This degree is closed to new applications. You may be interested in other courses in Geography
Graduate Certificate in Geography
PostgraduateCUR-GEO-GCE2024
Course information for 2024 intake
Trained geographers have an enormous range of job options
Analyse the environmental, social and economic aspects of human activity. Delve into climate change, cultural diversity, indigenous perspectives and global best practice. Work in planning, development, environmental management, and agriculture.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate in Geography
About this degree
On completion of the degree students will be able to:
- apply interdisciplinary concepts and methods to understanding the environmental, social and economic aspects of development; extend the boundaries of knowledge about climate change and understanding in the context of a politics of scale
- think critically, creatively and reflectively to generate innovative solutions to climate change, social and environmental imperatives
- access, evaluate and synthesise information from various disciplines and integrate it for understanding climate change and adaptation
- communicate effectively through a variety of written, oral and other formats to diverse audiences in ways appropriate to the teaching of geography to children
- use of current technologies when applied to finding information and making decisions about geography and sustainable development
- utilise lifelong learning skills and strategies for understanding climate change and its impact on human activities and the ecology
- describe the global context of climate change and the need for a change to sustainable development; explore best international practices for finding solutions; apply these concepts within a regional/local environment
- recognise the importance of cultural diversity, including indigenous perspectives, in understanding and responding to environmental and social imperatives
- work both independently and in teams to find effective policies and ethical solutions to geographical issues; show leadership as a professional practitioner or collaborator.
This degree is designed to provide prospective students upskilling in the discipline of geography and to increase their employability in fields such as education, community development, social planning, environmental management and associated consultancy based work. It requires no prior knowledge of geography. The course allows existing teachers to specialise in Geography.
Recommended study pattern
Complete the following 4 subjects:
- CUR-GPH510 Human Geography
- CUR-GPH512 Physical Geography
- CUR-GPH513 Urban Geographies
- CUR-GPH514 Geographies of Food Security
See the enrolment planner below.
Graduate Certificate in Geography enrolment planner (XLS)
Award requirements
This Graduate Certificate, studied through OUA and taught in English, normally takes one year of part-time studies to complete the 4 subjects.
Choose your subjects
Majors
There are four Open Subjects in this degree. Students can study any or all of the four discipline-specific subjects as open subjects. However, should student wishes to complete the ‘Graduate Certificate in Geography’, the student MUST submit an Application Form and ensure that entry requirements are met. Please note that students who complete the four open GPH subjects cannot be awarded the ‘Graduate Certificate in Geography’ unless entry requirements have been satisfied.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $12,596
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 13
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 14
Entry requirements
There are four open enrolment subjects in this degree. However, students who wish to be awarded with the ‘Graduate Certificate in Geography’ MUST apply. Please refer to the Degree Structure Details section below for more information.
Applicants for a Graduate Certificate are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at: English Proficiency Tests.
Applicants generally require a Bachelor Degree or equivalent credit gained for recognised learning.
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***
Applicants need to meet Curtin’s English Language requirement as all degrees are taught in English.
If your education degrees were not solely in English, as per the International Handbook of Universities or the World Higher Education database please attach a scanned original copy of English Proficiency Test results. Admission requires an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) (or equivalent test) score of at least 6.5 and competence in all test components (IELTS score of 6.0).
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Entry Requirements' document at: English Language Requirements.
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at: English Proficiency Tests
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: Credit for Recognised Learning (Advanced Standing)
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning Policy (PDF).
Career opportunities
There are a number of career choices for Geographers including Social Impact Consultant, Disaster Relief Coordinator, Humanitarian, Planner, Social Researcher, Geospacial Analyst, Agricultural Resource Manager.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Managers | Over $120K | N/A^ |
| Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
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