Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management

What is this course about?

CSU's Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management is designed to provide graduates with scientific training and career development opportunities in the fields associated with captive vertebrate management.

About the course

The course aims to develop students' knowledge and skills in wildlife management, conservation ecology, reintroduction ecology, and assisted breeding technologies.

Students learn how to:

• implement best practices in the display and management of captive and wild populations of vertebrates based on a thorough understanding of: reproduction biology, population ecology, wildlife management, captive vertebrate management, animal behaviour, captive animal health, and master planning and exhibit design
• put into place an integrated framework for assessing and implementing appropriate management strategies and technologies
• identify and respond to a range of critical management issues related to the survival, display and breeding enhancement of wild and captive vertebrate populations.

Professional recognition

The Graduate Certificate has been recognised by the Australian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA) and Australasian Society of Zoo Keeping (ASZK) as meeting the advanced training needs of their members.

Residential schools

The course is structured to incorporate residential schools for each subject, during which students meet with lecturers to discuss the course material as well as a wider range of issues affecting the industry. 

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.