About Community Development (BA)

Community Development is for anyone who wants to change, improve, help and enhance the conditions and circumstances of community groups. Community Development is an approach to working with communities that emphasises improving and enhancing the conditions and circumstances of community members. It is about building and sustaining strong communities and helping members identify and obtain resources to deal with problems and aspirations. For example, you could end up working with youth, developing programs to help people get off the streets or integrate back into society, helping struggling families or building better relationships between communities and State Government.

Study in Community Development will give you valuable knowledge and understanding of the issues that affect community members and community groups. It will provide you with a strong understanding of specific social institutions such as the family, work, and the law, contemporary social issues such as social, gender and racial inequality, unemployment, health and welfare, social deviance and social control and how these affect people’s lives in a community context. If you want to be in high demand for your knowledge and understanding of community issues then the community development course is for you.

What can I do with my Community Development degree?

Community Development projects have been established by community services and welfare groups, churches, Aboriginal communities, local governments, people committed to sustainable development, self-help groups, artists, women’s organisations and self-help groups, among many others. As a Community Development graduate you can choose to pursue a role in a similar organisation.

Alternatively, some professions you could consider include Social Worker; Sociologist; Public Administrator; Social Work Planner/Social Policy Makers; Mental Health Counsellor; School Counsellor; Overseas Aid Worker. Note that you may need additional training in areas such as Education. Some of your potential employers may be:

• The Department of Immigration
• Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
• Universities
• Schools
• Department of Community Services

• Download the flyer for this course.

How to apply:

Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.

Domestic student applications:

If you would like to apply for this course you can now:

• Apply online
• Apply through TISC
• Download an application form

International student applications:

If you would like to apply for this course you can now:

• Apply online
• Download an application form

Course details

Length of course	3 years full-time internal study or part - time equivalent. Available fully externally Please note that international students can only study full-time
International fee information	2008 fees per 24 points - $15,250
Location	South Street Campus
Murdoch course code	B1180
TISC code	MUJDC (South Street) MRJDC (Rockingham)
TER cut- off for 2008	South Street 72.80 or country equivalent Rockingham N/A
STAT score	>145
Information on course units	Link to handbook entry

Recommended TEE subjects

We don’t have prerequisite subjects for any of our courses as we are a strong promoter of a well rounded education. However, remember that you will need to demonstrate competence in English, normally through passing either English or English Literature or by getting a sufficiently high score in ESL.

Course Structure

Year 1

Foundation Unit
All new first year students take a Foundation Unit. These are designed so you have some idea what’s going on, because, let’s face it, you may never have been to uni before!

Core Units
You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.

• Introduction to Community Development
• Individual vs Society in a Global Age
• Understanding Everyday Life: Living Under Pressure

General Electives
You must take these units to have enough units to graduate. General Electives give you the flexibility to learn from a variety of different areas. Select four units offered by the university, subject to individual unit prerequisites.

• For a full course structure download the course flyer

Suggested Double Majors

To take a double major students simply take the core units from another major in place of their general elective units. Some recommended double majors are:

• Asian Studies;
• Australian Indigenous Studies;
• Legal Studies;
• Politics and International Studies;
• Psychology;
• Public Policy and Management;
• Sociology;
• Sustainable Development;
• Theology;
• Tourism;
• Gender and Cultural Studies.

What are my Career Options?

As a Murdoch Community Development graduate, your employment outlook is bright, especially if you combine it with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your Murdoch degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. The following are some professions to consider, including extra majors and minors that will improve your prospects of achieving them.

Professions	What they do	Suggested double majors
Ordained Minister / Priest / Spirituality Counsellor	These Counsellors are able to empathise with people of different belief systems and different cultural groups. They are able to understand the dynamics of social justice and equity and appreciate the significance of the spiritual experience.	Theology Philosophy Psychology
Social Worker	This job is for those with a strong desire to help improve people’s lives. Social Workers help people function the best way they can in their environment, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. They often deal with people who face a life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, a serious illness, a disability, or substance abuse.	Theology Australian Indigenous Studies Psychology Gender and Cultural Studies Sociology
Sociologist	Sociologists study society and social behaviour by examining the groups and social institutions people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organisations. They also study the behaviour of, and interaction among, groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyse the influence of group activities on individual members. Sociologists are concerned with the characteristics of social groups, organisations, and institutions; the ways individuals are affected by each other and by the groups to which they belong; and the effect of social traits such as gender, age, or race on a person's daily life. The results of sociological research aid educators, lawmakers, administrators, and others who are interested in resolving social problems and formulating public policy.	Sociology Theology Gender and Cultural Studies Politics and International Studies History Philosophy
Psychologist / Mental Health Counsellor	Mental Health Counsellors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote optimum mental health. They are trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address a wide range of issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital or other relationship problems. Mental Health Counsellors often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counsellors.	Psychology Philosophy Theology Sociology

• See our careers sheet for a full list of career options for this study area