This program aims to further professional development in communication skills for students intending to work in the sciences. A demand has also existed from potential employers for literate, articulate and skilled communicators in the fields of science, health science and engineering. Emphasis is placed on communication in non-formal settings. It includes study of the public understanding of the sciences together with practical science communication skills for use in a variety of settings.

Students are encouraged to develop critical and analytical skills so they can evaluate the effectiveness of communication in a variety of contexts.

Career options

Areas of potential employment include those places where the public needs to be presented with clear, concise, accurate and understandable information.

These include:

• community health;
• occupational health;
• government instrumentalities such as CSIRO;
• government departments such as the Department of Primary Industries, Department of Resource Industries and the National Parks and Wildlife Service;
• museums and exploratoria;
• public relations sections in private industry and commerce; and
• popular scientific and technological magazines.

To satisfy the requirements of the award, students must complete 6 courses plus a dissertation or 72 units of credit as outlined below.

The Masters and the Graduate Diploma of Sciences Communication have a common first two years. This increases the flexibility of offering and allows students to decide at the end of their first two years of study whether they wish to go on to complete a masters degree, or be awarded the graduate diploma.

Students who have a graduate diploma may enter the third year of the program and upon completion of a research project may be awarded a masters degree.