COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Applied Science (Built Environment) at RMIT is a research-intensive postgraduate program structured around coursework and a major supervised research thesis. In the initial stage of candidature, students are required to complete a core research preparation course, “Doing Research for Design and Social Context,” which provides foundational skills in research design, methodology, and academic inquiry relevant to the built environment. Prior to key milestone reviews, students may also undertake additional coursework in consultation with their supervisory team, including subjects such as “Research for Impact in Design and Social Context,” qualitative research methods, or quantitative research techniques, depending on their research focus and methodological needs. Students may also select up to 12 credit points of approved university research electives to further support their specialization. The central component of the program is the Masters Research thesis, which constitutes the majority of the degree and is completed across multiple credit-point weightings (48, 36, 24, or 12 credit point enrolments depending on study load and progression stage). Through this structured research pathway, students develop advanced skills in designing, conducting, and communicating independent research projects. They are trained to critically analyse complex issues in the built environment and contribute original knowledge that can inform professional practice, policy, and innovation across academic, government, and industry sectors.