Study a Master's in Global & International Development in QLD

Make a difference to global futures with the University ranked #1 in the world for collaborative partnerships for the United Nations Sustainable Development goals (SDGs).* Gain the expertise and specialist skills needed to help direct development initiatives like poverty alleviation, sustainable planning, and global health. * Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2020

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#1 in the world*

Collaborating for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals * Times Higher Education(THE) Impact Rankings 2020

Accelerated learning

Finish sooner with credit for previous study

#1 in Queensland*

Full-time employment *Good Universities Guide 2020, PG outcomes

Online: February, July
Cairns: February, July

$7,490.00⁺

$27,320.00^{^}

⁺estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee

^{^}estimated annual tuition fee

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

2 years full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF level 7 bachelor degree; or equivalent

118204

What to expect

Consolidate and extend your expertise in Global Development and join a new generation of ethical global citizens and change-makers. JCU’s central, tropical location gives Global Development graduates a unique platform for engaging with pressing global development issues.

Benefit from a multi-faceted approach to learning. Undertake an individual research project, and take advantage of a domestic or international internship that will expand your professional network. Develop and apply leadership skills by partnering with leading global organisations.

Finish your Master of Global Development faster. With credit for previous study, you can finish your degree in less than two years. Finish 6 months sooner if you have a Bachelor or Graduate Certificate in a related discipline, or 1 year sooner if you have a Bachelor (Honours) or Graduate Diploma in a related discipline.

Create a brighter future. JCU Master of Global Development graduates have the strong intercultural competencies and self-reflexivity required to work effectively and ethically in developing countries.

View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.

Career Opportunities

JCU Master of Global Development graduates are experts in their field and are highly sought-after in various local and global settings.

Graduates pursue careers in a range of industries, including national and international nongovernment organisations, government departments, local councils, multilateral organisations, global governance institutions, and research.

You could find employment as a leading advocate, business planner and developer, fundraiser, disaster recovery specialist, research officer, teacher, engineer, or health professional.

Handbook

Master of Global Development

Handbook year	2021
Course code	118204
Course type	Master (Coursework) (AQF Level 9)
Owner	Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
College	Science and Engineering

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Completion of an AQF level 7 Bachelor degree; or

Other qualifications or practical experience recognised by the Dean, College of Science and Engineering as equivalent to the above.

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Post admission
requirements

For external delivery option, computer and internet access is required

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

48 credit points

Course learning outcomes

On successful completion of the Master of Global Development, graduates will be able to:

Integrate and apply an advanced body of theoretical and technical knowledge in international development policy and practice, including recent developments in the field.
Critically reflect on one’s social and cultural positionality to identify biases and assumptions that inform understandings of poverty, development, inequality and wellbeing.
Investigate, analyse, synthesise and evaluate complex information, concepts and theories from a range of sources across relevant disciplines.
Plan and conduct ethical and reliable evidence-based field studies and execute a substantial research-based project, by selecting and applying methods, techniques and tools, as appropriate to development practice.
Communicate complex theoretical propositions, methodologies, development-related data, arguments and conclusions to specialist and non-specialist audiences through advanced written and oral English language skills and a variety of media.
Analyse, evaluate and generate solutions to complex social and environmental problems, especially related to tropical, remote or Indigenous contexts, by using high levels of initiative, autonomy, accountability and collaboration in the application of development practice knowledge and skills
Critically review regulatory requirements, ethical principles and cultural frameworks, to work effectively, responsibly and safely in diverse contexts.
Model professional leadership skills and work autonomously and collaboratively in the design, implementation and evaluation of development projects and policy-related initiatives.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

EV5951:03 Development in Practice

EV5952:03 Critical Issues in Global Development

WS5103:03 Community Development or EV5001:03 Environmental and Regional Planning

EV5953:03 Research Methods for Global Development

AN5006:03 Asia Pacific Development: Culture and Globalisation

PL5153:03 Politics and Foreign Relations

PLUS

Select one of the following Options

Option 1 (Research)

Students must achieve a GPA of 5.0 or above in the first year of study to be eligible to undertake this option

BU5950: 06 Research Project

BU5951: 06 Research Dissertation

PLUS

Select 18 credit points of subjects from List 1

Option 2 (Placement)

SC5009:12 Professional Project

PLUS

Select 18 credit points of subjects from List 1

Option 3 (Electives)

Select 30 credit points of subjects from List 1

LIST 1

Disaster resilience and natural resource management

EV5020:03 Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation

EV5209:03 Principles and Practices of Protected Area Management

EV5107:03 International Environmental Policy and Governance

EV5606:03 Disasters, Communities and Planning

EV5614:03 Leadership in Disaster Management

Public health

TM5502:03 Tropical Public Health

TM5514:03 Environmental Health

TM5536:03 Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies

TM5552:03 Global Health and Development

TM5562:03 Reproductive Health in Developing Countries

Sustainable development planning and policy

EV5001:03 Environmental and Regional Planning

EV5003:03 Environmental Economics

EV5010:03 Planning for Sustainable Communities in a Changing Environment

EV5015:03 Sustainability in Practice

EV5301:03 Urban Geography and Design

ED5913:03 Communicating Sustainability and Climate Change

BZ5755:03 Biodiversity and Climate Change: Impact, Mitigation and Adaptation

LB5229:03 Economics for a Sustainable World

Indigenous futures

IA5119:03 Empowerment and Change

IA5030:03 Navigating the Cultural Interface

Governance and social change

HI5005:03 Regional Environmental History

LB5231:03 Corporate Responsibility and Governance

LB5236:03 International Political Economy

PL5110:03 Shifting Geopolitical Environments in Emerging States

PL5006:03 Political Communication; Ecology and Environmentalism

Leadership and management for development

LB5205:03 People in Organisations

LB5241:03 Leadership

LB5514:03 Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution

LB5530:03 Conflict Resolution Processes

SC5007:06 Professional Project

SC5008:03 Professional Placement

The development researcher

AN5007:06 Ethnography in Practice

EC5202:03 Cost Benefit Analysis

EC5216:03 Econometrics and Big Data Analysis

EV5110:03 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

EV5404:03 Field Studies in Tropical Geography

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Cairns
External

Candidature

Expected time to complete	2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Maximum time to complete	6 years
Maximum leave of absence	2 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Course includes mandatory Fieldwork	No
Special assessment requirements	Must achieve a GPA of 5 or above in the first year of study to be eligible to undertake the 12 point research thesis
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure. Credit may also be granted for the following: AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a cognate* discipline; or graduate certificate or graduate diploma in a non-cognate discipline – up to 12 credit points AQF level 8 bachelor honours degree in a cognate* discipline with relevant professional experience** - up to 24 credit points * Cognate disciplines include: anthropology, geography, political science, international relations, area studies and social work ** Professional experience: Applicants must have a minimum two (2) years full-time employment in the field of Global Development, examples include: employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (or international equivalent), international nongovernment organisations (NGOs), indigenous organisations, local councils, social enterprises.
Maximum allowed	12 credit points, except where a student transfers from one JCU award to another, then credit may be granted for any subject where there is subject equivalence between the awards.
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 16 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	Not applicable

Award Details

Award title	MASTER OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
Approved abbreviation	MGlobDev
Exit with lesser award	Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed the relevant number of credit points and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive one of the following awards: Graduate Certificate of Global Development Graduate Diploma of Global Development
Special Awards	Where coursework is completed at a grade point average of 6 or above, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, on the recommendation of the College Dean of Science and Engineering may recommend the award of a Master of Global Development with Distinction

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD7,490.00

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD27,320.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

Student

Joyce Gehr

Master of Global Development

The Global Development program offered me a great blend of theoretical knowledge and opportunities for professional development through hands-on learning and work-placement opportunities. It truly made my postgraduate experience memorable, enriching, challenging and a worthwhile investment.
Student

Markus Kaufmann

Master of Global Development

Seeking a change of career, I have decided to enrol for the Master’s program as I liked how the course was organised and the option to include a professional placement. It has been a very interesting two semesters with eye-opening and thought-provoking contributions from very engaged lecturers and guests speakers.
Alumni

Rachel Young

Master of Global Development

Wanting a career change, I chose to study the Global Development program. The course has increased my perspective and critical understanding of what ‘development’ means and the realisation that social, political, economic and cultural inequalities are faced everywhere, not just in so-called ‘developing countries'.
Lecturer

Kearrin Sims

Course Coordinator, Global Development

The Global Development suite of courses is a university-wide study program that provides expertise and skills development across multiple sectors. You will acquire complex theoretical knowledge and the practical skills required to work locally, nationally or globally in a meaningful career.