Master of Community Development
Murdoch University
About
This course will introduce you to the community development ideas and practices used to create and foster community-led change in settings around Australia and beyond.This course is designed for community work practitioners and graduates with an interest in moving into emerging fields that embrace the ideas and practices of community development, and want to broaden their knowledge substantially through further postgraduate studies.You'll study real and living community projects that build on cultural strength in remote areas, urban agriculture and sustainability projects, grassroots creative arts projects, activism work and much more.
Combine case studies, documentaries, films and other creative digital forms that showcase examples of community work and attend workshops designed to teach creative ways of getting the community involved.6 reasons to study a Master of Community DevelopmentPut theory into practice by undertaking a community development internship in a migrant resource centre, state or local government offices, an international development agency or through an alternative education project or community arts project.
Be taught by leading academics who have themselves worked for community organisations and still carry out research on community-based projects including work with local government authorities, Indigenous Australian groups and in the cultural development, arts and film industries.
Build a course that suits your career goals by choosing from a range of core units and electives.
Undertake an independent research project or dissertation under the supervision of experienced researchers, in an area of community practice relevant an important to you.
Choose full-time, part-time, on-campus or online options to help you fit study into your working life.
(If you’re an international student, you’ll need to study full-time to meet your visa requirements.) Take advantage of free workshops and seminars to help you with writing, statistics and analysing data, ethics, how to run surveys and research as a postgraduate student.Develop your skillsBuild essential skills and knowledge to meet your career or study goals.
Topics you’ll cover include:community development in Indigenous communities building links between community, industry and local government social policy activism and community change sustainable and ecological community development understanding the dynamics of cultural diversity in the workplace and community.Your careerWhen you graduate you could work in many industry areas such as community and social services, local government, humanitarian organisations, NGOs, aid work, economic and social planning, sustainable development and Indigenous governance.Careers could include:Community Arts, Development or Service Coordinator Federal or State Government Policy Advisor International Aid Worker Engagement Officer Place and Activations Officer.
Structure
Course Core 48 credit points
Required Units 24 credit points
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| COD545 | Community Development Theory and Practice | 3 |
| COD505 | Community, Industry and Local Government | 3 |
| COD504 | Community, Policy and Change | 3 |
| COD502 | Community Development in Indigenous Communities | 3 |
| COD601 | Community Development Methods | 3 |
| SUS512 | Sustainability, Ecology and Communities | 3 |
| COD608 | Community Development Internship | 6 |
Specified Elective Units 24 credit points
Specified Elective Units Group 1 - Dissertation 24 credit points
Required Unit 12 credit points
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| ART610 | Masters by Coursework Research Dissertation | 12 |
Specified Elective Units 12 credit points
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| TLC501 | Communication Skills for Postgraduate Study | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SUS611 | Resilient Regions: People and Practice | 3 |
| OR | ||
| AST650 | Culture, Communities and Sustainability in Asia | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SUS523 | Cities and Sustainability | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SWM511 | Critical Approaches to Development | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MBS685 | Project Management | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SWM628 | Development and Sustainability | 3 |
| OR | ||
| AST558 | Gender in Asian Societies | 3 |
| OR | ||
| EDN546 | Dynamics of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace and the Community | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MCM682 | Global Media: Asia-Pacific Perspectives | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MBS651 | Leading and Managing Nonprofit Organisations | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MBS589 | Social Enterprise, Social Innovation And Profit For Purpose | 3 |
OR
Specified Electives Group 2 - Research Project 24 credit points
Required Units 6 credit points
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| ART6401 | Masters by Coursework Research Project | 6 |
Specified Elective Units 18 credit points
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| TLC501 | Communication Skills for Postgraduate Study | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SUS611 | Resilient Regions: People and Practice | 3 |
| OR | ||
| AST650 | Culture, Communities and Sustainability in Asia | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SUS523 | Cities and Sustainability | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SWM511 | Critical Approaches to Development | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MBS685 | Project Management | 3 |
| OR | ||
| SWM628 | Development and Sustainability | 3 |
| OR | ||
| AST558 | Gender in Asian Societies | 3 |
| OR | ||
| EDN546 | Dynamics of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace and the Community | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MBS651 | Leading and Managing Nonprofit Organisations | 3 |
| OR | ||
| GRD503 | Design Thinking Tools | 3 |
| OR | ||
| GRD508 | Innovation Development | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MBS589 | Social Enterprise, Social Innovation And Profit For Purpose | 3 |
Entry requirements
Advanced Standing
Everyone has a different path to university so if you’ve already completed formal or informal learning, you could receive advanced standing. Also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing can reduce the amount of study needed to complete your degree by giving you credit for certain units.
Formal learning can include previous study in higher education vocational education or adult and community education. Informal learning can include on the job learning, various kinds of work and life experience.
Find out more
This information applies to courses offered at our Australian campuses only. Courses offered at our Dubai, Singapore and Myanmar campuses or delivered by Open Universities Australia may have different requirements.
Institution
