Master of International and Community Development

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year

2026 course information

Award granted Master of International and Community Development
Deakin course codeA765
Course Credit Points8
Course version1
Faculty

Faculty of Arts and Education

Course Information

For students who commenced from 2019 to 2024

Final Intake

Offered to continuing students only.

The final intake to this course was in teaching period 1, 2024. Students should contact Student Central for course, course map and enrolment information.

Course sub-headings

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of International and Community Development (A565)
Graduate Diploma of International and Community Development (A665)

Research information

Students will complete a research pathway in 1 of the 3 following options:

  • Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway
  • Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
  • Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities Undertake research to acquire advanced integrated understanding, synthesis and application of theory and practice to international and community development within diverse disciplinary contexts and worldviews.
Communication Apply oral, written and interpersonal communication skills to plan, inform, and debate complex multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral issues for improved social, environmental and economic outcomes to a wide range of audiences, and contexts, including scholarly research scenarios and real-world situations.
Digital literacy Source, analyse and report on complex data and information, utilising a range of digital sources for effective research and professional development, across interpersonal, organisational and professional contexts
Critical thinking Conduct in-depth scholarly and practice-based research to investigate, critically analyse, report and propose actions on local issues and opportunities in the context of historical and contemporary development discourse.
Problem solving Apply advanced skills in research, comprehension, interpretation and analyses of competing option for solving complex or “wicked” problems with creativity, innovation and respect.
Self-management Plan, organise and manage competing demands on time, to work mindfully in a personal and professional capacity, and commit to ongoing learning and self-reflection on the development as a professional practitioner.
Teamwork Work collaboratively as an active, engaged and reflective team member by contributing to mutual goals, research, tasks and leadership across practice, cultures and disciplines.
Global citizenship Question, engage, provoke and innovate on a broad and interrelated range of social justice, environmental and development issues taking into consideration cross cultural, indigenous, local and global contexts.

Approved at Faculty Board November 2018

Course rules

To complete the Master of International Community Development you must pass 8 credit points. This includes:

  • DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period

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

Streams

Students complete one of three streams

Streams (select one)

Stream 1 (Combined Stream - International Development and Community Development)

ADS704Community From Participation to Activism

ADS705Participatory and Community Development Practice

ADS733Theories and Critiques of Development

ADS734Charity, Influence Or Power? the Political and Economic Forces Shaping Aid

Plus 4 credit points of study from one of the Minor Thesis, Research Paper, or Professional Experience Pathways and Course Electives.

Stream 2 International Development Stream

ADS733Theories and Critiques of Development

ADS734Charity, Influence Or Power? the Political and Economic Forces Shaping Aid

Plus 6 credit points of study from one of the Minor Thesis, Research Paper, or Professional Experience Pathways and Course Electives.

Stream 3 Community Development Stream

ADS704Community From Participation to Activism

ADS705Participatory and Community Development Practice

Plus 6 credit points of study from one of the Minor Thesis, Research Paper, or Professional Experience Pathways and Course Electives.

Pathways

Minor Thesis - PhD Pathway

AIX706Research Design

Plus 2 credit points of research units:

AIX704Minor Thesis A

AIX705Minor Thesis B

Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^

AIX701Research Paper

Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^

APE701Internship Capstone (2 credit points)

^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.

Course Electives List A

ADS704Community From Participation to Activism

ADS705Participatory and Community Development Practice

ADS711Non-Government Organisations and other Development Actors

ADS733Theories and Critiques of Development

ADS734Charity, Influence Or Power? the Political and Economic Forces Shaping Aid

ADS720Culture, Arts and Sports as Community Development

ADS722Private Sector Development: Corporations, Social-Enterprise and Microfinance

ADS723Monitoring and Evaluation

ADH712Food and Water Security

ADH714Gender, Race and Culture

ADH717Climate Change and Sustainability

ADS715Cross Cultural Communication and Practice

AHL701Principles of Humanitarianism and Disaster Management

APE700Internship A

ADS721 Policy and Advocacy in Development Contexts [No longer available for enrolment]

ADH702 Humanitarian - Development Nexus [No longer available for enrolment]

* Students who have previously completed any of these units within the Graduate Certificate of International and Community Development are required to substitute with an alternate unit from the course elective list

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.

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