The Master of Arts (International Development) is a 72-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in International Development. It is offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

It articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in International Development and the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in International Development, and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards. Candidates who have completed either of these courses, or courses that are deemed equivalent, may be awarded credit for related topics.

The 18-unit Graduate Certificate in International Development and the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in International Development are also offered by distance education.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Credit may be granted, on application, for comparative prior studies.

Course aims

The course aims to develop critical awareness, knowledge and skills required for careers in the public, private and non-governmental sector organisations that operate in International Development or international affairs. It aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of current development policies areas and the development of theories underpinning policy approaches.

The course includes training in research skills. Stream A aims to develop a broad range of research skills and their application to development policy and practice. Stream B aims to develop research skills for research oriented careers and higher research degrees.

The course is international in scope, with generic topics offering case study material drawn from Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa. Students will be able to pursue elective topics in education, environmental studies, international relations and political studies, population and Human Resource development, Public Health, public management and gender studies. A selection of specialised topics is available on specific countries and regions.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of the course students should be able to:

  • demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of contemporary theories in the field of Development Studies and the socio-economic, political, cultural and environmental forces that shape Developing Countries
  • demonstrate advanced skills in applying appropriate analytical tools and conceptual frameworks to Contemporary Development issues in specific fields such as education, health, Human Resources, international relations, human rights and/or Public Health
  • identify Development Problems and their causes and develop constructive approaches to address them within the broader political and institutional context of development at local, national and international levels
  • work collaboratively across cultures and linguistic diversity and with a well developed awareness of gender and other diversity aspects that affect development practices and experiences
  • design, conduct and report on an applied policy issue or a research project in the field of International Development.

Program of study

All applicants must submit to the Director of Studies a satisfactory proposal for a coherent program of studies.

To qualify for The Master of Arts (International Development), a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

  • the 36 units required for the Graduate Diploma in International Development (progressive entry students receive 18 units of credit and advanced entry students 36 units of credit);
  • a further 36 units of core and elective topics not taken at the Graduate Diploma level to fulfil the requirements set out below.

Core topics

 DVST8010  Development Problems, Policies and Programs  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9022  Theory and Evidence in Contemporary Development  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9034  The Politics of the Global South: From Bullets to Ballot Box and back  (4.5 units)*

Students must complete at least one of the following topics:

 DVST9031  Gender Analysis  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9032  Gender Mainstreaming  (4.5 units)*

Stream A:

Students in Stream A select an additional 9 units of core topics plus 45 units of elective topics:

Core topics

 DVST9013  Applied Development Studies  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9023  Research Practice in Development Studies  (4.5 units)*

Stream B:

To be admitted to Stream B, students must be able to demonstrate an average grade of Distinction in their first year of The Masters program. Students in Stream B select an additional 22.5 units of core topics, 4.5 units of a Research Method topic, plus 27 units of elective topics:

Core topics

 DVST9023  Research Practice in Development Studies  (4.5 units)
 DVST9118  International Development Research Thesis (18 units) OR
 DVST9118A  International Development Research Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
 DVST9118B  International Development Research Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
 DVST9118C  International Development Research Thesis (4.5/18 units) AND
 DVST9118D  International Development Research Thesis (4.5/18 units) 
 

Research Method topics

With the approval of the course coordinator, select one 4.5 unit Research Methods topic from the following :

 EDUC9762  Introduction to Statistics  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9763  Survey and Questionnaire Methods  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9764  Methods in Ethnography  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9765  Researching Texts and Documents  (4.5 units)
 POAD9028  Evaluation Methods  (4.5 units)
 WMST9015  Women's Studies: Research Strategies  (4.5 units)

Students must make up the remaining units (for a total of 72 units) from the following. Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Elective topics

 DVST8701  Sustainable Development GE  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9014  Indigenous Peoples and Development  (4.5 units)
 DVST9031  Gender Analysis  (4.5 units)
 DVST9032  Gender Mainstreaming  (4.5 units)
 DVST9035  International Development Practicum  (4.5 units)
 DVST9035A  International Development Practicum  (9 units)
 DVST9035B  International Development Practicum  (13.5 units)
 GEOG8712  Asian Regional Development GE  (4.5 units)
 INTR9050  Debating Human Rights  (4.5 units)
 INTR9051  International Human Rights: Theory and Practice  (4.5 units)
 INTR9055  African Politics: Global Issues  (4.5 units)
 INTR9059  Intensive Summer School on Global Citizenship  (4.5 units)
 INTR9061  Governance and the new Political Economy of East Asia  (4.5 units)
 INTR9062  Contemporary Issues in Gender and Development  (4.5 units)
 PHCA8505  Primary Health Care Practice in Developing Countries  (9 units)*
 POAD9026  Management in Non-Government Organisations  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9119  Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9131  Development Administration  (4.5 units)*
 POLI9004  The Politics of Climate Change  (4.5 units)
 PPHR9701  Population Studies  (4.5 units)
 PPHR9741  Women's Health and Child Survival  (4.5 units)
 PPHR9742  Population and Environment  (4.5 units)
 WMST8003  The Global Woman: Introduction to Gender and Development  (4.5 units)*
 WMST8008  Engendering Justice, Rights, and Representation: Gender, State and Citizenship  (4.5 units)
 WMST9015  Women's Studies: Research Strategies  (4.5 units)

* These topics are also available by distance education.