Master of Science

The Master of Science is a 72-unit program offered by the College of Science and Engineering. The Master of Science has specialisations in Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics. There is a 54-unit pathway for students with a Bachelor degree in the same discipline as their specialisation.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent in a related discipline to the specialisation selected. The Master of Science is not available to students who hold an Honours degree in the same discipline as the specialisation selected.

The Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Chemistry

Applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent with a major in chemistry or a closely related discipline from an approved institution. Knowledge of second year chemistry is assumed.

Computer Science - No further student intake from 1 July 2021

Applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent in computer science, information technology, ICT-based engineering or a closely related discipline from an approved institution. Applicants with an approved degree in behavioural science or psychology, which includes a major in artificial intelligence or computer science, are also eligible to apply. Knowledge of second year information technology is assumed.

Mathematics - Not offered in 2021

Applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent in mathematics or statistics or a closely related discipline from an approved institution. Applicants with an approved degree that contains substantial mathematics or statistics (up to 2nd year level) are also eligible to apply. Knowledge of second year mathematics or statistics is assumed.

Physics

Applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent with a major in physics or a closely related discipline from an approved institution. Knowledge of second year physics and mathematics is assumed.

Course aims

This award aims to provide students with:

• a strengthened knowledge in both the theoretical and the practical aspects of the selected specialisation
• a strong understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and a commitment to them
• well developed written and oral communication skills
• an ability to critically analyse and evaluate information and solve problems
• an awareness of social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects of the selected specialisation
• the ability to work professionally as an individual and as a member of multi-disciplinary teams
• an ability to undertake research in the selected specialisation
• an understanding of the need to undertake lifelong learning and the capacity to do so
• preparation for future professional roles as a scientist.

The award provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing students for admission to a research higher degree or for a career as a professional.

Learning outcomes 

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• proficiently use cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in the systematic development of solutions to complex problems
• apply their skills and knowledge in a professionally responsible manner with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability
• communicate effectively with other scientists and the wider global community using a wide range of methods
• work professionally as an individual and in a team
• develop solutions appropriate to the social, political, international, economic and environmental contexts in which they are applied
• demonstrate knowledge of the research principles and methods applicable to the selected specialisation and complete a research project

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Science (Specialisation), a student must complete 72 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study detailed below.

Students entering with a Bachelor degree in the same discipline as the specialisation will be eligible to follow a 54 unit pathway. Students will need to contact the College Office for approval to undertake this pathway.

• Master of Science (Chemistry)
• Master of Science (Computer Science) - no further student intake from 1 July 2021
  
• Master of Science (Mathematics) - not offered in 2021
  
• Master of Science (Physics)

Master of Science (Chemistry)

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

STEM8001 Research Methods and Professional Skills (4.5 units)

Plus 27 units selected from:

BIOL8004 DNA to Genome GE (4.5 units)
BTEC8002 Molecular Biotechnology(4.5 units)
CHEM8701 Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry GE (4.5 units)
CHEM8702 Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry GE (4.5 units)
CHEM8711 Organic Synthesis and Mechanism GE(4.5 units)
CHEM8712 Introduction to Polymer Science GE (4.5 units)
FACH8702 Drug Action, Metabolism, Toxicology and Analysis GE (4.5 units)
NANO8702 Frontiers of Nanotechnology GE (4.5 units)
STEM8100 Research Project in Science GE (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units selected from:

ENGR9704 Engineering Management (4.5 units)
INNO9001 Innovative and Creative Thinking: Recognising Opportunities GE(4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising**:

CPES7701 Advanced Research Skills (4.5 units)
CPES7711 Advanced Techniques in Chemical and Physical Sciences (4.5 units)
CPES7721 Advanced Chemical and Physical Sciences (4.5 units)
CPES9700A Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700B Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700C Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700D Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700E Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)

OR

CPES7701 Advanced Research Skills (4.5 units)
STEM9100A Masters Research Project (4.5/13.5 units)
STEM9100B Masters Research Project (4.5/13.5 units)
STEM9100C Masters Research Project (4.5/13.5 units)

Plus 18 units selected from:

BTEC9010 Medical Biotechnology GE (4.5 units)
BTEC9012 Environmental Biotechnology GE (4.5 units)
CHEM8701 Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry GE (4.5 units)
CHEM8702 Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry GE (4.5 units)
CHEM8711 Organic Synthesis and Mechanism GE(4.5 units)
CHEM8712 Introduction to Polymer Science GE (4.5 units)
ENGR9704 Engineering Management (4.5 units)
FACH8702 Drug Action, Metabolism, Toxicology and Analysis GE (4.5 units)
INNO9001 Innovative and Creative Thinking: Recognising Opportunities GE(4.5 units)
MATH8702 Methods of Applied Mathematics GE (4.5 units)  
MATH8712 Partial Differential Equations GE (4.5 units)
MATH8731 Algebra GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8701 Nuclear and Statistical Physics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8702 Solid State Physics and Optoelectronics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8711 Quantum Physics GE (4.5 units)

*With the permission of the Course Coordinator, one of these topics can be substituted with any appropriate science topic at level 7000 or above.

**The Masters Thesis can only be taken by students who have achieved a credit average or higher. Students are advised to discuss thesis ideas with suitable supervisors before selecting this option. Note that students who wish to use their masters qualification to satisfy entry into a Flinders University research higher degree program are required to have completed an 18-unit thesis.

Master of Science (Computer Science) - No further student intake from 1 July 2021

Core - Year 1 topics

4.5 units comprising:

STEM8001 Research Methods and Professional Skills (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

18 units selected from the following topics:

COMP9712 Computer Programming 3 GE (4.5 units)
COMP9721 Enterprise Information Security GE (4.5 units) 
COMP9722 Theory and Practice of Computation GE (4.5 units)
COMP9742 Intelligent Systems GE (4.5 units)
COMP9751 Interactive Computer Systems GE (4.5 units)
COMP9752 Computer Game Development GE (4.5 units)
COMP9771 Advanced Database and Analytics GE (4.5 units)

Plus

ENGR9742 Systems Engineering (4.5 units)
ENGR9704 Engineering Management (4.5 units)

Plus either**

COMP9700A Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
COMP9700B Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
COMP9700C Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
COMP9700D Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units)

Plus 22.5 units of option topics

OR

COMP9710A Masters Project (4.5/9 units) AND
COMP9710B Masters Project (4.5/9 units)

Plus 31.5 units of option topics

Option – Year 2 topics*

COMP7701 Advanced Enterprise Security (4.5 units)
COMP7707 Advanced Data Mining (4.5 units)
COMP7716 Information Retrieval and Language Technology (4.5 units)
COMP8715 Heuristic Optimisation GE (4.5 units)
ENGR7761 Computer Vision (4.5 units)
ENGR7961 Finite Element Methods (4.5 units)
SCME7xxx Screen and Media (SCME) topics with the approval of the Course Coordinator

*With the permission of the Course Coordinator, up to 9 units may be substituted with appropriate topics in Mathematics, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Human Factors or Digital Media or by alternative appropriate topics in Computer Science as long as prerequisites are satisfied. Such topics must be level 7000 or above.

** The Masters Thesis can only be taken by students who have achieved a credit average or higher. Students are advised to discuss thesis ideas with suitable supervisors before selecting this option. Note that students who wish to use their masters qualification to satisfy entry into a Flinders University research higher degree program are required to have completed an 18-unit thesis.

Master of Science (Mathematics) - Not offered in 2021

Core - Year 1 topics

4.5 units comprising:

STEM8001 Research Methods and Professional Skills (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 & 2 topics

22.5 units selected from the following topics*:

MATH8702 Methods of Applied Mathematics GE (4.5 units) 
MATH8711 Complex Analysis GE (4.5 units) 
MATH8712 Partial Differential Equations GE (4.5 units)
MATH8731 Algebra GE (4.5 units)
STAT8701 Statistical Science GE (4.5 units)
STAT8702 Stochastic Processes GE (4.5 units)

Plus either**

MATH9700A Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
MATH9700B Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
MATH9700C Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
MATH9700D Masters Thesis (4.5/18 units)

OR

MATH9710A Masters Project (4.5/9 units) AND
MATH9710B Masters Project (4.5/9 units) AND
COMP8781 Computer Mathematics GE (4.5 units)

Plus one of

COMP8702 Computer Programming 1 GE (4.5 units)
ENGR8800 Engineering Programming GE (4.5 units)

Plus 27 units selected from:

COMP7707 Advanced Data Mining (4.5 units)
ENGR7961 Finite Element Methods (4.5 units)
MATH7720 Advanced Studies in Mathematics A (4.5 units)
MATH7721 Advanced Studies in Mathematics B (4.5 units)
MATH7722 Calculus of Variations (4.5 units)
MATH7731 Mathematical Problems in Industry (4.5 units)
MATH7732 Modern Analysis (4.5 units)

*With the permission of the Course Coordinator, one of these topics can be substituted with any appropriate science topic at level 7000 or above.

** The Masters Thesis can only be taken by students who have achieved a credit average or higher. Students are advised to discuss thesis ideas with suitable supervisors before selecting this option. Note that students who wish to use their masters qualification to satisfy entry into a Flinders University research higher degree program are required to have completed an 18-unit thesis.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Master of Science (Physics)

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

STEM8001 Research Methods and Professional Skills (4.5 units)

Plus 27 units selected from:

ENGR9861 Electromagnetics and Electromagnetic Waves GE (4.5 units)
MATH8702 Methods of Applied Mathematics GE (4.5 units) 
MATH8711 Complex Analysis GE (4.5 units)
MATH8712 Partial Differential Equations GE (4.5 units)
MATH8731 Algebra GE (4.5 units)
NANO8702 Frontiers of Nanotechnology GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8701 Nuclear and Statistical Physics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8702 Solid State Physics and Optoelectronics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8711 Quantum Physics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8721 Quantum Concepts GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8731 Classical Physics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS9712 Thermodynamics and Energy Systems GE (4.5 units)
STEM8100 Research Project in Science GE (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units selected from:

ENGR9704 Engineering Management (4.5 units)
INNO9001 Innovative and Creative Thinking: Recognising Opportunities GE(4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising**:

CPES7701 Advanced Research Skills (4.5 units)
CPES7711 Advanced Techniques in Chemical and Physical Sciences (4.5 units)
CPES7721 Advanced Chemical and Physical Sciences (4.5 units)
CPES9700A Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700B Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700C Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700D Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
CPES9700E Masters Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)

OR

CPES7701 Advanced Research Skills (4.5 units)
STEM9100A Masters Research Project (4.5/13.5 units)
STEM9100B Masters Research Project (4.5/13.5 units)
STEM9100C Masters Research Project (4.5/13.5 units)

Plus 18 units selected from:

ENGR9704 Engineering Management (4.5 units)
ENGR9861 Electromagnetics and Electromagnetic Waves GE (4.5 units)
INNO9001 Innovative and Creative Thinking: Recognising Opportunities GE(4.5 units)
MATH8702 Methods of Applied Mathematics GE (4.5 units) 
MATH8711 Complex Analysis GE (4.5 units)
MATH8712 Partial Differential Equations GE (4.5 units)
MATH8731 Algebra GE (4.5 units)
NANO8702 Frontiers of Nanotechnology GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8701 Nuclear and Statistical Physics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8702 Solid State Physics and Optoelectronics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8711 Quantum Physics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8721 Quantum Concepts GE (4.5 units)
PHYS8731 Classical Physics GE (4.5 units)
PHYS9712 Thermodynamics and Energy Systems GE (4.5 units)
STEM8100 Research Project in Science GE (4.5 units)

*With the permission of the Course Coordinator, one of these topics can be substituted with any appropriate science topic at level 7000 or above.

** The Masters Thesis can only be taken by students who have achieved a credit average or higher. Students are advised to discuss thesis ideas with suitable supervisors before selecting this option. Note that students who wish to use their masters qualification to satisfy entry into a Flinders University research higher degree program are required to have completed an 18-unit thesis.