Faculty of Education and Arts

Master of Social Change and Development

Program Code11233
Graduate LevelPostgraduate
Locations
UAC CodeUAC Website
CRICOS Code032756B
Contributing Schools and FacultiesFaculty of Business and Law

Economics, Politics & Tourism
Graduate School of Business

Faculty of Education and Arts

School of Education
School of Humanities and Social Science

Faculty of Health

School of Medicine and Public Health

Faculty of Science and Information Technology

School of Environmental and Life Sciences

Admission InstructionsHow to apply as a:
Program Award Rules and Schedules
Mode of delivery

Face to face on campus, Distance Learning: Information Technology based, Distance Learning: Paper based

Further InformationThe links provided under "Further Information" are to be read in addition to the approved program documentation, detailed below.

Back to topDescription

The program is designed to provide students who wish to pursue a career with government agencies, NGOs and private firms, with the knowledge and skills to understand the processes of social change and development and to improve their effectiveness as administrators, researchers, development planners, educators, or managers. As Australia engages more and more with developing countries in the region, there is a growing need for qualified professionals to work in the community development and policy analysis sectors of funded development projects and aid organisations.

While a base undergraduate degree in an area of relevant specialisation is useful for this kind of work, professionals in the field of international development need an understanding of the implications of wider social and political changes at a global level which affect local conditions and capacities. The program aims to equip professionals with advanced theoretical and applied knowledge, which can meet the challenges of development work in a rapidly changing global environment.

The Master of Social Change and Development is available in the following areas of interest.

  • Generic
  • Trade and Development
  • Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development
  • Organisational Leadership and Capacity Building

Back to topWhy study with us?

The University of Newcastle now has an established reputation, both nationally and internationally, as a provider of this high-quality postgraduate coursework program, the Master of Social Change and Development. The program has been in operation for eight years, with a continuously increasing number of participating students from Australia and the world. Students who have completed this program report very high levels of satisfaction in terms of the quality of the course, and the enhanced employment opportunities it offers upon graduation. International students find Newcastle a very safe and friendly environment for their University studies.

Back to topCareer Opportunities

Overseas Aid Organisations, Community Development, Local Government Capacity-Building, Ministry of Finance in a Developing Country, Sustainable Land Care.

Back to topStudy a language

All students can now enrol in an undergraduate Diploma in Languages alongside their main degree program. This diploma will enhance proficiency in another language or languages, and will increase international career opportunities. Subject to course availability, this additional program will generally add an extra year to studies, and students will graduate with a Diploma in Languages as well as their other degree. Please note that all language courses are held on campus (face to face) at Callaghan.

Back to topAdmission Requirements

Bachelor Degree in a field relevant to development studies, such as social sciences, community organisations, human resource management, politics, health, environmental studies, indigenous studies or agriculture. Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Social Change and Development will be eligible for 40 units of credit towards the Master of Social Change and Development award.

Admission to this program is available to Australian students, residents and international students. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/campaigns/postgrad/how-to-apply.html for information on how to gain entry.

Back to topAssumed Knowledge

Undergraduate degree in a relevant area.

Back to topCredit Transfer

If you wish to apply for credit for studies completed at another institution or if you are changing programs within the University and wish to transfer your credit to the new program go to https://intraweb.newcastle.edu.au/catso/pages/credittransferhome.aspx to apply online.

Students who have completed relevant studies may apply for up to 40 units of credit towards the Master of Social Change and Development.

Back to topInternational Students

International students must comply with the University of Newcastle's English language proficiency requirements. All International Students enrolled in the program will be provided with an orientation to familiarise them with the rules, expectations, facilities and services offered by the University. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/students/international/student-support/ to find out more about the support services available to international students.

Back to topSpecial Needs

Students with disabilities who require reasonable adjustments to undertake their program should contact the Disability Support Service before semester or early in the semester. Some adjustments need up to 4 weeks lead time to organise, so it is imperative that early contact is made. The Disability Support Service and relevant Faculty and School officers will work together to ensure reasonably adjustments are provided in a timely manner.

Please note: All students must fulfil the inherent requirements of the programs and courses they are undertaking. While reasonable adjustments can be made, these adjustments cannot compromise academic integrity. It is the student¿s responsibility to check all the requirements of courses, and consider the effects of any medical condition or disability on their ability to complete course requirements. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/disability/ for more information.

Back to topAdditional Information

All students can access additional learning development mechanisms provided by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/ctl/lsp/

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can draw on the assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Student Support and Development service through the Wollotuka Institute.

Back to topRequirements and Structure

The program can be completed over one year of full-time study or part-time equivalent. Please be aware that not all courses are offered in any one semester. The Faculty reserves the right not of to offer courses if there is insufficient demand. Some courses are offered on a trimester basis.

The program may be undertaken on campus or through distance learning. Please check timetable information for the availability of individual courses and their location of offer. All courses are offered at Masters level.

Qualification for the Master of Social Change and Development award requires completion of 80 units of coursework.

All specialisations in the Master of Social Change and Development require that students complete the core course, "Social Change and Development" - SOCA6570. In addition students will complete another 70 units of other courses. Requirements differ for each specialisation.

Students may graduate with one of the four following specialisations:

  • A Master of Social Change and Development (the generic specialisation); Or
  • A Master of Social Change and Development with a specialisation in Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development; Or
  • A Master of Social Change and Development with a specialisation in Organisational Leadership and Capacity Building; Or
  • A Master of Social Change and Development with a specialisation in Trade and Development.

To understand how the courses listed under "Course Information" (below) are put together to create each specialisation, students are advised to consult the "Enrolment Grid" - use the link next to the heading "Further Information" (above). This heading can be found on the left hand side in the first section of this web page for the Master of Social Change and Development. That will take you to a pdf file which you should print out before you start to make your choices from the lists of courses that follows. Note that the lists for Compulsory Courses (if required), Directed Courses, Key Topics and Specialist Studies are different for each specialisation - these lists are provided below under each specialisation.

Back to topCourse Information

Back to topCore Courses
Complete the following core courses to fulfil the requirements of this program.
SOCA6570Social Change and DevelopmentSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Back to topFood Security and Sustainable Rural Development Specialisation
Compulsory Courses
Complete the following compulsory courses to fulfil the requirements of this specialisation.
SOCA6590Environmental Issues and their Social ContextNot offered in 201010 units
Directed Courses
Choose 20 units from Directed Courses (Key Topics) - up to 30 units may be chosen.
ECON6430Issues in Developing EconomiesSemester 1 (Callaghan)10 units
SOCA6240Social Program EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6640Social Science Research MethodsSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Choose 30 units from Directed Courses (Specialist Studies) - up to 40 units may be chosen.
ECON6440Economic Planning and Project EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)10 units
ENVS6500Business & Natural EnvironmentTrimester 1 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6510Environmental Legislation and PolicyTrimester 2 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6525Sustainability and Ecosystem HealthTrimester 2 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6530Environmental ManagementTrimester 3 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6545Impact Assessment and Climate Change PolicyTrimester 3 (GradSchool)10 units
GSBS6484Corporate Governance & Social ResponsibilityTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (Singapore)
Trimester 2 (GradSchool)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
SOCA6440Supervised Reading 1Semester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6550Management Sociology: International PerspectivesNot offered in 201010 units
SOCA6670Social Change and Development Research ProjectSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
20 units
SWRK6008Capacity Building in the Human ServicesSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
SWRK6200Transformative Leadership in Human ServicesSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Back to topGeneric Specialisation
Directed Courses
Choose 20 units from Directed Courses (Key Topics) - up to 30 units may be chosen.
ECON6430Issues in Developing EconomiesSemester 1 (Callaghan)10 units
SOCA6240Social Program EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6640Social Science Research MethodsSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Choose 40 units from Directed Courses (Specialist Studies) - up to 50 units may be chosen.
ECON6440Economic Planning and Project EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)10 units
ECON6450Applied Policy AnalysisSemester 1 (Callaghan)10 units
EDUC6032Introduction to Educational AdministrationSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6035Administrative Behaviour & Educational ManagementSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6049Educational Research Methodology 2: QualitativeSemester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6050Educational Research Methodology 1: QuantitativeSemester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
ENVS6500Business & Natural EnvironmentTrimester 1 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6510Environmental Legislation and PolicyTrimester 2 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6525Sustainability and Ecosystem HealthTrimester 2 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6530Environmental ManagementTrimester 3 (GradSchool)10 units
ENVS6545Impact Assessment and Climate Change PolicyTrimester 3 (GradSchool)10 units
GECO6400Macroeconomic Policy in the Asia-PacificTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
GECO6410Economics of Competitive AdvantageTrimester 1 (Sydney CBD)
Trimester 1 (GradSchool)
Block 2 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 2 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (Singapore)
Block 5 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 3 (Sydney CBD)
Trimester 3 (GradSchool)
10 units
GECO6420International Trade and InvestmentTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
GECO6470Money and BankingTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
GSBS6040Human Resource ManagementNot offered in 201010 units
GSBS6055International Human Resource ManagementTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (GradSchool)
10 units
GSBS6070Principles of LeadershipTrimester 1 (GradSchool)
Trimester 2 (Singapore)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
GSBS6100Negotiation and AdvocacyNot offered in 201010 units
GSBS6110Organisational EffectivenessTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
GSBS6200Accounting and Financial ManagementTrimester 1 (Singapore)
Block 1 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 1 (GradSchool)
Trimester 2 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (Sydney CBD)
Block 4 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (GradSchool)
10 units
GSBS6484Corporate Governance & Social ResponsibilityTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (Singapore)
Trimester 2 (GradSchool)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
SOCA6100International Health: Cross-cultural and critical social science perspectivesSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6190Gender and Social ChangeSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6440Supervised Reading 1
Not to be taken in first semester of program.
Semester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6550Management Sociology: International PerspectivesNot offered in 201010 units
SOCA6590Environmental Issues and their Social ContextNot offered in 201010 units
SOCA6670Social Change and Development Research Project
Not to be taken in first semester of program.
Semester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
20 units
SOCA6680Food Sociology: Understanding the Social AppetiteNot offered in 201010 units
SWRK6008Capacity Building in the Human ServicesSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
SWRK6200Transformative Leadership in Human ServicesSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Back to topOrganisational Leadership and Capacity Building Specialisation
Compulsory Courses
Complete the following compulsory courses to fulfil the requirements of this specialisation.
SWRK6008Capacity Building in the Human ServicesSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
SWRK6200Transformative Leadership in Human ServicesSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Directed Courses
Choose 20 units from Directed Courses (Key Topics) - up to 30 units may be chosen.
ECON6430Issues in Developing EconomiesSemester 1 (Callaghan)10 units
SOCA6240Social Program EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6640Social Science Research MethodsSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Choose 20 units from Directed Courses (Specialist Studies) - up to 30 units may be chosen.
ECON6440Economic Planning and Project EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)10 units
ECON6450Applied Policy AnalysisSemester 1 (Callaghan)10 units
EDUC6017Organisational Behaviour and Managing PeopleSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6018Information Technologies and EducationSemester 1 (GradSchool)10 units
EDUC6019Instructional Leadership and Program EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6020Operating Contexts of Educational ManagementSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6032Introduction to Educational AdministrationSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6033Educational Administration: Theory and PracticeSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6034Leading Educational ChangeSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6035Administrative Behaviour & Educational ManagementSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6049Educational Research Methodology 2: QualitativeSemester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
EDUC6050Educational Research Methodology 1: QuantitativeSemester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
ENVS6530Environmental ManagementTrimester 3 (GradSchool)10 units
GECO6420International Trade and InvestmentTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
GECO6470Money and BankingTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
GSBS6040Human Resource ManagementNot offered in 201010 units
GSBS6055International Human Resource ManagementTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (GradSchool)
10 units
GSBS6070Principles of LeadershipTrimester 1 (GradSchool)
Trimester 2 (Singapore)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
GSBS6100Negotiation and AdvocacyNot offered in 201010 units
GSBS6110Organisational EffectivenessTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
GSBS6200Accounting and Financial ManagementTrimester 1 (Singapore)
Block 1 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 1 (GradSchool)
Trimester 2 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (Sydney CBD)
Block 4 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (GradSchool)
10 units
GSBS6484Corporate Governance & Social ResponsibilityTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (Singapore)
Trimester 2 (GradSchool)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
SOCA6190Gender and Social ChangeSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6440Supervised Reading 1Semester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6590Environmental Issues and their Social ContextNot offered in 201010 units
SOCA6670Social Change and Development Research Project
Not to be taken in first semester of program.
Semester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
20 units
Back to topTrade and Development Specialisation
Compulsory Courses
Complete the following compulsory courses to fulfil the requirements of this specialisation.
ECON6430Issues in Developing EconomiesSemester 1 (Callaghan)10 units
GECO6420International Trade and InvestmentTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
SOCA6240Social Program EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6640Social Science Research MethodsSemester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
Directed Courses
Choose 30 units from the following Directed Courses.
ECON6440Economic Planning and Project EvaluationSemester 2 (Callaghan)10 units
ECON6450Applied Policy AnalysisSemester 1 (Callaghan)10 units
ENVS6510Environmental Legislation and PolicyTrimester 2 (GradSchool)10 units
GECO6400Macroeconomic Policy in the Asia-PacificTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
GECO6410Economics of Competitive AdvantageTrimester 1 (Sydney CBD)
Trimester 1 (GradSchool)
Block 2 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 2 (City Precinct)
Trimester 3 (Singapore)
Block 5 (Hong Kong)
Trimester 3 (Sydney CBD)
Trimester 3 (GradSchool)
10 units
GECO6470Money and BankingTrimester 2 (City Precinct)10 units
GSBS6484Corporate Governance & Social ResponsibilityTrimester 1 (City Precinct)
Trimester 2 (Singapore)
Trimester 2 (GradSchool)
Trimester 3 (City Precinct)
10 units
SOCA6190Gender and Social ChangeSemester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6440Supervised Reading 1Semester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
10 units
SOCA6670Social Change and Development Research Project
Not to be taken in first semester of program.
Semester 1 (Callaghan)
Semester 1 (GradSchool)
Semester 2 (Callaghan)
Semester 2 (GradSchool)
20 units