Graduate Diploma of International and Community Development
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of International and Community Development |
| Deakin course code | A665 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Campus | This course is available as an exit only option from A765 Master of International and Community Development |
| Duration | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Get an understanding of the complex social, political, and economic issues facing our increasingly globalised world. Study international and community development at Deakin and get the skills you need to make a difference – both at home and abroad.
Deakin's International and Community Development program is one of the longest running within Australia, giving you the assurance of many years’ experience in teaching this highly-developed course.
This professional, cross-disciplinary course is suitable for graduates from all disciplines. Offered as a fully online program, it is aimed at current and aspiring development professionals keen to deepen their knowledge of the world’s development landscape.
The course examines the historical record of development, the socioeconomic and policy dimensions of development, and the foundation of sustainable development. You can specialise in either community development or international development, choosing from electives in areas such as poverty and health, gender and development, food security, microfinance and poverty reduction.
Good development promotes justice, reduces poverty, and builds environments for people to lead productive, creative and fulfilling lives. The course is designed to give you the specialised skills to help drive development projects in local and international communities, gaining expertise in all phases of project delivery including conceptualisation, project design, implementation, monitoring and assessment.
The Internship unit offers a chance to gain first-hand work experience in a region or employment sector closely associated with topics studied in the course.
Career opportunities exist working in areas such as social justice, empowerment, poverty alleviation, and community development. These include non-government organisations (NGOs), government agencies, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and private sector consulting. You may seek opportunities in related areas including teaching, the travel industry, consulting enterprises, journalism, and government and non-government agencies concerned with the flow of trade, services, capital and personnel.
Career opportunities
Employment in the development field provides a wide range of opportunities, both internationally and domestically. Graduates may find employment across the variety of organisations who work for social justice, empowerment, poverty alleviation, and community development. These include civil society organisations such as Non Government Organisations, Government agencies, bilateral, and multilateral agencies, as well as the private sector consulting. There is also potential work opportunities in related areas including teaching, the travel industry, consulting enterprises, journalism, and government and non-government agencies concerned with the flow of trade, services, capital and personnel. Students wishing to pursue a career in further research can take the research pathway.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Research, critically examine and apply advanced and critical understanding of the theory and practice of international and community development and the contribution of diverse disciplinary worldviews. |
| Communication | Apply advanced oral, written and interpersonal communication to plan, inform, and debate, complex multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral issues for improved social, environmental and economic outcomes to a range of audiences and contexts |
| Digital literacy | Apply advanced knowledge of digital information sources and applications to source, analyse and report on complex data and information for effective research and professional development, across interpersonal, organisational and professional cultures. |
| Critical thinking | Investigate, critically analyse, report and propose actions to act on a range of global and local issues and opportunities in historical and contemporary development discourse. |
| Problem solving | Research, comprehend, interpret and evaluate competing options for solving complex or “wicked” problems with creativity, innovation and respect. |
| Self-management | Work as an autonomous responsible, respectful, accountable and self-reflective practitioner, committed to ongoing learning and professional development in diverse international and community development contexts. |
| Teamwork | Contribute to effective collaboration and achievement of mutually agreed upon team outcomes through active, engaged, respectful and self-reflective participation in research and practice, across local and global cultures and disciplines, including multidisciplinary contexts. |
| Global citizenship | Question, examine and engage in a range of social justice, environmental and development issues taking into consideration cross-cultural, indigenous, local and global contexts |
Approved at Faculty Board 2018
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Diploma of International and Community Development (ICD) students must pass 8 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 2 credit points of core units
- 6 credit points of course electives
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Course structure
Core
| ADS701 | Introduction to International and Community Development |
| ADS715 | Cross Cultural Communication and Practice |
Electives
Plus, ANY six electives from:
| ADS704 | Community From Participation to Activism |
| ADS705 | Participatory and Community Development Practice |
| ADS711 | Non-Government Organisations and other Development Actors |
| ADS733 | Theories and Critiques of Development |
| ADS734 | Geopolitics and Political Economy of Development |
| ADS720 | Culture, Arts and Sports as Community Development |
| ADS722 | Private Sector Development: Corporations, Social-Enterprise and Microfinance |
| ADS723 | Monitoring and Evaluation |
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
| ADH712 | Food and Water Security |
| ADH714 | Gender, Race and Culture |
| ADH717 | Climate Change and Sustainability |
ADS721 Policy and Advocacy in Development Contexts [No longer available for enrolment]
ADS753 International and Community Development Internship [No longer available for enrolment]
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
There are options for WIL and study tours across many of the SHSS courses.
Research and research-related study
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.