Master of Philosophy in Arts

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

Conservation Biology is the study of the Earth's biodiversity and is concerned with managing and protecting species and ecosystems. Conservation Biologists work with government and non-government agencies to explore the interaction of scientific research with policy and management to develop strategies to minimise the impact of humans on their environment.

The Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) is a practical degree that will give you the knowledge and skills needed to become a conservation biologist and undertake postgraduate research.

Your first year studies in biology, chemistry, and earth and environmental sciences lead to second year studies in how organisms function, plant and animal ecology, and landscape science. In third year your studies will focus on research training and experience in conservation biology and ecology, preparing you for Honours in fourth year where you will expand your knowledge even further through targeted research.

Civil engineers build and maintain the infrastructure of advanced modern living. They plan, design, construct, operate and maintain everything from buildings to bridges, tunnels and dams, highways and airports, power plants, water and sewerage systems.

Using computer technologies and advanced materials, Civil engineers design structures that meet the needs of a growing population while protecting the environment, reducing the dangers from natural phenomena and considering the future needs of the community.

This degree
You will study a common first year allowing you to learn more about engineering and its different fields before deciding which discipline to study. The common first year provides you with sound fundamentals in mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, computing, engineering science and communication, mechanics, materials and fluids. You then focus on your chosen major study from second year.

Your degree includes a 12-week hands-on industry placement. You may gain credit for relevant work experience, either in Australia or overseas, by participating in our Professional Options Program.

Engineers work in a variety of industries, for example, construction, mining, resources, aeronautical, electronics, engineering management, telecommunications, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, aerospace, water resource management, robotics and manufacturing, railroad and shipbuilding.

What you will study
As an engineering student at UOW, you will have access to fully-equipped laboratories and the latest computer-aided software that is used in modern industrial workplaces. Our lecturers encourage you to approach them and get involved in industry projects and learning opportunities so you get the most out of your university education. Our engineering students are trained through practical learning experiences including:

• Laboratory experiments
• Problem-based learning
• Computer simulations
• Teamwork assignments
• Industrial case studies
• Project management
• Site visits to industry

The later years of the Civil Engineering degree cover areas including structural engineering, water engineering, geomechanics, engineering management, engineering applications and design, materials and transport, and surveying.

Studying communications and business provides you with an understanding of the business and commercial environment including management, operations and marketing, accounting, economics and finance. You will be able to research, plan, execute and manage marketing campaigns and acquire skills in issue management, product publicity, crisis communications, and media relations.

The Bachelor of Communication and Media offers students a strong foundation in global communication and media industries. This degree has a focus on preparing students for global careers in digital and social media, visual communication design, journalism, screen media production, marketing, communication and advertising. Students will encounter key ideas in the study and practice of media and communications, and gain flexible and transferable skills that will prepare them for informed engagement with the changing world of global media culture. Throughout your degree you will develop a portfolio of works that develop and demonstrate your ability to apply theories into practice.

Today’s business environment is dynamic and complex. The Bachelor of Business degree provides core skills in many business functions as well as specialist knowledge in a chosen field. Throughout this degree you will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience and make professional connections, including the opportunity to participate in the Business Internship program.

What you will study

The Bachelor of Communication and Media offers five majors - Digital and Social Media, Visual Communication Design, Journalism, Global Screen Media and Marketing, Communication and Advertising. You will need to select one major to specialise in throughout the duration of your degree.

You will choose one major from the Bachelor of Business: Accountancy, Business Law, Economics, Finance, Financial Planning, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Sport Marketing and Management, or Supply Chain Management.

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 Bachelor of Information Technology (Dean's Scholar) offers a challenging and enriched educational experience for high-achieving students who want to perform above the level normally expected. As a Dean's Scholar student, you will also be encouraged to continue your studies through the completion of Honours and research programs. You will complete the normal course requirements for the degree, and receive special privileges as you study, such as accelerated learning and academic mentoring.

You can major in:

• Network Design and Management
• Web Design and Development

This degree
The Bachelor of Information Technology provides foundation knowledge of organisational areas in IT, including:

• Database management
• Programming
• Human computer interaction
• Principles of eBusiness
• IT project management
• Management Information Systems
• Knowledge and Information Engineering

Places are limited each year. Current students who have achieved a weighted average mark (WAM) of 80 at the end of one year of full-time study in a relevant degree may apply to transfer to the Dean's Scholar degree.

What you will study
You will be able to choose your major in your second year after studying a common core of subjects that links our computer science, IT and information systems degrees. Find your strengths and interests as you study the fundamentals of computer science and IT: programming, problem solving, network and communications, web technology, data management, system analysis, human–computer interaction, and project management. You’ll also complete a final-year capstone team project.

The Master of Applied Finance (Investing) is for students interested in acquiring an advanced understanding of investment and portfolio management.

You will study the theory and practice of financial management and gain an understanding of the global financial system. Additionally, competing approaches to corporate governance and business ethics will be developed, and you will learn how to provide protection against portfolio, financial and corporate risks.

Students are provided with realistic stock market simulations and are introduced to modern portfolio theory and practice with a focus on optimal investment decision-making. You will experience the pressure of live markets and learn how to manage portfolios through a portfolio simulation that allows you to trade shares, options, bonds, managed funds, international stocks with realistic stock market simulations.

Business information specialists are trained to analyse business problems and find possible IT solutions for these problems. This ranges from running an efficiency audit on a company's information systems through to analysing the effectiveness of a file management system and designing business software applications.

Business information specialists are also involved in the analysis, design, implementation, maintenance and enhancement of computer-based information systems critical to the successful operation of modern organisations. These specialists require a sound understanding of the business requirements to develop information systems and solutions to meet identified business needs and must deal with users at all levels within an organisation.

This course is specifically designed to prepare you for a career as a systems analyst or an information systems specialist. As well as having the capability of working in a business environment, graduates can work for the government or non-profit organisations.

This degree
The Bachelor of Business Information Systems provides foundation knowledge of organisational areas in IT, including:

• Database management and security
• Networks and Communications
• Human-computer interaction
• Principles of eBusiness
• IT project management
• Management Information Systems
• Project

You will also study key commerce subjects such as accounting and management. In your final year you will develop your own application as part of an annual student team project, developing solutions to real-world problems provided by our industry partners.

What you will study

• Business analysis systems and design
• Programming
• Data management
• Business systems infrastructure and security

You will also study key commerce subjects such as accounting and management. In your final year you will develop your own application as part of an annual student team project, developing solutions to real-world problems provided by our industry partners.

Engage, explore and appreciate diverse pasts when you study History at UOW, and learn from the past to inform your future. History enriches your understanding of the world by offering knowledge and skills to comprehend the broad scope of human experiences - from our everyday lives, to global processes. You will learn to research information, critically evaluate debates, and express your arguments and beliefs clearly and effectively.

UOW's History degree focuses on themes that link Australian and international history, ancient and modern. You will discover what it is to be a Historian, through subjects that help you develop a sophisticated and critical appreciation of contemporary approaches to historical theories, methods, interpretation, arguments, and uses of evidence.

What you will study
Our core subjects will teach you broad histories of specific Australian, Asian and European societies. In second and third year you will be able to specialise and study topics in greater depth, including histories of empires, the political and social impacts of wars, and the development of the State.

In addition to the History major you will choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.

A major in Environmental Humanities will equip you with the tools to analyse, critique and engage with contemporary debates about the environment. You will acquire a deep and critical understanding of the social contexts through which we experience environmental issues and problems such as climate change, species loss, adaptation, exploitation and natural disasters. You will gain a clear understanding of the role of cultural forces (histories, narratives, cultural values and ethics) that influence and shape relationships to the environment.

What you will study
You will investigate the works of key humanities thinkers in environmental debates, and how these manifest in policies, solutions and conflicts. It will explore ideas for alternative futures, Indigenous conceptions of country, and also how relationships with nature and other animals have been historically and culturally produced. The Environmental Humanities major brings together subjects from International studies, Philosophy, History, Indigenous Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology, English, Contemporary Arts and Geography. All of the strengths of Humanities research and teaching (critical and creative thinking, questions of social justice, ethics and cultural engagement) will be brought into the domain of the environment. The development of Environmental Humanities is in response to 21st Century environmental crises of climate change; depletion of natural resources, species extinctions, mass migration, natural disasters, global inequalities and climate refugee crises.

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.