Master of Development Studies

The coursework masters provides specialist training for professional qualification purposes, usually to graduates working in the fields of development and environment, development and gender, development and urbanisation, and health policy and development, but may also be taken for general interest. This course does not necessarily lead to higher degree study, however high achieving students who complete the thesis option may qualify for entry to a masters by research or PhD.

Students who complete the Master of Development Studies should:

• understand current practice, policy and thinking about development, and the interaction between them;
• comprehend the relations between the political, economic, socio-cultural, environmental and gendered dimensions of poverty, inequality and development; and
• be able to critically and constructively analyse problems and interventions on the basis of a rigorous interrogation of arguments and evidence.

200 Point Program

Duration: 2 years full-time / up to 4 years part-time

• two compulsory subjects (25 points)
• four core subjects (50 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (125 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90011 Minor Thesis - Development Studies (50 points)
• DEVT90041 Research Methods in Development (12.5 points)
• elective subjects (62.5 points)

150 point program

Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time

• two compulsory subjects (25 points)
• two core subjects (25 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (100 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90011 Minor Thesis - Development Studies (50 points)
• DEVT90041 Research Methods in Development (12.5 points)
• elective subjects (37.5 points)

100 point program

Duration: 1 year full-time / up to 2 years part-time

• two compulsory subjects (25 points)

Coursework Only Option

• elective subjects (75 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• DEVT90011 Minor Thesis - Development Studies (50 points)
• DEVT90041 Research Methods in Development (12.5 points)
• Elective subjects (12.5 points)

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (25 points). Students must complete one capstone option:

Capstone Stream 1: DEVT90041 Research Methods for Development (12.5 points) and DEVT90048 Workshop in Research for Development (12.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to develop research skills and apply those skills in a workshop setting.

Capstone Stream 2: Co-requisites: DEVT90002 Internship in Development (12.5 points) and DEVT90001 Project Management & Design (12.5 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to acquire practical skills in development practice and project management and apply this knowledge to solve problems that arise in a professional context and develop an integrated understanding of knowledge and practice.

Capstone Stream 3: DEVT90011 Minor Thesis - Development Studies (50 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a specific development research question.

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• an undergraduate degree with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance; and
• relevance of previous studies.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 50 points of credit:

• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in any discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and at least one year of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 100 points of credit:

• an honours degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants seeking credit for relevant work experience must document their experience with a brief curriculum vitae detailing the experience, contact details of two referees who can confirm the authenticity and nature of the experience claimed, and a covering letter that explains how the experience is relevant to the program and prepares them for it.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students who complete the thesis option may be eligible for entry into the PhD.

Graduates of the Master of Development Studies should be able to:

• comprehend the relations between development, environmental conditions and health, globalisation and development, culture and development, and gender, globalisation and development.

See http://learningandteaching.unimelb.edu.au/curriculum/graduates for further information