COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of International Community Development at Victoria University is a 192-credit-point postgraduate program that combines core studies, electives, and a major research component to prepare students for careers in community development, human rights, and international social policy. The course includes 72 credit points of core studies, 72 credit points of electives, and 48 credit points of either community-based research or a research thesis. In the first year, students develop foundational knowledge through units such as Research Methods, Community Development: Theory and Practice, Project Planning and Management, Transnational Gender Issues and Human Rights, Building Capacity and Mobilising Civil Society, and Conflict Resolution in Groups and Communities. These subjects provide practical and theoretical understanding of social change, leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. Students also complete elective units that allow them to specialise in areas such as sustainability, migration, public health, humanitarian assistance, regional policy, Indigenous perspectives, and food security. In the second year, students choose between two capstone pathways: a Community-Based Research project or a traditional Research Thesis, each completed over two parts. These pathways enable students to apply research skills to real-world community issues and professional practice. Overall, the program develops advanced leadership, analytical, research, and intercultural communication skills for careers in NGOs, government agencies, humanitarian organisations, and international development sectors.