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Graduate Certificate in Geomatic Studies (GCGS) - GradCertGeoStud

CRICOS code (International applicants): 030324J

This program is offered only to continuing students. No new admissions will be accepted. Students who are interested in this study area should consider the GCST Graduate Certificate in Spatial Science Technology.

	On-campus	Distance education
Campus:	Toowoomba	-
Fees:	Student contribution amount Tuition fee International fee	Student contribution amount Tuition fee International fee
Standard duration:	1 semester full-time or 2 semesters part-time or by distance learning
Program articulation:	To: Graduate Diploma of Geomatic Studies; Master of Spatial Science Technology

Contact us

Current students

Telephone 1800 007 252 (within Australia freecall), +61 7 4631 2285 (from outside Australia), email usqassist@usq.edu.au or submit a question via USQAssist.

Program focus

The program is intended to enable students to develop or extend their knowledge in either surveying or in geographic information systems. The Graduate Certificate program is designed for those students who wish to develop their knowledge in a specific field of study, whilst the Graduate Diploma program is designed for those wishing to build competencies across a broader discipline area.

Program aims

The program is intended to enable students to develop or extend their knowledge in either surveying or in geographic information systems. The Graduate Certificate program is designed for those students who wish to develop their knowledge in a specific field of study whilst the Graduate Diploma of Geomatic Studies Program is designed for those wishing to build competencies across a broader discipline area.

Program objectives

Students who successfully complete the Graduate Certificate in Geomatic Studies specialising in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be able to demonstrate:

an understanding of the concept of spatial and geographic information systems
familiarity with the analysis and management of spatial information
an awareness of potential applications and limitations of geographic information systems
an understanding of the capture, conversion and output of geographic information
a professional standard of communication.

Students who successfully complete the Graduate Certificate in Geomatic Studies specialising in Surveying will be able to demonstrate:

a capacity for the analysis, evaluation and synthesis of surveying related systems
enhanced technical skills in surveying technology
an awareness of the current surveying practices and methods
a professional standard of communication.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to the program candidates must possess a three or four-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, in an approved discipline. Overseas candidates must possess a degree in an approved discipline recognised by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) as awarding degrees that are comparable to the education level of an Australian bachelor degree. Candidates for admission must have demonstrated a high level of academic performance and International applicants must also comply with the University requirements for competency in written and spoken English. Graduates of surveying degree programs who are eligible for registration by an Australian Board of Surveyors will not be permitted to undertake the major study in surveying.

Program fees

Student contribution amount

For domestic students who are offered Commonwealth supported places, the Government pays some money directly to the University, but students are also required to make a contribution. This contribution is called the ‘student contribution’. For more information about student contribution amounts, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ fees.

Tuition fee

Domestic fee-paying places are funded entirely through the tuition/direct fees paid by the student. Tuition/direct fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. For more information about Tuition Fees, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ Fees.

International fees

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the International Fee Schedule provided by USQ International.

Program structure

The Graduate Certificate in Geomatic Studies consists of four courses. The maximum time for completion is one year for a full-time student and two years for a part-time student.

Students may commence their studies at the beginning of either Semester 1 or Semester 2. Students may select one of the two majors in the program, either Geographic Information Systems or Surveying. The courses offered in each major are shown in the following tables.

Students wishing to complete the Graduate Certificate in Geomatic Studies should select four courses from the appropriate table including the core course if specified in the major. Students who may go on to complete the Graduate Diploma of Geomatic Studies or the Master of Spatial Science Technology programs should study the recommended enrolment patterns for that program to ensure that they will satisfy the core course requirements.

Required time limits

Full-time students have a maximum of 1 year to complete this program. Part-time students have a maximum of 2 years to complete this program.
A pro-rata adjustment of the maximum time period will apply for those students who transfer from one mode of study to another. A pro-rata reduction in the maximum time period will apply to students who are admitted to a program with advanced standing.

IT requirements

Students should refer to the section entitled Access to Information Technology Facilities in the General Faculty and Program Information section of this Handbook.

Articulation

Graduates from this program may articulate with full credit into the Graduate Diploma of Geomatic Studies.

Exemptions

No exemptions will be permitted towards the Graduate Certificate in the Geomatic Studies.

In this section:

Geographic Information Systems recommended enrolment pattern
Surveying recommended enrolment pattern

Geographic Information Systems recommended enrolment pattern

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Enrolment requirements
Major Study: Geographic Information Systems (Major Study Code: 12613)
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Students must complete two of the following core courses:
GIS1401 Geographic Data Presentation		1		1
GIS1402 Geographic Information Systems		2		2
GIS2403 Land Management Systems		2		2
GIS3404 Geographic Data Visualisation		1		1
Select the two remaining courses from the following list:
CSC1401 Foundation Programming		1		1, 2
ENV2201 Land Studies		1		1
GIS1401 Geographic Data Presentation		1		1
GIS1402 Geographic Information Systems		2		2
GIS2403 Land Management Systems		2		2
GIS3404 Geographic Data Visualisation		1		1
GIS3405 Spatial Analysis and Modelling		2		2			OE
GIS3406 Remote Sensing and Image Processing		2		2
GIS4407 Web Based Geographic Information System		2		2			Pre-requisite: GIS1402 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCGS or GDGS or MSST
SVY1110 Introduction to Global Positioning System		2		2
SVY3202 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing		1		1
SVY4203 Urban and Regional Planning†				1
SVY4306 Land Law and Valuation*				2
SVY4309 Practice Management for Spatial Scientists		1		1

Footnotes
†	On-campus students should enrol in the external offering of this course.
*	On-campus students should enrol in the external offering of this course.
OE	Before enrolling in this course students must check that they have satisfied the 'Recommended prior study' or 'Other enrolment' requirements set out in the Other requisites section of the course specification.

Notes

The Head of Discipline must approve the choice of courses.

Surveying recommended enrolment pattern

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Enrolment requirements
Major Study: Surveying (Major Study Code: 12614)
	On-campus (ONC)		Distance education (EXT)		Online (WEB)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Select four courses from the following:
CSC1401 Foundation Programming		1		1, 2
CSC2409 High Performance Numerical Computing		1		1			Pre-requisite: CSC1401 and MAT1102 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPIT or MSBN or MSMS
ENG4111 Research Project Part 1^		1		1			OE
ENG4112 Research Project Part 2^		2		2			Pre-requisite: ENG4111 OE
GIS1402 Geographic Information Systems		2		2
GIS2403 Land Management Systems		2		2
GIS3404 Geographic Data Visualisation		1		1
MAT1502 Engineering Mathematics 2		2		2
SVY1110 Introduction to Global Positioning System		2		2
SVY2105 Survey Computations B		2		2			Pre-requisite: SVY2106
SVY2106 Geodetic Surveying A		1		1			Pre-requisite: SVY1110
SVY2301 Automated Surveying Systems		1		1			Pre-requisite: SVY1104
SVY3107 Geodetic Surveying B		2		2			Pre-requisite: SVY1110 OE
SVY3201 Urban Design and Development		2		2
SVY3202 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing		1		1
SVY4306 Land Law and Valuation**†				2
SVY4309 Practice Management for Spatial Scientists		1		1

Footnotes
^	It is recommended that these courses are undertaken in the same academic year.
**	Not available by on-campus mode in 2009
†	On-campus students should enrol in the external offering of this course.
OE	Before enrolling in this course students must check that they have satisfied the 'Recommended prior study' or 'Other enrolment' requirements set out in the Other requisites section of the course specification.

Notes

The Head of Discipline must approve the choice of courses.