Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies |
| Deakin course code | A756 |
| Course credit points | 16 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2027 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Campus note | This course requires students to undertake studies throughout the Trimester 3 academic period (core unit ADS715) |
| Duration |
The time and cost could be reduced based on your previous qualifications and professional experience. See entry requirements below for more information. The Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies is typically 1, 1.5 or 2 years duration. See entry requirements for more information. |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Research information
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Study the Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies to build a deeper understanding of the crises shaping our world and the community-led responses working to address them. You will explore international development, humanitarian action, disaster and crisis response, and community development. You will also examine the histories, causes and impacts of challenges such as climate change, poverty, forced migration and inequality.
Through critical analysis of real social, political and environmental issues, you will analyse how communities create practical and just solutions. With more than 40 years of teaching and research in international and community development, and as home to Australia’s first graduate program in humanitarian assistance, Deakin provides an industry-informed foundation for practice. You can specialise and complete a research or professional experience pathway.
Career opportunities
Some of the areas you might obtain work as a graduate of this course include:
- Government
- Not-for-profit
- Policy and advocacy roles
- Program and partnership roles
- National and Local non-government organisations
- Community development agencies
- Emergency management
- Private sector
- Social enterprise
- Consultant
- UN and associated agencies, including UNICEF, UNDP, UNOCHA, World Food program, and many other agencies
- Military and civil/military partnerships
- Universities
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.
Alternative exits
Research information
Students will complete a research pathway in 1 of the 3 following options:
- Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway ; or
- Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^ ; or
- Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^.
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Engage in disciplinary research to critically analyse the major theoretical, conceptual and policy issues in development, humanitarian action, and disaster response / management, both locally and internationally, with a focus on engagement with communities and community-led responses to the world’s crises, including climate change, food insecurity, conflict and disasters, inequality and injustice, racism and exclusion. |
| Use oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills to disseminate the findings of research into complex multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral issues for improving social, environmental, and economic outcomes including global justice, peace, sovereignty, community resilience, and transformations of power to a wide range of specialist and non-specialist audiences. |
| Research, analyse, report, and communicate complex data and information on contemporary issues in international and community development, global justice, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action, utilising a range of digital sources for effective research and professional development, across interpersonal, organisational, and professional contexts. |
| Conduct in-depth scholarly and practice-based research to investigate, synthesise, critically analyse, report, and propose actions on local and global issues such as global justice, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action and opportunities, in the context of historical and contemporary development and humanitarian discourse. |
| Apply advanced skills in research, comprehension, interpretation and evaluation of theory, critique and proposed innovative responses to complex situations or “wicked” problems encountered in a range of community, development, humanitarian, and disaster contexts, with creativity, innovation, and respect. |
| Plan, organise and manage competing demands on time, to work mindfully in a personal and professional capacity, whilst committing to ongoing learning, and performing as an independent and reflective practitioner capable of operating effectively in the context of developing community-led solutions to the world’s crises. |
| Work collaboratively as an active, engaged, and reflective team member seeking solutions to the world’s problems by contributing to mutual goals, research, tasks and leadership across practice, cultures, and disciplines, demonstrating active and constructive participation and contributions to resolving impasses and conflict. |
| Question, engage, provoke, and innovate on a broad and interrelated range of social justice, environmental, development and humanitarian issues taking into consideration cross-cultural, indigenous, local and global knowledges, contexts, and perspectives that can inform the development of creative solutions for the world’s crises. |
Approved at Faculty Board 2023
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Humanitarian, Development and Disaster Studies you must pass 8, 12 or 16 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL):
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit point of core units (depending upon entry point)
- 12 credit points (depending upon entry point) from:
- one pathway option
- Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
- Research Paper - non PhD Pathway
- Professional Experience - non PhD Pathway
- at least one stream
- one pathway option
- at least one stream comprising 3 credit points
- any remaining credit points can be chosen from a stream and/or course electives.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Unit
| ADH713 | Development, Humanitarianism and Community in An Era of Crisis |
| ADS701 | Introduction to Humanitarianism, Development and Disasters |
| ADS733 | Theories and Critiques of Humanitarianism, Development and Disasters |
| ADS715 | Cross Cultural Communication and Practice * |
* This unit requires Trimester 3 study
Pathways
Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
| AIX706 | Research Design |
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
Plus 9 credit points of course electives for the minor thesis pathway.
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway ^
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
Plus 11 credit points of course of course electives for the Research Paper pathway.
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway ^
| APE701 | Internship Capstone |
Plus 10 credit points of course electives for the Professional Experience pathway.
^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
Streams
Students may select units within or across the streams as detailed below. To complete a stream students must complete 3 out of 4 elective units within a stream. Students may complete more than one stream.
Stream 1: Disasters and Community Resilience *
Complete at least 3 credit points not previously studied from:
| ADS701 | Introduction to Humanitarianism, Development and Disasters |
| ADS704 | Community from Participation to Activism |
| AHA716 | Refugees and Forced Migration |
| AHA724 | Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Led Recovery |
| ADH717 | Climate Change and Sustainability * |
Stream 2: Community Development*
Complete at least 3 credit points not previously studied from:
| ADS704 | Community from Participation to Activism |
| ADS705 | Participatory and Community Development Practice |
| ADS715 | Cross Cultural Communication and Practice * |
| ADS720 | Culture, Arts and Sports as Community Development |
| ADS723 | Monitoring and Evaluation |
Stream 3: International Development*
Complete at least 3 credit points not previously studied from:
| ADH712 | Food and Water Security |
| ADH714 | Gender, Race and Culture |
| ADS723 | Monitoring and Evaluation |
| ADS734 | Power and Geopolitics of Humanitarianism, Development and Peace |
| ADS715 | Cross Cultural Communication and Practice * |
Stream 4: Humanitarianism
Complete at least 3 credit points not previously studied from:
| ADH712 | Food and Water Security |
| ADH714 | Gender, Race and Culture |
| ADS734 | Power and Geopolitics of Humanitarianism, Development and Peace |
| AHA716 | Refugees and Forced Migration |
| AHA724 | Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Led Recovery |
| AIR717 | International Conflict Analysis |
* Trimester 3 unit. If selected this stream will require Trimester 3 study
Electives
| AIP773 | Accountability, Integrity and Governance |
| AIP783 | Rethinking Democracy |
| AIR726 | Human Rights in World Politics |
| HSH701 | Principles and Practice of Public Health |
| HSH703 | Health Promotion |
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.