3741 - Master in Regional and Community Development

The Master in Regional and Community Development embodies an explicit commitment to people and place, to social justice, human rights and a sustainable environment. It will equip students with the skills to understand governance issues and undertake participatory planning and research in local, state, national and international public and private sector organisations. Its educational approaches and outcomes will contribute to increased participation in the formation of socially and ecologically sustainable communities and places through an understanding of the strategic importance to public and private sector organisations of community and place.

On the successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

• demonstrate a sound knowledge of historical, ecological, contested and subjective meanings of place and community
• analyse the interconnections between community and place, and their relevance to the organisational contexts in which students live and work
• develop a consultative and participatory approach to community engagement and development, informed by social justice and ecological sustainability
• understand the key models and approaches to adult and community education
• understand the principles and models of participatory planning in organisational and community contexts
• critically understand concepts of governance and governmentality, the changing role of the state, the political and organisational structures of governance, and the implementation of whole of government and partnership approaches
• demonstrate capacity to work towards the involvement of diverse (and often subjugated/disadvantaged) sectors within the community
• undertake research into questions of community and place
• reflect on and evaluate their own skills in community development and engagement
• demonstrate commitment to ethical and respectful practice with communities
• Apply all of the above in an international context and understand the implications.

Students are required to successfully complete one of the following three options:

• four 12-point core units plus two 12-point research units
• three 12-point core units plus one 12-point research methods unit and a 24-point research dissertation
• four 12-point core units plus 24 points of approved electives drawn from existing arts or education units, or by approval of the course coordinator.

First year

Semester one

• EDF6806 Sustainable community development*

Semester two

• SCD4301 Participatory planning: local, national and international perspectives*

Second year

Semester one

• EDF6802 Adult education and training: theories and practices*

Semester two

• SCD4302 Governance and community*

Third year

Students complete one of the following two options

Option 1

Semester one

One of:

• EDF6007 Qualitative approaches to research
• SCD5305 Research methods

Semester two

One of:

• EDF6010 Professional project A or EDF6020 Professional project B
• SCD5301 Research practicum

Option 2

One of:

• SCD5302 Research Practicum
• EDF6031/EDF6032 Masters Thesis 1 and 2
• 24 points of approved electives**

* Core units.

** Students taking the 24 points of electives option will be required to take either EDF6007 or SCD5305 as a pre-requisite, and will therefore only complete three core units.

Students obtaining at least a credit average can exit:

• after 24 points of study with a Graduate Certificate of Regional and Community Development
• after 48 points of study with a Graduate Diploma of Regional and Community Development.

Master in Regional and Community Development