The Master of International Development is a 72-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in International Development. The program can be completed over two years of full-time study, or 4 years of part-time study. It is designed for those who want to

  • advance their capacity to understand and apply a vast array of information on the problems of development, and
  • acquire the research knowledge and skills required for entry into a PhD program or research focused employment.

Delivery modes

The 72-unit Master of International Development is offered face to face on the Flinders University campus. A number of its constituent core and elective topics are also offered in distance mode.

Articulation

The Master of International Development forms part of an approved sequence of articulated programs comprising graduate program in International Development. Students enrolled in an articulated program may progress to Masters level with full credit for courses completed in earlier programs in the sequence. They may also use these same degrees as early exit points provided they satisfy the requirements of these degrees.

Admission requirements

Applicants must hold a recognised bachelor degree, with a GPA of 5 or better, in a Social Sciences or Humanities related field from an approved tertiary institution. 

The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Credit

Credit may be granted towards completion of the degree for relevant prior study. Students who have completed at least 18 units of the Master of Arts (International Development), including DVST9023 Research Practice, with a GPA of 5.5 are eligible to transfer into the Master of International Development and complete the remaining units of the program.

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 issues and policies areas the theories that inform them. Students will develop a broad range of research skills and apply them in a substantial piece of individual scholarship.

Students will be able to pursue specialist knowledge in a variety of related disciplines including environmental studies, international relations, population studies, public health, public policy and management, and gender studies. A selection of topics focusing on specific countries and regions is available. Practicum topics are offered which enable students to apply their knowledge and skills.

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 interpreting critically a vast array of information on the problems of development
  • plan and execute a substantial research project
  • 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

Program of study

All applicants must submit to the Program Approver a satisfactory proposal for a coherent program of studies.

To qualify for The Master of 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:

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

 DVST8010  Development Problems, Policies and Programs  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9013  Applied Development Studies  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9022  Theory and Evidence in Contemporary Development  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9023  Research Practice in Development Studies  (4.5 units)*
 INTR9077  Global Inequality  (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) or
 DVST9037  International Development Research Paper (9 units)

DVST9118 (DVST9118A, B, C, D) to be taken in year 2. Eligibility is dependent upon achieving a GPA of 5.5 in the previous 36 units of study in the International Development graduate program. Students who do not achieve a GPA of 5.5 may take DVST9037 International Development Research Paper.

DVST9037 is to be taken in the final semester of study and is dependent upon achieving a GPA of 5 in the previous 36 units of study in the International Development graduate program.

Students who do not achieve a GPA of 5 in the previous 36 units of study in the International
Development graduate program will exit with a Master of Arts (International Development) (54
units).

Students must complete at least one of the following topics:

 DVST9031  Gender Analysis  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9032  Gender Mainstreaming  (4.5 units)*
 WMST8003  The Global Woman: Introduction to Gender and Development  (4.5 units)*

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

Option - Year 1 & 2 topics

 DVST8701  Sustainable Development GE  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9035  International Development Practicum  (9 units)*
 DVST9035A  International Development Practicum  (4.5 units)*
 DVST9035B  International Development Practicum  (13.5 units)*
 DVST9036  Supervised Study in International Development  (4.5 units)
 DVST9038  Environment and Development in Asia  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8712  Asian Regional Development GE  (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)
 INTR9062  Contemporary Issues in Gender and Development  (4.5 units)
 INTR9076  Food Security  (4.5 units)
 INTR9078   Governing East Asia in the 21st Century (4.5 units)
 PHCA9505  Primary Health Care Practice in Developing Countries  (9 units)*
 POAD9026  Management in Non-Government Organisations  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9030  Indigenous Issues in Public Policy  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9119  Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9131  Development Administration  (4.5 units)*
 POAD9135  Project Management  (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)
 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.

Note: Other topics may be taken with the approval of the course coordinator.