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Bachelor of Arts (Community Development)
UndergraduateMUR-CDV-DEG2020
Course information for 2020 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Delve into what community means and how we live
Study social justice, community issues, institutions (family, work, law) and social issues (gender, race, unemployment, health, welfare, deviance and social control). Apply your learning to community groups, government departments and not-for-profits.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 23
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Arts (Community Development)
About this degree
At the completion of this degree students will be able to:
- demonstrate substantive knowledge of the history, scope and diversity of community development literature, policy and practice
- formulate clear and persuasive written and spoken communication for community and professional audiences using a range of appropriate styles and formats
- develop and manage projects of increasing complexity that respond to the needs of community groups, working both independently and collaboratively
- recognise and demonstrate knowledge of practices used to build projects that propose solutions that confront communities
- apply a range of disciplinary approaches and social skills that are used in work in cross-cultural and diverse communities.
Working with community is often complex and demands sophisticated skills and ‘artfulness’. Often, we need to balance a clear head, soft heart, kindness, emotional and social maturity and ethical strength. Although many think that working with community comes naturally there is much to learn and good practitioners are in great demand. Success comes to those who possess a combination of wisdom, high-end knowledge of relationships, considerable diplomacy, tenderness and ‘smarts’.
This degree takes you to ‘living’ examples of community development, introduces you to other people’s ideas about what works and has you thinking and talking about what you see and read. The Community Development major gives you the chance to undertake an internship in a community-based setting, and encourages you to extend your repertoire and build your imagination for how things could be different for communities around the globe.
This course is ideal for people seeking to work with community in a range of settings including local government, not-for-profit organisations, Aboriginal Community, community arts centres, social service organisations, and the resources sector.
Recommended study pattern
To get the most from this degree, students are recommended to follow these steps:
LEVEL 1 (total of 24 points)
- ART101 Coming into Community (6cp)
- SUS100 Introduction to Sustainable Development (3cp)
- COD125 Introduction to Community Development (3cp)
- MSP100 Career Learning: Managing Your Career (3cp)
- Complete 9 credit points (3 subjects) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subject
LEVEL 2 (total of 24 points)
- BAR200 Developing Research Skills and Methods (3cp)
- COD201 Stories of Doing Community Work (3cp)
- COD214 Social Policy and Community Action (3cp)
- SUS207 Overseas Aid and International Development (3cp)
- MSP200 Building Enterprise Skills (3cp)
- Complete 9 credit points (3 subjects) of Level 2 or 3 General Electives from any OUA subject.
LEVEL 3 (total of 24 points)
- ART202 The Weight of Data (3cp)
- ART201 Global Citizenship (3cp)
- COD301 Indigenous Community Development (3cp)
- COD302 Creative Ways to Work with Community (3cp)
- SUS310 Sustainable Urban Communities (3cp)
- Choose 1 of the core subjects below:
- ART208 Presenting in Public: Writing and Performing for Professional Contexts (3cp) OR
- COD303 Preparing for Professional Community Practice (3cp)
- Complete 6 credit points (2 subjects) of level 2 or 3 General Electives from any OUA subject.
Award requirements
To qualify for the Murdoch University Bachelor of Arts (Community Development) students must complete 72 credit points (23 subjects).
The Murdoch Degree Framework
(72 Points of Credit: 24 points core, 24 points major, 24 points options)
A Murdoch University degree is structured around four key elements:- Murdoch Career Spine (Core)
- Required Degree Subjects (Core)
- Required Major Subjects (Major)
- General Elective Subjects (Options)
Degree Structures
Murdoch’s degree structures combine all the required elements to make a student knowledgeable, experienced, confident and successful within a chosen career. Each level of an undergraduate degree requires 24 credit points, the equivalent of a year of full-time study.Choose your subjects
Electives
Options (General Electives) – 8 subjects (24 credit points)
- Complete 3 subjects (9 credit points) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subjects
- Complete 5 subjects (15 credit points) of Level 2 points or 3 General Electives from any OUA subjects.
Select from any subjects offered by OUA, subject to individual subject prerequisites. Students who are considering a second major are advised to consider using General Elective points (from Murdoch offerings) to meet the requirements of a second major.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Students are recommended to Register with Murdoch University before starting their Level 2 subjects to receive enrolment advice.
A fee of $250 is payable on registration.
To obtain an Application for Registration Form, please download the form from this website:
http://our.murdoch.edu.au/OUA/Forms/Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
Changes to Bachelor of Arts degree at Murdoch University in 2020
The Bachelor of Arts has undergone a major change in 2020.
- Those students already progressing towards the Bachelor of Arts (Community Development), Bachelor of Arts (International Aid and Development), or Bachelor of Arts (Sustainable Development) will encounter some structural changes.
- Those students already progressing towards the Bachelor of Arts (Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism major) will be transitioned into the new Bachelor of Global Security (Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies).
The revisions to the Bachelor of Arts degree structure will not place any extra requirements on existing students in terms of completing your degree and graduating on time. If you have already completed a subject that is going to be discontinued you will still receive credit for it, and be considered to have met that requirement for the degree - there will be no need for you to take the subject that is replacing it.
Bachelor of Arts (Community Development) Recommended Study/Transition Plan (PDF, 158Kb)
If you have any queries about any of these changes, you can ask a question in Murdoch’s ‘MyAnswers’ (https://myanswers.custhelp.com/), providing your student number and identifying your degree (or intended degree). You can also contact Murdoch via phone:1300 687 3624 and email: studentcentre@murdoch.edu.au.
You may also directly contact the Academic Chair of the degree in which you wish to graduate.
- Academic Chair for Community Development major: Mr Cameron Tero - c.tero@murdoch.edu.au / Tel: +61 8 93692992
- Academic Chair for International Aid and Development, and Sustainable Development majors: Mr Allan Johnstone - A.Johnstone@Murdoch.edu.au / Tel: +61 8 93606278
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $21,513
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.
Learn more about Murdoch University.
Explore Murdoch courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 31
Entry requirements
Transferring from another degree or university
If you have successfully completed university studies equivalent to at least 2 subjects (6 Murdoch credit points) you can apply to transfer to Murdoch University using your previous studies.
For all other minimum entry requirements and pathways, please refer to the course you are interested in on https://search.murdoch.edu.au/s/search.html?collection=mu-course-search.
Successful completion of 2 subjects at Open Universities Australia (OUA), or an Australian University.
School leavers gain an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) from four degree subjects completed during Year 12, or OP (Overall Positions) in Queensland.
To apply to Murdoch University after Year 12, you must achieve English competency and have achieved your WA Certificate of Education (WACE) or its interstate equivalent along with the ATAR (or OP) relevant for your chosen degree.
An ATAR of 70.00 or higher (or a Queensland Overall Position of 14 or less) is required for admission to a Commonwealth Support Place in this degree.
If you have successfully completed a Certificate IV or higher you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place.
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
- STAT is a national test for mature age people designed to assess aptitude for learning in a tertiary environment. It is not a test of your knowledge on specific academic subjects. It is recognised in all Australian states. You must achieve a minimum of 140 in the Written English and 135 in the Qualitative or Multiple Choice sections of the STAT to gain entry to Murdoch.
- Completed secondary education more than two years ago
- Enabling Programs
- Murdoch Institute of Technology - http://www.murdochinstitute.wa.edu.au/
- STAT preparation course - Applicant needs to sit the STAT after the course is completed.
- Murdoch University OnTrack / OnTrack Sprint / FlexiTrack - If you have successfully completed Murdoch University's OnTrack or Flexitrack program you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place. Details are available at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/OnTrack/ and https://www.open.edu.au/degrees/flexitrack-murdoch-university-mur-ftk-deg
Additional information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/Kulbardi/
- International Students - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/how-to-apply
- For further admission information about this degree, please refer to Murdoch Admission Information - Arts
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
To demonstrate English language competency you will need a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR English, Literature or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD).
Find out if you are eligible and apply at https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/recognition-of-prior-learning.
Study method requirements
Proof of Australian citizenship is required. Please upload a scanned copy of your birth certificate or Australian passport or citizenship certificate along with your application.
Career opportunities
Careers in local government, community services, remote area education, Indigenous community development, resource industry community relations, community arts and cultural development, overseas aid work, sustainable development, welfare and human services, disability services, urban planning, social policy and regional development.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Legislators | N/A^ | N/A^ |
| Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
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You have total control over how you study
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When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
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You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.