Master of Aboriginal Studies

Degree Level Postgraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
City West

Duration
2 year(s) full-time

Program Code
DMAL

SATAC Code
4CM130 (Internal)
4CM138 (Internal)
4CM139 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Mode
On-campus/Online

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry requirements

Applicants must have completed a three-year Bachelor degree in any discipline or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution.

Applicants who have completed a Bachelor degree or a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal or indigenous studies are eligible to enter the program with 0.5 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1.5 years of full time study or equivalent part time study.

Applicants who have completed a Graduate Diploma in Aboriginal or indigenous studies are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study.

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Aim

The Master of Aboriginal Studies degree qualifies students with the skills and understandings which will enable
them to work effectively as professionals in a range of indigenous contexts and appropriate theoretical
frameworks within which they are able to apply understandings and critical analysis gained from studying
courses that provide Aboriginal world views.

Content & Structure

Graduates of a Master of Aboriginal Studies will have a body of knowledge of the recent developments in Aboriginal worldviews through post-colonial and critical theories, and the knowledge of research and project management principles and methods applicable to working with the various indigenous groups.

This program forms part of a nested suite of programs consisting of 72 units as follows: Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies:18 units comprising four 4.5 unit courses; Graduate Diploma in Aboriginal Studies which consists of a further 18 units; Master of Aboriginal Studies: 36 units which involve negotiating and completing a research project within an Aboriginal context on a topic deemed to be important to Aboriginal people or the completion of a minor thesis.

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What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
Cultural Competency: Challenging Racism in Australian and Indigenous Contexts	SOCU 5018	4.5		Rule(s): 1,2
Law and Land	SOCU 5013	4.5		Rule(s): 1,2
Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing	SOCU 5011	4.5		Rule(s): 1,2
Australian Indigenous Languages, Identity and Belonging	SOCU 5017	4.5		Rule(s): 1,2
Aboriginal Futures	SOCU 5010	4.5		Rule(s): 2
Rebuilding Aboriginal Nations	HUMS 5049	4.5		Rule(s): 2
Indigenous Perspectives on Globalisation	SOCU 5012	4.5		Rule(s): 2
Aboriginal Studies Master Class	SOCU 5020	4.5	Note(s): 5	Rule(s): 2
SECOND YEAR
Aboriginal Research Methods and Ethics	SOCU 6001	9
Pitjantjatjara Culture and Language	LANG 5029	4.5	Note(s): 4
Elective		4.5	Note(s): 2
Research Thesis 1	SOCU 5023	9	Note(s): 3
Research Thesis 2	SOCU 5024	9	Note(s): 3

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units

People, Leadership and Performance	BUSS 5114	4.5
Managing Across Cultures	BUSS 5349	4.5
Community Partnerships	ENVT 5034	4.5
Social Work and Policy Practice	WELF 5099	4.5
Aboriginal Education, Culture, Curriculum and Change	EDUC 5140	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Applicants who have completed a Bachelor degree or a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal or Indigenous studies are eligible to enter the program with 0.5 EFTSL (18 units) Advanced Standing in lieu of these courses and complete the program in 1.5 years of full time study or equivalent part time study.

2. Applicants who have completed a Graduate Diploma in Aboriginal or Indigenous studies are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL (36 units) Advanced Standing in lieu of these courses and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study.

Notes

1. Students will be supported in their negotiations with workplaces, community groups and organisations regarding their Thesis.

2. The Elective is selected from those listed above; other postgraduate elective courses may be approved by the Program Director. In consultation with the Program Director students may choose an elective in a field related to their topic of research.

3. The thesis to be undertaken must be negotiated with the appropriate Aboriginal people/community/organisation to determine whether the issue being investigated addresses their concerns and is deemed to fit with their priorities and aspirations. The thesis must meet the ethics approval and research design requirements and procedures of the relevant Aboriginal people; it must also meet the ethics approval and research design requirements and procedures of the University of South Australia.

4. Students not undertaking Pitjantjatjara Culture and Language can undertake an elective from those listed.

5. The Aboriginal Studies Master Class is a two day intensive led by leading Aboriginal scholars and international Indigenous researchers. If this course is not offered in any given year the students may take an approved elective in lieu.