Associate Degree of Spatial Science (ADSS) - AssocDegSpSc

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: 907062; Distance education: 907065

CRICOS code (International applicants): 053510F

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In this section:

• Geographic Information Systems major
• Surveying major
• Urban and Regional Planning major

Geographic Information Systems major

This major provides students with the technical skills required to work in the expanding area of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Students undertake studies in surveying, land studies, spatial analysis and modelling, problem solving, data visualisation and presentation, information management, photogrammetry, remote sensing and GIS. Coursework can be credited towards a Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology (GIS) or Bachelor of Spatial Science (GIS).

Career opportunities

Geographic Information Systems Officer or Spatial Information Analyst in any organisation using GIS systems to support decision making including Local, State and Commonwealth Government agencies in applications such as planning, land development or environmental assessment.

Surveying major

Surveying associates often work as support staff to professional surveyors. The program is designed to ensure that graduates possess a broad knowledge of surveying and a large variety of practical surveying skills. All coursework can be credited towards a Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology (Surveying), or Bachelor of Spatial Science (Surveying).

Career opportunities

Mine Surveyor, Engineering Surveyor in State and Local Government or construction organisations; Surveying Associate employed with private organisations as instrument operator or field technician.

Urban and Regional Planning major

Planning assistants work as support staff to professional planners and provide planning assistance in Government agencies. This program is designed to ensure that graduates possess a broad knowledge of planning processes and practical planning skills including the operation and requirements of planning schemes, geographic information systems, environmental assessment, and community consultation processes. All coursework can be credited towards a Bachelor of Spatial Science (Urban and Regional Planning)

Career opportunities

Planning assistants are employed in Local, State and Federal Government agencies, property development companies or in private consultancies.

Professional accreditation

The Associate Degree of Spatial Science (Surveying) is accredited by the Surveyors Board of Queensland and graduates may seek registration with the Board of Surveyors.

Graduates from the GIS and Surveying majors in the Associate Degree of Surveying are eligible to apply for membership with the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute Australia.

Program aims

The Associate Degree in Spatial Science program provides students with the theory, methods and practices required by an associate to support a practising professional spatial scientist. To this end the program provides students with a general understanding of the broad practice and knowledge in the spatial science profession and the technical skills to work in one of three fields: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Surveying or Urban and Regional Planning.

Program objectives

A student who successfully completes the Associate Degree in Spatial Science will be able to demonstrate:

• a broad knowledge of the basic scientific and technical skills required to function at an associate level

• an effective level of computer literacy

• appropriate written and oral communication skills

• the ability to propose solutions for technical problems in accordance with established procedures and practices

• an understanding of, and the ability to undertake, some of the processes required to collect, store, and manipulate a variety of spatial data

• a capacity to adapt to change and to master new techniques

• a basic understanding of the natural, social, professional, industrial and technical environments in which they will work

• the skills required to access information and an aptitude to undertake further learning and study

• a knowledge of surveying or spatial information systems of sufficient depth to gain employment in a technical support role in the spatial science industry.

Admission requirements

Applicants shall normally:

• have studied four semester units and achieved an exit assessment of 'Sound Achievement' or better in the Queensland Senior Secondary School subject: English. It is recommended that applicants should also have satisfactorily completed the subject: Mathematics B (Mathematics A is assumed)

or

• be able to demonstrate that they have achieved an equivalent standard in these subjects at another institution

and

• Australian applicants: have achieved a Queensland Overall Position (OP) band, or an equivalent Rank based on qualifications and previous work experience, at or above the specified cut-off level

• International applicants: must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/EAP programs.

How to apply

Domestic students

Application for undergraduate programs may be made through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). The same procedure applies whether you plan to study on-campus or by distance education.

If you completed Year 12 at a Queensland secondary school you will be assessed for entry on the basis of your Overall Position (OP) or equivalent score. Year 12 students from other states or territories are considered for entry on the basis of their UAI, ENTER or TER and the subject prerequisites indicated. Other applicants will be based on their overall Rank.

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to USQ International for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a student contribution amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who reside outside Australia pay full tuition fees.
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Program structure

The Associate Degree of Spatial Science is a 16 unit program consisting of Academic courses and Practice courses.

Academic courses are normally one-unit courses and involve approximately 155 hours of student work per unit.

Required time limits

Full-time students have a maximum of four years to complete this program. Part-time students have a maximum of eight years to complete this program.

Practice courses

The major practical work requirements associated with each of the Faculty's programs are contained within a series of Practice courses. These courses are designed to enhance learning, communication and practical skills through laboratory sessions, workshops, seminars, field trips and group activities.

Practice courses may be undertaken in either on-campus or external mode. Students enrolling externally will be required to attend a compulsory residential school. However, students who enrol in Practice courses in on-campus mode may be required to undertake a series of weekly activities and/or attend a compulsory residential school. The only final grades available in these courses are Pass (P) or Fail (F).

Practice courses are zero unit courses that are a compulsory part of the program. However, they do not attract a student contribution charge for Australian residents or a tuition fee for international students. External students should ensure that they are able to attend the residential school prior to enrolling in a Practice course. The recommended enrolment pattern for Practice courses is shown in the Recommended Enrolment Pattern in each program entry in this Handbook.

Safety boots are compulsory in laboratories for several of the Practice courses and are strongly recommended for all other Practice courses.

Practical experience

Practical experience is desirable and encouraged but is not required for the completion of the Associate Degree of Spatial Science. Students are encouraged to obtain practical experience during vacation periods.

IT requirements

Access to an up-to-date computer is necessary. On-campus students can access appropriately equipped laboratories, but should consider acquisition of their own computer. External students should be able to access a computer with the following minimum standards as advised by the University. All students should have access to email and the Internet via a computer running the latest versions of Internet web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The University has a wireless network for on-campus students' computers. In order to take advantage of this facility and further enhance their on-campus learning environment, students should consider purchasing a notebook/laptop computer with wireless connectivity. A notebook/laptop may be required for some courses.

Residential schools

External students are required to attend a number of residential schools during their program. These are associated with Practice courses and are normally conducted at the end of Semester 3 (February), or during the mid-semester recesses in Semester 1 or 2 (March/April and September/October).

Articulation

Graduates of an Associate Degree of Spatial Science majoring in Surveying or GIS would normally be eligible for up to 16 courses of credit towards the Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology within the same field. Similarly, Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology students would normally be eligible for up to 24 units of credit towards the Bachelor of Spatial Science degree within the same field. Graduates of an Associate Degree in Spatial Science majoring in Urban and Regional Planning would normally be eligible for up to 16 courses of credit towards the Bachelor of Spatial Science within the same field. The number of courses of advanced standing granted will depend upon the nature and currency of the studies undertaken and the major undertaken.

Exit points

Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete the Associate Degree of Spatial Science and who satisfy all of the requirements of the Diploma of Engineering Studies may be permitted to exit with that award.

In this section:

• Geographic Information Systems Major recommended enrolment pattern
• Surveying Major recommended enrolment pattern
• Urban and Regional Planning Major

Geographic Information Systems Major recommended enrolment pattern

To satisfy the requirements of the program students must complete all of the Academic and Practice courses in the following table that shows the recommended enrolment patterns for on-campus and external students for our Toowoomba campus. Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult the course synopses section of this Handbook to ascertain if a course is offered in another term.

Elective courses

Elective courses are included in the list of Academic courses. Students should select these courses from the Electives list.
Geographic Information Systems recommended enrolment pattern

Surveying Major recommended enrolment pattern

To satisfy the requirements of the program students must complete all of the Academic and Practice courses in the following table that shows the recommended enrolment patterns for on-campus and external students for our Toowoomba campus. Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult the course synopses section of this Handbook to ascertain if a course is offered in another term.

Elective courses

Elective courses are included in the list of Academic courses. Students should select these courses from the Electives list.
Surveying major recommended enrolment pattern

Urban and Regional Planning Major

To satisfy the requirements of the program students must complete all of the Academic and Practice courses in the following table that shows the recommended enrolment patterns for on-campus and external students for our Toowoomba campus. Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult the course synopses to ascertain if a course is offered in another term.

Elective Courses

Elective courses are included in the list of Academic courses. Students should select these courses from the Electives list.
Urban and Regional Planning major recommended enrolment pattern