This program is offered by the School of Social Sciences and provides postgraduate preparation for education and service in social development. It includes study in social and community development theory and practice, social policy in development, program management and evaluation and specialised studies in international, community and refugee development.

The program is designed to address the continuing education needs of specialists in social development as well as to provide a general orientation to social and community development for professionals wanting to enter the field.

The Master of Social Development is offered full-time and part-time, with a minimum length of 1 full-time year. The elective projects may be completed off-shore. The program requires the completion of 48 units of credit in core and elective courses.

Students may take one of the following Social Development program plans:

The overall goal of this program is to offer a graduate degree in social development practice with an international focus. By the end of the program candidates can expect to have substantial knowledge and a range of skills related to the planning, delivery and evaluation of programs relevant to international social community development, aid work and human rights. The program is based on a social justice philosophy, a human rights framework and a community development approach.

The overall goal of this program is to offer a graduate degree in social development practice with a focus on refugees and other displaced persons. By the end of the program candidates can expect to have substantial knowledge and a range of skills related to the planning, delivery and evaluation of programs relevant to international and local social and community development work with refugees and other displaced persons. The program is based on a social justice philosophy, a human rights framework and a community development approach.

This plan provides postgraduate preparation for education and service in community development. It includes study in social and community development theory and practice, social policy in development, program management and evaluation and specialised studies in areas of community development. It is designed to address the continuing education needs of specialists in this field as well as to provide a general orientation for those wanting to enter this field. The program is based on a social justice philosophy, a human rights framework and and a community development.

For details of individual plans, please click on the areas of specialisation links below:

Please refer to Program Structure for the Academic Requirements relating to this program.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

A Bachelor degree with credit average from UNSW or equivalent and one year's experience in a relevant field are required. A letter expressing interest and background and a CV are required also.

The MA forms part of an approved sequence of articulated programs comprising the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters degree in the same area of specialisation. A postgraduate student enrolled in an articulated program may progress from Graduate Certificate to Graduate Diploma to Masters level with full credit for courses completed in earlier programs in the sequence.