Objectives
The Master of International and Community Development is a professional coursework degree designed to serve the needs of those seeking a graduate qualification in international development studies and/or community development. The course will provide you with both analytical skills for understanding the contexts of development programs as well as practical skills for the formulation, resourcing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of international and community development projects. The course is structured around a range of skills-based and knowledge-generation units that address technical and social issues, policy development, project management and analysis of resources. Students are also eligible to complete a 20,000 word thesis and undertake Indonesian language study. As a graduate of this course you will gain expertise to design and lead creative, effective and culturally-sensitive ways of responding to the challenge of poverty and disempowerment. The philosophical foundation is based on your commitment to work globally and locally, learn from others and remain people-centred.
Course description
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Fee paying place - Domestic (DFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the university does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.
Fee paying places are available to domestic students. Domestic students are those who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent visa.
*Indicative course fees should be used as a guide only. Deakin University assumes no responsibility for persons relying on indicative course fees to calculate the total future cost of their course. The indicative course fee is an estimate based on a typical enrolment a student may have for their first year of study in 2009 for their course. The indicative course fee is based on historical first year enrolments within the course, reflecting the discipline cluster of the units which may be studied within the course. The actual fees charged will depend on the individual units chosen. The cost of each unit can be viewed at http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/handbooks2009/search.php. Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services.
Career opportunities
It is expected that completion of the Master of International and Community Development will place you in a favourable position to advance your professional standing. Employment in the development field is expanding rapidly, including in cognate areas, such as teaching, the travel industry, consulting enterprises, journalism, project management, and government and non-government agencies concerned with the flow of trade, services, capital and personnel.
Course rules
To qualify for the Master of International Community Development, a student must successfully complete 12 credit points of study according to one of the following options:
1. Generalist Option:
* 2 credit points of core units: ASD704 and ASD705 OR AID733 and AID734
AND
* 10 credit points of electives selected from the specified list of units below
2. Specialist Options:
* Single Specialisation - students may take a specialisation of 6 credit points in either Community Development or International Development (details below) and complete the degree with 6 credit points of electives, making a total of 12 credit points.
OR
* Double Specialisation - students may take both specialisations in Community Development (6cp) and International Development (6cp), including the core units from each specialisation.
In both the generalist and single specialist options, students may, as part of the electives, take 4 credit points of Indonesian Language (AIF-coded units listed below). This option is not available for students undertaking the double specialisation.
Course structure
Community Development specialisation
Students wishing to undertake a Community Development specialisation must complete 6 credit points of ASD-coded units, including core units ASD704 and ASD705, and 6 credit points of electives from the following list.
Core units
Trimester 1
ASD704 Community Development Theory and Practice A
Trimester 2
ASD705 Community Development Theory and Practice B
International Development Specialisation
Students wishing to undertake an International Development specialisation must complete 6 credit points of AID-coded units, including core units AID733 and AID734, and 6 credit point of electives listed below.
Core units
Trimester 1
AID733 The Economic Development Record
AID734 Approaches to Political Development
Double Specialisation:
Community Development and International Development Specialisations
Students wishing to undertake both the Community Development and International development specialisations must complete 6 credit points of ASD-coded units, including core units ASD704 and ASD705, and 6 credit points of AID-coded units, including core units AID733 and AID734.
Core units
Trimester 1
ASD704 Community Development Theory and Practice A
Trimester 1
AID733 The Economic Development Record
AID734 Approaches to Political Development
Trimester 2
ASD705 Community Development Theory and Practice B
Electives for both specialisations
Trimester 1
AID710 Microfinance for Poverty Reduction
AID711 Non-government Organisations and Development
AID717 The Logical Framework Approach to Project Management
AID733 The Economic Development Record
AID734 Approaches to Political Development
AID735 Conflict Resolution and Development
AIP773 Governance and Accountability
ASD704 Community Development Theory and Practice A
ASD711 Needs Assessment and Strategic Planning
ASD715 Cross Cultural Communication and Practice
ASS705 Anthropology of Poverty and Development
Trimester 2
AID712 Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods
AID713 Aid, Trade and Development
AID714 Gender and Development
AID724 Humanitarian Emergencies and Disaster Relief
AID732 Developing Country Case Study I (2 credit points)*
AID740 Participatory Approaches to Development
AID742 Political Development in South East Asia *
AIP747 Policy and Program Evaluation
ASD705 Community Development Theory and Practice B
ASD710 Submission and Tender Writing
ASD712 Monitoring and Evaluation
ASD716 Humanitarian Settlement
ASS706 Medical Anthropology
Trimester 1 or trimester 2
AID721 Professional Practice in Community and International Development Studies (2 credit points)**
AID754 International and Community Development Dissertation A (2 credit points)
AID755 International and Community Development Dissertation B (2 credit points)
Trimester 1, trimester 2 or trimester 3
AID752 International and Community Development Internship
AID753 International and Community Development Internship (2 credit points)
The following Indonesian Language units are also available to students as electives:
Trimester 1
AIF141 Conversational Indonesian A
AIF241 Formal and Informal Indonesian A
AIF341 Professional and Academic Indonesian A
Trimester 2
AIF142 Conversational Indonesian B
AIF242 Formal and Informal Indonesian B
AIF342 Professional and Academic Indonesian B
* Not offered in 2009.
** in 2009, Trimester 2 only
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide
Admission requirements - specific
To be eligible for admission into the Master of International and Community Development applicants require a bachelor degree from an approved tertiary institution or equivalent:
* a bachelor degree from an approved tertiary institution; or
* qualifications deemed to be equivalent.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Advanced standing - specific
Applications for advanced standing will be considered depending on the quality and subject matter of the student's prior qualifications and professional experience.
The Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and the Masters of International and Community Development comprise a suite of fully articulated courses. Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of International and Community Development will lead to admission into either the Graduate Diploma of International and Community Development or the Master of International and Community Development with up to 4 credit points of advanced standing. Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of International and Community Development or equivalent will lead to admission into the Master of International and Community Development with up to 8 credit points of advanced standing.
How to apply
Applications must be made directly to the university through the Applicant Portal referring to closing dates for applications as dates for particular courses may vary.
Your faculty may require further information from you when submitting your application. Please refer to the faculty information website for further details.
Alternate exits
Graduate Certificate of International and Community Development (A511)
Graduate Diploma of International and Community Development (A611)
