A6006 Master of International Development Practice

The course is structured in four parts. Part A. Foundations for international development practice, Part B. Core master's study, Part C. Advanced expertise and part D. Specialist electives. All students complete Part B. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A or Part C or a combination of the two.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundations for international development practice (12 points)

These studies will introduce you to international development practice studies at an advanced undergraduate level. They are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of international development theory, practice and research to address questions ranging from the causes of inequality and disparity,  evolving aid and development thought and practice, to the impact of politics, economics, culture, history and natural resources human development.

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options: 

• a program of coursework study where you select the units to suit your own interests. This option includes the opportunity to undertake an internship in the field. 
• a 24 point research thesis. Students wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this second option. 

Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised honours degree in a cognate discipline including humanities or social sciences, will receive credit for Part C, however, should you wish to complete a 24 point research project as part of the course you should consult with the course coordinator.

Part D. Specialist studies (12 points)

These studies provide you with a further opportunity to advance your studies in the international development field.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications students may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines their point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression maps

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

If you are eligible to enroll in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map.

The course comprises 96 points structured into four parts: Part A. Foundations for international development practice (12 points), Part B. Core master's study (48 points), Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points) and Part D. Specialist electives (12 points)

Depending on prior qualifications students may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines their point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

All students must complete a minimum of 48 credit points at level 5 and a maximum of 24 points at level 2 or 3 for entry point 1. Unless otherwise stated, units with codes beginning with 2 or 3 are 6 points, and units with codes beginning with 4 or 5 are 12 points.

Students who are eligible to enrol in the 1.5-year entry point, have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated

Part A. Foundations for international development practice (12 points)

You must complete the following unit:

• APG5083 Foundations of development: Discourse, programs and practice

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

You must complete four units from the following:

• APG5628 Deconstructing development*
• APG5045 Gender and development*
• APG5073 Conflict, security and development*
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

In the final stages of the program you will further develop either your theoretical or practice focus through the following capstone units.

You must complete Part a. or b.

a. You must choose one of the following capstone units (12 points):

• APG5100 Colab M: Mentoring for development practice and professional development 
• APG5044 Professional internship 
• APG5054 Research methods for development practice and change
• APG5856 Research project 

AND

• One unit from the elective list below or from remaining core and capstone units from Part B or C (12 points).

OR

b. Research pathway (24 points)

The following units:

• APG5849 Research thesis A (6 points)
• APG5084 Designing research (6 points)
• APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points)

Note: Students who wish to complete the 24 point research pathway should consult with the course coordinator.

Part D. Specialist studies (12 points)

Students in entry point 1 (96 points) must choose 12 points of electives from option 1 or 2, or a combination of both.

Option 1

Discipline Electives:

Field studies for development

• APG4248 Field methods in anthropology and international development
• APG5093 International relations field unit: Governing peace and security
• APG5390 Contemporary tourism and development in emerging economies

Democracy, justice and governance

• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict
• APG5092 Human rights in global politics
• APG5180 Strategic Political Leadership and Communication  
• APG5337 Governance and democratisation
• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law (6 points)*
• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights (6 points)*

Gender, Peace and Security

• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict
• APG5078 Gender-based policy and planning
• LAW5359 International human rights law and women*
• MPH5250 Women's and children's health: A global perspective (6 points)*

Crisis, change and management

• APG5140 Guiding principles for professionals engaged in disasters and humanitarian crises
• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management
• ENS5510 Processes to influence change*

Sustainable resource management 

• APG5067 Cultural economy and sustainable development*
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world (6 points)
• APG5433 Corporate sustainability management
• APG5609 Sustainable tourism development and planning
• APG5627 Political ecology: Critical explanations of socio-environmental problems

Language and culture

• APG5481 Language for professional purposes - Part 1 (6 points)
• APG5482 Language for professional purposes - Part 2 (6 points)
• APG5483 Language for professional purposes - Part 3 (6 points)

Option 2

Complementary Electives:

Up to 24 points of approved units from the following Arts Graduate coursework programs. All units are available unless marked with an asterisk (*)
These units must be selected from Core Master's study and/or Advanced expertise.

• A6001 - Master of Applied Linguistics
• A6002 - Master of Bioethics
• A6003 - Master of Communications and Media Studies
• A6004 - Master of Cultural and Creative Industries
• A6008 - Master of Journalism
• A6010 - Master of International Relations
• A6012 - Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management
• A6028 - Master of Public Policy
• A6030 - Master of Strategic Communications Management