Graduate Diploma of Science (Marine Biology and Ecology)

This course enable graduates to develop their knowledge and skills in quantitative marine ecology, conservation biology and the biology, life history and taxonomy of tropical marine organisms.

What is marine biology?

Marine biology is the study of organisms in the marine environment.

What you will learn

You will develop expertise in marine ecology, conservation biology, and the biology, life history and taxonomy of tropical marine organisms. This is a flexible course offering you a range of electives so you can tailor a study program to meet your professional needs and interests.

How you will study

This course is available in Townsville. It is available part time (domestic students only) and full time.

Why JCU?

The School of Marine and Tropical Biology teaches this course. The School is a leading education and research centre for biology in the tropics.

• Internationally-recognised undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs in biological sciences

• dedicated research vessel, and research stations at Orpheus Island and Paluma

• more tropical courses and subjects than any other institution in the world

• teaching and research facilities including the Advanced Analytical Centre and the Aquaculture Research Facility.

Career Opportunities

A postgraduate qualification from JCU can enhance your career prospects, enable you to reskill and change careers completely, or develop a specialist area of expertise and personal interest.

A range of opportunities await graduates in the academia as well as in private and public sectors.

Graduates with BSc Honours of Masters can get jobs as research assistants or support staff for teaching. With a PhD, you can gain research positions (Postdoctoral, Fellowships) that are often funded for a few years or apply for permanent positions as a lecturer and researcher.

In the private sector, opportunities exist for biologists and conservationists working for non-governmental organisations (e.g. Nature Conservation Agency), environmental officers in companies and environmental consultants (a real growth area of the industry).

In the public sector, employment may be found at multiple levels – federal institutions, state level, or local government – such as in the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Environment Protection Authorities (EPA), Councils, Trusts, to name a few.

Staff requiring changes to this course page should contact their Faculty Marketing Co-ordinator.