Master of International Development Practice - 2019

Equitable and environmentally sustainable development remains a pressing global concern. Complex political, economic, cultural and ecological challenges contribute to extreme poverty, reduced health, environmental vulnerability and fragile governance affecting the well-being of millions of people worldwide. These multidimensional challenges require professionals with the practical skills and analytical capacity to help address economic, political and environmental vulnerabilities at the community, national and global levels.

The course offers a multi-disciplinary applied approach to the theory and practice of sustainable development. Delivered by specialists from the humanities and social sciences, medicine, business and economics, education and law, it delivers rigorous research training along with project management and leadership skills development within an interdisciplinary core curriculum.

You may choose to focus your electives in one of the following areas:

• democracy, justice and governance
• gender, conflict and security
• crisis, change and management
• sustainable resource management.

Opportunities for fieldwork, study abroad and internship engagement include options to engage in field-schools at sites of significant development practice such as South Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Options to include language extension in individual programs are also available.

Graduate employment opportunities may include human rights advocacy, aid agencies in government and non-government sectors, the Fair Trade business sector, community organisations, and international institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the political, economic, cultural and environmental challenges contributing to human inequalities
2. articulate and apply knowledge of best practice within the broad realm of international development practice, policy, governance and research
3. identify complex sustainable development challenges and debates across diverse cultural and geo-political contexts
4. understand and critically appraise the range of organisations and institutions involved in international development, their working culture and funding processes
5. demonstrate an ability to successfully apply theoretical learning in practical contexts
6. demonstrate advanced reading and communication skills, both written and verbal
7. demonstrate a thorough understanding of research methodology and ethics, and an ability to plan and conduct, an independent research project in one of the aspects represented in the program.

The course is structured in three parts. Part A. Foundations for international development practice, Part B. Core master's study and Part C. Advanced expertise. All students complete Part B. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A or Part C or a combination of the two.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundations for international development practice (24 points)

These studies will introduce you to international development practice studies at an advanced undergraduate level. They are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of international development theory, practice and research to address questions ranging from the causes of wealth disparity, and the growth of development thought and practice, to the impact of politics, economics, culture, history and natural resources on inequality.

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options:

• a program of coursework study where you select the units to suit your own interests. This option includes the opportunity to undertake an internship in the field.
• a 24 point research thesis. Students wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this second option.

If you are admitted to the course, and have a recognised honours degree in a cognate discipline including humanities or social sciences, you will receive credit for Part C, however, should you wish to complete a 24 point research project as part of the course you should consult with the course coordinator.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Foundations for international development practice (24 points), Part B. Core master's study (48 points) and Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points).

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C Option 1 (Research pathway) or Option 2 (Discipline electives)
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

You must complete a minimum of 48 credit points at level 5 and a maximum of 24 points at level 2 or 3 for entry point 1. Unless otherwise stated, units with codes beginning with 2 or 3 are 6 points, and units with codes beginning with 4 or 5 are 12 points.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/maps/map-a6006.pdf) provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

If you are eligible to enroll in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression mapintensive course progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/maps/map-a6006-1yr.pdf).

Part A. Foundations for international development practice (24 points)

You must complete:

a. The following unit (12 points):

• APG5100 Colab M: Mentoring for development practice and professional development*

b. Two units (12 points) chosen from the following:

• APG5060 Advanced academic skills (6 points)
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams (6 points)
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments (6 points)

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

You must complete:

a. The following units (36 points):

• APG5073 Conflict, security and development
• APG5628 Deconstructing development
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development

b. One capstone unit (12 points) chosen from the following:

• APG5044 Professional internship
• APG5054Not offered in 2019 Research methods for development practice and change
• APG5856 Research project

You may elect to take the research thesis as your capstone. This means you will only complete 12 points of electives in Part C (Option 2). You may wish to complete additional capstone units as electives.

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

If you are admitted at Entry Level 1 you complete Option 1, 2 or 3 below.

If you are admitted at Entry Level 2 you complete either Option 1 or 2 below.

Option 1

Research Option

The following unit:

• APG5848 Research thesis (24 points)** or APG5849 Research thesis A (12 points) and APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points)

** If you are admitted to the course at entry level 3 and wish to complete the 24 point research thesis you should consult with the course coordinator.

Note: You are encouraged to have completed the Research Methods unit (APG5054Not offered in 2019) before enrolling in the Thesis unit if you intend to undertake primary research.

Option 2

Discipline Electives

Up to 24 points from the lists below including any capstone unit not already completed in Part B (b).

Democracy, justice and governance

• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict
• APG5069Not offered in 2019 Australia and Asia in the Asian century: Politics, business, media
• APG5092 Human rights in global politics
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5337 Governance and democratisation
• APG5553Not offered in 2019 Field studies in sustainable development*
• APG5590 Political Islam
• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law (6 points)*
• LAW5383Not offered in 2019 International refugee law and human rights (6 points)*
• LAW5418Not offered in 2019 Transitional justice (6 points)*
• MGF5760 International Institutions and organisations (6 points)*
• MGF5300Not offered in 2019 Governance (6 points)*
• MGF5370 Policy analysis (6 points)*
• MGF5730 International trade policy (6 points)*

Gender, peace and security

• APG4223 Gender, violence and society: Understanding social patterns
• APG4224Not offered in 2019 Gender, violence and society: Criminal justice responses
• APG5045 Gender and development
• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict
• APG5140 Guiding principles for professionals engaged in disasters and humanitarian crises
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams (6 points)
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments (6 points)
• APG5481Not offered in 2019 Language for professional purposes - Part 1 (6 points)
• APG5482Not offered in 2019 Language for professional purposes - Part 2 (6 points)
• APG5483Not offered in 2019 Language for professional purposes - Part 3 (6 points)
• APG5553Not offered in 2019 Field studies in sustainable development*
• LAW5359Not offered in 2019 International human rights law and women (6 points)*
• MPH5248 Primary health care and global health (6 points)*
• MPH5250 Women's and children's health: A global perspective (6 points)*
• MPH5255 Health and human rights (6 points)*

Crisis, change and management

• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict
• APG5140 Guiding principles for professionals engaged in disasters and humanitarian crises
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5553Not offered in 2019 Field studies in sustainable development
• ENS5510 Processes to influence change*
• ENS5520 Understanding human behaviour to influence change*
• ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development*
• MPH5248 Primary health care and global health (6 points)*
• MPH5251 Communicable diseases control in developing countries (6 points)*
• MPH5254 Infectious diseases and global health (6 points)*
• MPH5260 Health policy and prevention in a global world (6 points)*

Sustainable resource management

• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management (6 points)
• APG5067 Cultural economy and sustainable development*
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world (6 points)
• APG5390 Contemporary tourism and development in emerging economies*
• APG5433 Corporate sustainability management (6 points)
• APG5553Not offered in 2019 Field studies in sustainable development*
• APG5609Not offered in 2019 Sustainable tourism development and planning*
• APG5627 Research in political ecology (6 points)
• APG4248 Field methods in anthropology and international development
• ENS5010 Global challenges and sustainability*
• ENS5510 Processes to influence change*
• ENS5520 Understanding human behaviour to influence change*
• ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development*

Option 3

Complementary Electives

Up to 24 points of approved units from the following Arts Graduate coursework programs. All units are available unless marked with an (*)

These units must be selected from Part B: Core Master's study and/or Part C: Advanced expertise

• A6001 Master of Applied Linguistics
• A6002 Master of Bioethics
• A6003 Master of Communications and Media Studies
• A6004 Master of Cultural and Creative Industries
• A6008 Master of Journalism
• A6009 Master of Tourism
• A6010 Master of International Relations
• A6012 Master of International Sustainable tourism Management

You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award during your enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Certificate of Arts after successful completion of 24 credit points of study with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above
• Graduate Diploma of Arts after successful completion of 48 credit points of study with a minimum of 36 credit points at level 4 or above.

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a higher degree by research if you are admitted at entry levels 1 and 2 completing the research thesis (24 points). If you are admitted at entry level 3 you will normally already have an honours degree, however, if you are in this group and wish to complete a research thesis in international development practice you should discuss the options with the course coordinator.