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Postgraduate Options
There is a huge variety of postgraduate courses available. The type and range of postgraduate options within a given discipline is influenced by the history and nature of the area of study, student demand, work force trends, skills shortages and the state of the economy. Below are postgraduate study snapshots of the most common disciplines.
AccountingPostgraduate courses in this field are primarily aimed at increasing business skills. There is virtually no tradition of research and students normally comprise only a small proportion of graduate students. One of the advantages of accounting is that there are enough people doing it to support a relatively wide range of courses, including some which can be taken by distance education, so you can shop around. If you are interested in courses in this field it is worth browsing through the courses available in Business and Management, Banking, Finance, Economics and Law or Mathematics. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia Architecture & BuildingArchitecture and Building is a relatively small and specialise disciplinary area. Most coursework programs offer upgrade specialisations for those working in the field. Availability of graduate courses in this area can be influenced by the state of the economy and, more specifically, the volatile building and construction industry. There are courses available for graduates and professionals without relevant backgrounds, but many are designed for working professionals who wish to specialise or move into neighbouring areas, such as project management. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia Arts/HumanitiesMany disciplines fall under the Arts/Humanities umbrella, making it one of the largest, most diverse and accessible fields of study. For many Arts graduates, postgraduate study is a way to gain a competitive edge over their peers, secure vocational skills and/or specialise in a specific discipline. There is a long tradition of research in the field, and research students make up a fair proportion of all enrolled. A PhD is required for students wanting an academic career, so for many it is the next 'stepping stone' after completing an Honours year. Unfortunately, the number of students undertaking postgraduate research work in an Arts or Humanities discipline far outstrips the number of early-career academic positions. Coursework programs in this area have become more popular in recent years but, compared to research programs, are more affected by demand, work force patterns and economic factors. Many are interdisciplinary or have an 'applied' element – catering for generalist graduates wanting to gain practical vocations skills. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia Banking & FinanceThe majority of postgraduate courses in this area focus on providing professional expertise to those already in the banking and finance industry. Prospective students are generally required to have practical experience in the field. The course may be designed to provide a formal qualification (which can be a requirement to join a particular industry or professional body) or to allow professionals to gain specialist skills and knowledge. There are limited options for postgraduate research in this area, although this is changing especially as many postgraduate Humanities courses become more interdisciplinary. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia Business & ManagementBusiness and management has been one of the big growth fields at both undergraduate and graduate levels over the past two decades. Most of the growth has been in Masters and Graduate Certificates/Diplomas rather than research degrees. Postgraduate management courses are generally taken to upgrade an existing qualification in an area, or to specialise in a certain type of management. There are a large number of courses available, so it is wise to research all options carefully (including fees and reputation) before committing. Many courses are available by distance or online education, which can be suitable for graduates who are in full-time work or whose course preference is not available locally. Above diploma level the MBA predominates. This degree has become one of the most popular degrees worldwide. It can be taken full-time, part-time as night classes, or in an accelerated full-time course with a higher work load. Entry requirements can be quite demanding, with an emphasis on previous academic scores, work experience, references, and performance on tests and interviews. The global reputation of the university can be important and considering the cost of the degree (up to and over $100,000) it is worth taking into account. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities . © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia Communications & MediaThis is a relatively new but growing and very popular field of postgraduate study. Like other new fields, the research tradition is not strong, but it is developing at some universities. While some courses offered are general, many are vocation-specific, catering for graduates who want to become journalists, creative writers, editors, filmmakers, etc. Most courses are targeted at graduates rather than professionals wanting to specialise or upgrade skills, but options for the later are emerging. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia DesignThe field of design is diverse and includes everything from industrial design programs (closer in kind to engineering than graphic design) to visual arts. Postgraduate courses are equally varied and different design schools will usually have a focus or strength in one or two specific areas. Entry requirements depend on the course, but may involve a folio component. Graduate certificate and diploma courses can be an option for graduates without an undergraduate degree in the field. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia EconomicsEconomics is one of the more traditional academic disciplines and has been shaped by the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of graduate and postgraduate study. Most postgraduate programs are at the established universities, and coursework is generally concentrated at the Masters rather than Graduate Certificate and Diploma level. The courses available mainly cater for specialisation rather than career conversion. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities .
Education & TrainingGraduate studies in education fall into four categories:
The above categories can blur in some Masters programs and the new Professional Doctorates, which combine coursework with a research thesis or report. The range of education courses available is very wide and most programs are available part-time. Distance or online options are also becoming increasingly common. High school teaching is not the only destination for graduates of these courses. The growth in adult education, workplace education, life-long learning, etc. means there will be an increasing breadth in the range of professional options available to education graduates. A sub-field of this discipline that continues to grow is TESOL/TEFL courses for graduates wanting to teach English either in Australia or overseas. Australians have become very popular overseas as English teachers. The quality of courses can vary greatly, so investigate carefully and make sure you know the applicability of the qualification. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities . © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia EngineeringEngineering is a large and well-established field. Its familiar sub-disciplines are now supplemented by emerging fields that cater for new technologies, research priorities and industry developments. As with other fields, there is also a growth in interdisciplinary streams, such as research or coursework programs that relate to engineering within a particular sector (local government, paper production, etc.). Demand for engineering graduates is very strong at present, due largely to the mining boom and shortages in some areas. Engineers are big consumers of further education and training, and the profession has an unusually strong role in its provision. The majority of those enrolled in this field are doing coursework rather than research and most courses are for professional upgrade or re-specialisation rather than conversion courses for graduates from a non-engineering background. This trend reflects the increasing mobility of engineers between organisations and areas of responsibility, as well as the shortening lifespan of engineering knowledge. Engineering also has a strong research tradition, with many universities having dedicated research centres. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities . © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia EnvironmentThis new field has grown considerably in recent years, partly in response to the growing focus on environmental issues such as global warming and climate change. Like many new fields, interdisciplinary research and coursework programs are common at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The main division in the field is between environmental science, which focuses on the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the environment, and environmental studies, which is concerned more broadly with social, political, economic and ecological factors. Course prerequisites vary, but many are available to graduates from a range of disciplines, and open up an unusually wide range of occupations, from tourism and hospitality through public policy or management. Research options in this field are growing but competition is quite strong for scholarship-supported positions. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia HealthMost students in this field are doing coursework rather than research. Many programs are designed for qualified practitioners working in one of the many health professions and para-professions. There are some courses for those with qualifications and/or experience in other fields, mainly those combining health science with studies in management, public policy and occupational health and safety. Alternative approaches to health care (eg. acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal medicine, Chinese medicine) are more popular at the undergraduate level, although this is changing. There are a wide variety of postgraduate courses and programs in health-related disciplines, all with different prerequisites. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia Information Technology/ComputingInformation Technology (IT) and Computing is undoubtedly one of the biggest growth areas at both undergraduate and graduate study level. While undergraduate numbers have levelled out over the last couple of years, demand for postgraduate study is rising as the industry again becomes more competitive and complex. Courses at the more established universities usually come under the umbrella of computing science or engineering. At the newer universities the growth in courses has usually fallen under the IT label. Some courses are aimed at graduates or professionals without computing expertise, but there are also a relatively high proportion of upgrade courses available. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia LawLegal education has undergone considerable transformation as it has become a more entrenched academic discipline. Full-time university staff have virtually replaced the part-time instructor in law departments. Research has taken root, although compared to other disciplines it has a harder time attracting postgraduates. Scholarly specialisations and postgraduate programs have proliferated. The growth in the number of students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level has been a further factor in the expansion of the field. The majority of graduate programs cater for members of the profession or at the very least law graduates. They allow law graduates and professionals to specialise in particular areas, such as environmental law, corporate law, media law, etc. Most postgraduates are engaged in coursework programs (Diploma and Masters levels), some are in Research Masters or the new Professional Doctorates which combine coursework with research, and a small number undertake pure research degrees. Some universities offer specialised law courses intended for professionals without a legal background. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia ScienceScience is one of the few fields where most departments are defined by the traditional disciplines. Nevertheless, an increasing number of departments, schools and centres are moving into a more interdisciplinary structure and offer interdisciplinary and/or applied courses. An undergraduate science degree is usually, but not always, required for postgraduate coursework programs. The strong research focus across all the sciences means that a relatively large number of science graduates go on to further study. Course options include:
This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities
. © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia This article is taken from the 2008 edition of GCA's employer directory Graduate Opportunities . © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia http://www.gradlink.edu.au/content/view/print/2743 |