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Specialisations

At Curtin, you have the flexibility to personalise your course with a specialisation – so that you can get the exact skill sets you want for your career of choice.

Expand your skillset with a specialisation

With a specialisation, you can choose to broaden your knowledge and skills into a different area, or you can deepen your knowledge of a particular area – both of which can help you to channel your skills into the career pathways you’re attracted to.

For example, you could major in Multidisciplinary Science and take Professional Writing and Publishing as a specialisation, to create a career option in professional science communication. Or, if you’d like to have an impact in environmental policy and regulation, you could choose Environmental Science as your major and Law as a specialisation. On the other hand, the specialisations of many science disciplines let you concentrate your focus and delve even deeper into your major discipline.

If you’re going to study Law, a specialisation in Anthropology and Sociology, or in International Development, would offer an excellent set of specialist knowledge. Alternatively, to gain a comprehensive understanding of brand and marketing communications, you could complement a major in Professional Writing and Publishing with a specialisation in Advertising Design.

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What is a specialisation?

A specialisation is a set of four units that you choose to study to complement your major. Most Curtin courses allow you to choose a specialisation from the same area as your chosen course of study or from a different academic area. Importantly, you can study a specialisation without extending the course duration.

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Advantages of a specialisation

A specialisation helps you to broaden your professional expertise and deepen your industry knowledge – which will improve your career opportunities and ability to pursue your professional goals.

Customise your course

Build a unique study experience with specialisations and elective units.

1. Choose your major

Your major is the foundation of your degree and is the main learning area that you will focus on in your studies.

2. Choose a specialisation

Most courses will allow you to add a specialisation on to your undergraduate degree. You can typically choose a specialisation from any area in the university.

3. Add electives

If your course has space for electives, add free choice elective units from any Faculty in the university given that you meet the requisite requirements. Electives allow you to explore subjects areas outside the core units of your course.

Build a distinctive career that can help create change

Curtin’s 10 study areas offer you a diverse range of specialisations to choose from.

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Why study a specialisation from agriculture, environment and sustainability?

Gain the knowledge to help businesses and communities address the impact of climate change and adopt sustainable development practices.

Why study a specialisation from architecture and construction?

Why study a specialisation from architecture and construction?

Gain the skills to create more inclusive, engaging and sustainable buildings and community spaces for current and future generations.

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Why study a specialisation from arts and creative industries? 

Develop your creative abilities and learn how you can apply creative technologies to any career, in any industry you choose.

Why study a specialisation from business, management and law?

Why study a specialisation from business, management and law?

Partner your career expertise with business and legal skills, to establish your own business or to develop your ability to impact policy and legislation in an area or industry where you’d like to create change.

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Why study a specialisation from culture, society and Indigenous? 

Build your ability for a global career with an understanding of different societies and cultures and the skills to improve equality and accessibility.

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Why study a specialisation from education?

If you’re passionate about empowering people with knowledge, a specialisation in education can give you the expertise to pass on your knowledge skills inside and outside the learning environment.

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Why study a specialisation from health?

At a time when our society is challenged to think differently about our care systems, you can help drive change and help people lead independent and healthier lives.

Why study a specialisation from physical sciences, geoscience and mathematics? 

Why study a specialisation from physical sciences, geoscience and mathematics? 

Complement your major with a STEM specialisation and help contribute to scientific discovery.

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Why study a specialisation from engineering, mining and surveying? 

Learn new skills in the design and development of new machines systems, structures, materials and processes.

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Why study a specialisation from information technology?

Gain the IT and computer skills that are important to every industry and useful to almost every career.

FAQs about specialisations