  
Specialist ElectiveSE  
Specialist ElectiveSE  

Recommended part-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis

Semester 1Semester 2
Calendar Year 1
  Specialist ElectiveSE
  Specialist ElectiveSE
Calendar Year 2
ENV502 Remote SensingCOENV506 Environmental Monitoring and ModellingCO
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial ThinkingCOSpecialist ElectiveSE
Calendar Year 3
SID403 Research SkillsCOENV518 Applied Spatial Analysis for Real-World ProblemsCO
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact AnalysisCOSpecialist Elective SE
Calendar Year 4
Specialist ElectiveSEENV820 Research Project (20cp)R
Specialist ElectiveSE  
Calendar Year 5
ENV820 Research Project (20cp)R  

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Entry requirements

Admission criteria

Successful completion of a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent international qualification.

International entry pathway

International Pathway

Applicants who have completed the CDU International Masters Qualifying Program (ZMQP01) or the Accelerated International Masters Qualifying Program (ZAMQP1) are eligible for entry.

Essential requirements

English language requirements

To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.

The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.

CDU English for Academic Purposes 4 (ZEAP40)Successful completion of EAP004 English for Academic Purposes 4
IELTS Academic ModuleA minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0.
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)A minimum overall score of 176, with no skill below 169.
Common European Framework Certificate of English ProficiencyA minimum overall grade of C1, valid for three years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic moduleA minimum overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50.
TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT)A minimum overall score of 79 with a minimum writing score of 21.

* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.

Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
 

The people-first approach to flexibility and supportive learning environment at CDU meant I could find a balance with study, work and family life.

Nikki

CDU student

Nikki Govan

I am very proud that I am now an environmental expert who can work anywhere on this planet. There is nothing that can be done on the development of any projects without environmental experts. So, it is a very promising career.

Cassian

CDU student

Cassian Lushinge

The people-first approach to flexibility and supportive learning environment at CDU meant I could find a balance with study, work and family life.

Nikki

CDU student

Nikki Govan

I am very proud that I am now an environmental expert who can work anywhere on this planet. There is nothing that can be done on the development of any projects without environmental experts. So, it is a very promising career.

Cassian

CDU student

Cassian Lushinge

Course details

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.

Australian qualification framework

This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Additional information

Can offers be deferred?
Yes
Award
Master of Applied Spatial Science
Faculty/College
Faculty of Science and Technology
Sector
HE
Area of study
Science, Environmental Science and Management

Contact details

For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:

Email:Student.Central@cdu.edu.auPhone:1800 061 963 (free call)

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

Learn more about environmental management

Vamshidhar is from India and studied a Master of Environmental Management at CDU. Hear more about his experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

Learn more about environmental management

Vamshidhar is from India and studied a Master of Environmental Management at CDU. Hear more about his experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

How to apply

There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.

Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.

SATAC

SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC or TAS.

UAC

UAC is the application channel for residents of NSW.

International applications

Applications must be submitted online through our application portal, Studylink. You'll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online.

You may be able to lodge a direct application; however, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you cannot submit a direct application via the application portal, please apply through one of our registered agents.

Apply through StudyLink or through an Agent.

SATAC/UAC codes

Location
SATAC Code
UAC Code
Casuarina campus (FF)
1CM626
873130
Online (FF)
1CM626
873130
* CSP = Commonwealth supported place
FF = Full fee

CRICOS codes

Location
CRICOS Code
Casuarina campus
107551B

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