UnitLevel 4Postgraduate

EAE4010 Earth science research project A

Faculty of Science

EAE4010 Earth science research project A is a level 4, 12-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 2 units, leading on to 3 units in all.

Credit points
12
Offered in 2025
Semester 1
Clayton
Assessment
No exam
2 tasks

This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2026 entry.

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Requisites

Before EAE4010

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

Enrolment rules

COREQUISITE: Enrolment in the Master of Science

Overview

You will undertake a project, involving original research in one of the School's research themes, which encompass a diverse range of modern earth science topics, including: geochemistry, geochronology, geophysics, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, spatial data science, soil science, petrology, palaeontology, geodynamics, structural geology, tectonics, biogeography, physical geography, climate science, paleoclimate, hydrogeology, hydrology, ore deposits geology. A full list of projects will be made available to you prior to commencing their MSc program.

The research project may be experimental, computational, theoretical or field based in nature, or it may involve a combination of these research paradigms. You will be assigned an academic supervisor (or supervisors), who will oversee the research project and provide mentoring. You will be required to undertake a comprehensive literature review and report their preliminary results via a seminar. The major outcomes of the project will be communicated in the form of a thesis. You will also be required to defend their research outcomes via an oral examination. It is possible your project will be continued into the second year of the MSc program; hence EAE4000 will lay the foundations for a substantial ongoing research project in the second year of the degree.

As part of their research training, you will be affiliated with one of the School's research groups (aligned with their research project) and will be required to attend weekly group meetings, seminars and colloquia. Opportunities will also be provided to you to receive training in specialist areas associated with their research project, e.g., analytical methods, technical computing, visualisation of data, specific experimental techniques, field techniques, etc.

Offerings in 2025

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterClaytonImmers blk

Assessment

  • Literature reviewWritten
    70%
  • Oral presentationPresentation
    30%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Understand, use and explain the basic concepts and principles of the research literature which underpin the chosen area of research in Earth Science.

  2. 2

    Synthesise and interpret the knowledge gained in the study of the underpinning research literature. This leads to the ability to identify a niche topic or topics within this existing body of literature, which represents a gap in current knowledge. This problem should be suitable for original research.

  3. 3

    Advance our understanding of an existing problem or problems in the chosen area for original research.

  4. 4

    Present the preliminary findings in a written report also present key results in oral form as a preliminary seminar.

Workload and teaching

  • Teaching approachField trips
  • Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
  • Teaching approachProblem-based learning
  • Teaching approachSimulation or virtual practice
  • Teaching approachResearch activities
  • Teaching approachCase-based teaching
  • Teaching approachActive learning

24 hours per week

Attendance at weekly group meetings (.5 hours per week)

Attendance at seminars and colloquia (.5 hours per week)

At least .5 hours per week of consultation with the supervisor

Specialist training (approximately .5 hours per week)

Preparation of literature review (approximately 1 hour per week averaged over the semester)

Preparation for the seminar (approximately .5 hours per week averaged over the semester)

Preparation of Progress report (approximately 1.5 hours per week averaged over the semester)

19 hours of independent research per week

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Professor Sandy Cruden
Chief Examiners
Professor Sandy Cruden

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for EAE4010?

EAE4010 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

What can I take after EAE4010?

EAE4010 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 2 units, including EAE4011 and EAE5010. Those lead on to 3 units in all.

When is EAE4010 offered?

In 2025, EAE4010 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.

Does EAE4010 have an exam?

No. EAE4010 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
12
Level
4
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Organisational unit
School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.250
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available
Handbook years
2020202120222023202420252026