Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management GradCertCaptVertMgt

CSU’s Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management is developed in co-operation with Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo. This comprehensive course has a large practical component.

The Master of Captive Vertebrate Management and Graduate Diploma of Captive Vertebrate Management are being phased out and are not available for new enrolments. Prospective students should contact info.csu for further information. Continuing students in these courses should consult the Handbook from the year of their enrolment for information about these courses.

About the course

This is the first tertiary course in Australia to offer specialisation in Captive Vertebrate Management.

The major objectives of the course are:

• to provide an opportunity for staff in the zoo and wildlife park industry and natural resource agencies to upgrade their qualifications, or for those not presently in these industries to undertake a relevant course of study
• provide the knowledge, understanding and skills for implementing best practices in the management of zoos and wildlife parks based on a thorough understanding of animal behaviour, the requirements of captive reptiles or birds, preventative medicine, reproduction biology, and zoo and exhibit design principles
• to provide an integrated framework for assessing and implementing appropriate management strategies and technologies
• to further develop the problem solving/thinking/research skills of graduates to enhance their leadership potential in the zoo and wildlife park industry

Students must have access to a computer and be competent computer users as they will be required to undertake online literature searches to complete assignments.

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

Students of the Graduate Certificate are required to attend compulsory residential schools (six days) held at the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo each session.

Graduate Certificate in Captive Vertebrate Management

Enrolment details

Australian & New Zealand students

International students

Course structure

Session 1
BIO489 Zoo Curatorship (16 points)

Session 2
BIO327 Wildlife Ecology and Management (16 points)

Admission Requirements

Applicants will be expected to have:

• had a minimum of five years appropriate industry experience
  or
• completed a TAFE zookeeping certificate or equivalent
  or
• completed relevant previous tertiary study

About Distance Education

The following information gives you an overview of studying by distance education.

Course materials
When studying by distance education you may receive:

• course materials divided into topics, organised into week-long schedules prepared by acknowledged experts in distance learning
• study modules containing activities designed to encourage participants to apply ideas to their own jobs
• assignments designed to test the mastery and application of course materials, that are carefully assessed before feedback is provided
• resource materials containing interesting, practical or contentious views
• computer-based education packages to support some topics.

Distance education students usually study two 8 point subjects per semester. More or fewer subjects may be studied in consultation with the Course Coordinator.

Staff & student contact

Teleconferencing
Telephone tutorials are used to supplement face-to-face contact between students and academic staff. Conference calls enable several students, either at home or at a common location, to participate in a group tutorial with academic staff.

Direct telephone contact and email
Students are encouraged to maintain direct contact with staff by telephone or email. Office telephone numbers and email addresses will be supplied and telephone answering services are available in the offices of Course Coordinators. Students will also be advised of numbers for the School's central telephone answering and facsimile machines.

Online forums
Students may participate in various forums online, enabling direct and instant contact with staff and other students.

Contacts

For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:

Telephone: 1800 334 733 (free call within Australia) Telephone: +61 2 6338 6077 (outside Australia) Facsimile: (02) 6338 6001 (within Australia) Facsimile: +61 2 6338 6001 (outside Australia) Email: inquiry@csu.edu.au Web inquiry: www.csu.edu.au/student/contact Web: info.csu.edu.au