Postgraduate Coursework in the Department of Anthropology

Development Studies

Degree Director:
Dr. Neil Maclean

Room 231 RC Mills Building, A26
+612 9351 2931

Overview

In the contemporary world we face unprecedented challenges to our capacity to live with change and to manage that change towards ethically, economically, environmentally and politically sustainable ends – the process of development. The core units of the program are designed around providing an overview of a range of critical debates and perspectives on development, its intellectual, political and policy history and contemporary key debates. These core units provide the perspective from which more specific choices, reflecting individual interests and careers, of elective units of study are made. A strength of the program at the University of Sydney is the broad range of participating programs. You may choose your electives with a particular focus: a distinctive perspective on development (Peace and Conflict Studies, Human Rights); a particular substantive issue (Poverty, Public Health, International Trade, Governance, Education); a particular technical expertise (economics, public policy); a regional focus (Asia, the Pacific, Australia). The program is not dedicated to a particular approach to development and nor is the core of the degree organised around issues of program development, management and evaluation. There are however Units of Study available on project and policy development in the participating Public Policy and International Public Health programs. The degree has been developed with the view that involvement in development is always about bringing to bear specific technical skills and/or local/regional knowledge and/or personal networks on particular development issues. But for those skills, knowledges, relationships to be effectively mobilised a critical understanding of the contested contexts and histories of development itself is required. Most commonly the lack of such understanding leads to ineffectiveness, or indeed harm rather than good, and disillusionment on all sides. This program is focussed on developing a critical and productive understanding of those contested histories and contemporary contexts.

Degree Structures

The Masters Degree
48 credit points comprising FOUR core units (24 credit points) and 24 credit points of elective units. May be completed in a minimum of 2 semesters.

The Graduate Diploma
36 credit points comprising THREE core units (18 credit points) and 18 credit points of electives. May be completed in a minimum of 2 semesters.

The Graduate Certificate
24 credit points comprising TWO core units (12 credit points) and 12 credit points of electives. May only be available on a part time basis to be completed in minimum of 2 semesters.

Qualifications for admission

Applicants must have completed an approved Bachelor's degree with an undergraduate major (3 years or equivalent) in a related discipline

OR

An approved Bachelor's degree in any field and two years’ documented relevant work experience in the field of development.
It is generally expected that applicants seeking admission to the masters degree will have completed their undergraduate degree at at least a Credit (GPA 3.0) level. Relevant work experience will however be taken into account in assessing applications.

All applicants should include a letter outlining the relevance of past experience and study to the program and their expectations of the program.

Core Units of Study

The Core units:

• DVST6901 Development: Critical Perspectives A (Semester 1)
• DVST6902 Development: Critical Perspectives B (Semester 2)
• GOVT6125 Politics of the World Economy (Semester 2)

A choice of:

• ECOP 6130 Human Rights and International Development (Semester 1)
• SCLG6911 Human Rights Advocacy and Strategy (Semester 2)

Core Unit Timetable

Development Studies Core Unit Timetable

Elective Units of Study

Elective units may be drawn from the programs listed below. Please note that not all units of study in these programs have been approved for Development Studies and students may need to seek permission to enrol. Units of Study from other programs may be selected subject to appropriate permission.

IMPORTANT: As this is an interdisciplinary program that spans a range of faculties in the University of Sydney not all elective units of study have the same cost structure. In particular the cost of units of study taken outside the Faculty of Arts should be checked.

Timetable Information for elective units of study may be found linked to the program web-pages below.

Development Studies Participating Programs:

Dedicated Development Studies elective offered in 2009:
      DVST6904 Rethinking Poverty

Anthropology:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/anthro/postgrad/coursework.shtml
Coordinator:

Asian Studies:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/asianstudies/postgraduate/2009_pgcw_asianstudies_asian_dc043.htm
Coordinator:

Cross-cultural communication:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/linguistics/postgrad/coursework/mcrosscomm.shtml
Coordinator: Prof. William Foley:

Economics:
http://www.econ.usyd.edu.au/course/FC050
[Please note that all ECON6000 level units of study have ECON 5001 or 5002 as prerequisites]. These units of study require a minimum of 2-unit maths at the HSC level (final year of high school).
Initial contact for advice: Student Information Office -

Human Rights:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/ssp/postgraduate/2009_pgcw_ssp_human_dc055.htm
Coordinator: to be advised.

Indigenous Health (a stream of the Master of Health Sciences)
http://www.fhs.usyd.edu.au/future_students/masters/specialised_stream_indigenous_health.shtml
For enquiries about this course please contact the Master of Health Sciences, administration unit at

International Business:
http://www.econ.usyd.edu.au/course/FC038
Initial contact for advice: Student Information Office -

International Education:
http://www.edsw.usyd.edu.au/future_students/postgraduate/med/international.shtml
Units from this program only available in distance mode
Coordinator: Prof. Anthony Welch:

International Public Health:
http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/future/coursework/internatpublichealth/uos.php#electives
Note that many MIPH electives are only 4cp OR 2cp Units of Study. The Development Studies degrees are structured around 6cp Units of Study. Students would need to take a combination of one 4cp and one 2cp Unit of Study OR three 4cp units of study to fit with the structure of the degree.
Coordinator: Dr. Michael Dibley:

International studies:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/government/postgraduate/2009_pgcw_government_government_dc060.htm
Coordinator: Dr. Lily Rahim -

Peace and Conflict Studies:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/centres/cpacs/teach/unitsofstudy.shtml
Coordinator: Dr. Wendy Lambourne -

Political Economy:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/political/postgraduate/2009_pgcw_political_political_dc066.htm
Coordinator: Dr Tim Anderson -

Public Policy
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/government/postgraduate/2009_pgcw_government_publicpolicy_dc058.htm
Coordinator: Dr. Lily Rahim -

Sociology and Social Policy:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/ssp/postgraduate/2009_pgcw_ssp_sociology_dc208.htm
Coordinator: Dr. Karl Maton -

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply?
International students should consult the following web-page:
http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/international/postgrad/apply/apply.shtml
Local Students and Permanent Residents should consult:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/future_students/PGcoursework/admission.shtml

What are the costs of the degree and are there any scholarships available?
Information on fees and scholarships for local students can be found at:
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/future_students/PGcoursework/costs.shtml
Information on fees and scholarships for international students can be found at:
http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/international/postgrad/costs/index.shtml
IMPORTANT: As this is an interdisciplinary program that spans a range of faculties in the University of Sydney not all elective units of study have the same cost structure. In particular the cost of units of study taken outside the Faculty of Arts should be checked. This can mean that the overall cost of the degree is variable.

What are the career prospects?
The program is now entering its fifth year. Many students involved in the program, whether on a part or full time basis or as international or local students, are already employed or involved in development oriented organizations (International agencies such as branches of the United Nations, non-government organizations, branches of national government). The degree has served to both enhance career development prospects and broaden their perspective on their role in those organizations. Others have linked the degree to established skills (e.g land and environmental management) and knowledge (anthropology of indigenous Australia) to find jobs indigenous non-government organizations. Other have gone on take substantial volunteer roles in International Development Agencies (e.g. Community Aid Abroad) which are one conventional pathway to careers in such agencies.

Is the degree offered in distance mode?
The core units of the course are not offered in distance mode. One program from which elective units may be taken, The Master of International Education, is a fully distance education program. Some elective units from other programs such as Peace and Conflict Studies may also be taken in distance mode.

Can the degree be taken both part time and full time?
The course can be done part time and full time. At some point you would need to be able to do two units of study in one semester to complete a part time degree. Units of study are mostly taught as two hour blocks scheduled from 4pm in the afternoon on. Two of the core units are scheduled at 4pm and then many students go on to do another unit immediately following in the 6-8pm slot.

Can I start the degree in second semester?
Yes. No core unit of study is a prerequisite for the others. Some combinations of elective units may have prerequisites and students should make sure they have read the unit of study requirements carefully.

What is the workload?
Workload per unit of study is about 6-8 hours per week on top of the contact hours per unit of study. So a full time workload is in the region of 40 hours per week.

Does the degree have a regional focus:
Given the nature of the University’s regional engagements the range of electives across the degree tend to have an Asian Pacific focus. Having said that a significant comparative perspective on the African and Latin American experience is accommodated in both the Critical Perspectives A and B core units of study. In past classes there have been significant clusters of students with an African, a Latin-American and a Pacific focus along with South-Asia, South-East Asia, East Asia, the Pacific and Indigenous Australia.

Is it possible for field experience to be credited towards the degree?
There is no provision for crediting field experience, but every expectation that that experience will inform choice of options and the way you develop research oriented assessment in a number of the units of study. A strength of the program is the diverse background and experience of the students.

Does the University of Sydney require GRE scores for graduate admissions?
GRE scores are not relevant to the graduate admission process in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney.

Is there a research masters or PhD program in Development Studies?
There is currently no PhD program specifically in Development Studies.