Master of International and Community Development
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of International and Community Development |
| Course credit points | 8 |
| Deakin course code | A765 |
| Course version | 1 |
| 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
- Research information
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Alternative exits
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)
| ADS704 | Community from Participation to Activism |
| ADS705 | Participatory and Community Development Practice |
| ADS733 | Theories and Critiques of Development |
| ADS734 | Charity, 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
| ADS733 | Theories and Critiques of Development |
| ADS734 | Charity, 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
| ADS704 | Community from Participation to Activism |
| ADS705 | Participatory 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
| AIX706 | Research Design |
Plus 2 credit points of research units:
| AIX704 | Minor Thesis A |
| AIX705 | Minor Thesis B |
Research Paper – non PhD Pathway^
| AIX701 | Research Paper |
Professional Experience – non PhD Pathway^
| APE701 | Internship Capstone (2 credit points) |
^ The Research Paper and Professional Experience options are not PhD Pathways.
Course Electives List A
| 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 | Charity, Influence Or Power? the Political and Economic Forces Shaping Aid |
| ADS720 | Culture, Arts and Sports as Community Development |
| ADS722 | Private Sector Development: Corporations, Social-Enterprise and Microfinance |
| ADS723 | Monitoring and Evaluation |
| ADH712 | Food and Water Security |
| ADH714 | Gender, Race and Culture |
| ADH717 | Climate Change and Sustainability |
| ADS715 | Cross Cultural Communication and Practice |
| AHL701 | Principles of Humanitarianism and Disaster Management |
| APE700 | Internship 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.