Master of International Development with Specialisation in Security and Governance

at La Trobe University - Melbourne Campus Australia

Explore what you’re passionate about and build a rewarding career.

The world is complex. And while we’re making serious inroads, many aspects of the human mind, behaviour and health are still beyond our understanding. There’s still so much to discover. As culture and technology continue to rapidly transform, we need skilled, empathetic and creative professionals who are passionate about broadening our understanding of both the world and our bodies – intelligent and caring people who want to create healthier communities in Australia, and around the globe.

If you're curious about the world, and passionate about making it a healthier and fairer place, La Trobe's Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences will give you everything you need to pursue your passion and your profession. Choose from an incredible array of majors and shape your future with this interdisciplinary degree.

Create your own path by combining majors from a wide range of areas. Pair psychological science with public health, or health promotion with sociology. Learn how to help victims of crime by combining rehabilitation counselling with crime, justice and legal studies. Or find inspiration in the human mind by pairing psychological science with creative and professional writing. You're in charge of your future and we're here to help you build your dream career. No matter which path you choose, you'll learn from world-class academics and leading researchers.

Develop essential skills that you'll use for the rest of your life. Creative thinking. Critical analysis. The ability to understand and communicate with a wide range of people. And the knowledge you'll acquire – across both arts and health – will set you up for a successful career in a wide range of industries across both sectors. Once you've graduated, you may also have the opportunity to undertake postgraduate study in health and science, including clinical programs, or any one of our humanities and social sciences postgraduate programs.

The health sciences majors include both theory and lab practice units. For example, if you major in public health, you'll learn about environmental health issues, global health initiatives and health care systems. Or if you major in rehabilitation counselling, you'll explore the psychosocial perspective of health and illness, the issues related to living with chronic health problems, and sports and exercise psychology. You could even take your fascination with the human mind further by majoring in psychological science or study the complex inner workings of the body through the field of human physiological sciences.

Gain real-world experience and build valuable connections that will shape your career. Take on an industry placement in a range of workplaces, including hospitals, regional health organisations or community organisations like SBS Radio, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the United Nations Association of Australia or travel overseas for an international sustainability experience.[1] Many of our exchange programs are financially supported. Your dedicated course adviser will help you to find your path and explore new opportunities.

With a Japanese studies major, you'll build competence in the modern Japanese language and study Japanese society, civilisation and culture.  You will learn to see the world from multiple perspectives through the study of language and culture. You will be taught by enthusiastic staff who specialise in sociology and anthropology of education, minorities, Koreans in Japan, gender, literary studies and popular culture. Japanese Studies major graduates have found employment in teaching, hospitality industry, diplomacy, government, international business, publishing, tourism, and translating, both in Japan and Australia. Japanese is one of the major LOTE subjects in Australian schools. You are encouraged to participate in an exchange program (one or two semesters) at one of the many universities with which La Trobe has exchange agreement. (Please note: overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) Japanese is taught at a number of levels, from beginners through to advanced. A placement test and interview may be used to determine a student’s suitability for entry level.

More than ever, employers are searching for professionals with advanced STEM skills.* With job growth expected in this area* – including in areas that don’t even exist yet – there’s no better time to build the scientific skills you need to create a successful, interesting and satisfying career.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Science offers you foundational skills in science and the freedom to delve into your passions. Whether it's protecting endangered animals, developing new ways to treat disease or fighting climate change, you'll be ready to pursue your dream journey in science by tailoring your degree with a mix of majors and minors.

As you learn from leading academics and researchers, you'll take a deep dive into science – not only scientific concepts, but also how scientists think, work and share their findings.

Build skills in problem-solving, communication and collaboration – all highly sought after by employers – then use these skills to come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Personalise your learning so you can spend time focusing on the areas that really interest you. Choose from majors in a range of fields, including botany, statistics, microbiology, genetics, data science and more, and learn from academics who are leaders in their fields.

You'll have opportunities to put theory into practice through work placements with our industry partners. Previous students have undertaken placements with CSIRO, Bayer Crop Science and various State and Federal Government departments.

Microbiology

Discover the invisible world of microorganisms and how they affect our lives. You’ll learn how bacteria and other microbes influence global warming, maintain the environment, help produce food and also impact our health through disease, drug resistance and waste control.

Students commencing their studies at Albury-Wodonga campus are required to transfer to the Melbourne campus from second year to complete this major.

Modern business needs to be more innovative than ever. Learn to solve complex business, sustainability and ethical issues in evolving global markets with a progressive dual lens of legal and commercial innovation.

Stand out from the crowd with La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce. Gain a prestigious double degree that prepares you to be a change-maker in business and law, navigating complex legal and regulatory frameworks.

Develop specialised knowledge of financial markets, economics, and accounting. Combine it with an understanding of business practice, legal process, and advanced negotiation. You'll develop financial literacy and discover the power of contemporary digital business tools.

Get ready for an exciting career. You'll be equipped to meet the challenges of a field disrupted by automation, the power of big data, and the rapid evolution of business and consumer technologies.

You'll have opportunities to learn in legal placements across government and corporate sectors.

Finance

Finance is a key business discipline because it not only provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish a successful career in the financial markets, insurance and banking sectors, it is equally fundamental to the funding and managing of all successful businesses.  So, whether you are considering a career as a financial analyst or fund manager, seeking a career in the corporate or government sectors, or intending to start your own business, the knowledge and skills of finance are an essential pre-requisite for your success.

The finance major is designed to develop the knowledge and skills sought by employers of finance graduates, through learning experiences in our financial trading room, applying the information sources and financial tools used by professionals working in the finance sector to solve financial problems. 

A career in sport and exercise science is more than coaching, matches and athletes. It's a dynamic and exhilarating field that uses data and scientific principles and techniques to help people build strength, regain movement, prevent injuries and perform at their peak. With Australia's ageing population and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, we need sport and exercise science professionals more than ever before. La Trobe's Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science gives you the scientific knowledge and practical skills to improve health and wellbeing.

You'll gain a detailed understanding of the science behind training. Explore the strengths and limitations of the human body while building strong foundations in physiology, anatomy and biomechanics. Then build industry contacts during 140 hours of industry placement with leading organisations such as Carlton Football Club, Melbourne City and Exercise Research Australia.

Explore your passions and build a rewarding career.

Today’s workplaces are rapidly evolving. Governments, businesses and law firms need passionate professionals who not only have advanced legal expertise, but also the ability to think critically, analytically and creatively.*

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts lets you enrich your legal education by pursuing your interests and passions. Open doors to a diverse range of rewarding careers, while exploring how to make a difference in your community.

Learn the fundamentals of criminal, constitutional, property and company law. Explore the legal system and understand how it can be used as a powerful and positive force in society. Develop key skills in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution.

You'll also choose from our list of arts majors and explore your area of interest. Broaden your knowledge and experience by studying areas like politics, languages, sociology, history, philosophy and media studies. Learn how to communicate effectively and think critically, analytically and creatively.

You can also choose to complete law electives that complement your arts specialisation. For example, a politics major can be matched with related subjects like public international law and human rights law. While a language or philosophy major could be augmented by subjects in areas like Indigenous Australians and the law, intellectual property law or family, society and law.

Enhance your classroom learning by taking advantage of optional internships, work experience, and our study abroad program*. Gain hands-on experience working with community legal centres, law firms and government agencies. Find out what it takes to interview clients, prepare legal advice and work with senior lawyers to develop legal solutions.

Graduate ready to make a positive difference. With combined expertise in law and arts, you can build a career as a solicitor or barrister, in-house counsel or corporate consultant, working in commercial law firms or community legal centres. You could also work in the public service as a government lawyer or support social justice initiatives in the not-for-profit sector.

The Linguistics major will provide you with a deeper understanding of language as a primary part of human communication, cognition and culture. Through the Linguistics major, you will explore the many facets of language and develop the tools required to analyse specific language-related issues in detail. You will explore the building blocks of language and have the opportunity to discover how languages differ in structure (i.e. their sound systems, word-formation processes, and grammatical constructions), expression of meaning and acquisition. You will also consider the cultural and artistic uses of languages and the comparison of oral, written, and signed languages. In this major, you will work with linguistic data from a range of languages and apply theory to real life interactions.

You will work with staff from across the globe who have expertise in a wide range of linguistic and language areas including Australian Aboriginal languages, English (including Australian and other varieties of English), European languages, and the languages of China, South East Asia and South Asia.

A major in Linguistics provides you with important knowledge in contexts where skilled language use is required, such as professional writing, marketing and the law. You will also acquire creative problem-solving skills and detail-focused analysis, which are widely applicable to a range of future careers.

Behind every cybercrime is a human story. With technology and social networks rapidly evolving, we need highly trained cybersecurity professionals who can understand the roots of crime, stay ahead of crime trends and create innovative solutions to keep our communities safe.

Build a career at the forefront of technological advances with La Trobe's Bachelor of Cybersecurity/Bachelor of Criminology. You'll gain the knowledge and skills to combat the constantly evolving threat of cybercrime in our increasingly digital world.

In this highly complementary double degree, you'll investigate crime as a societal phenomenon and learn how to manage and protect online information and networks.

Learn from experts in world-class facilities, including our Cyber Security Research Hub – one of the largest cybersecurity research hubs in Victoria.

If you can't let go of unanswered questions. If you love learning. If you're passionate about the world around you. Then it's time to start your journey at La Trobe.

With our flexible Bachelor of Arts, you can choose from an incredible array of majors and minors. You'll have access to around 50 majors and minors from humanities, social sciences, business, health and science, keeping your career options open. Pursue your passion and your profession.

Shape your own future with this interdisciplinary degree. You'll choose one arts major, then explore your interests or build an essential skill when you choose secondary majors, minors and electives from across the university. You'll graduate with your primary major on your academic transcript, so future employers can recognise your expertise.

Create your own path. Want to major in sociology, with a second major in psychology, then take Chinese as an elective? Go for it. Or perhaps you'd like to pair economics and English. Or crime, justice and legal studies with linguistics. Build your own future – we're here to help you achieve your dream. No matter which path you choose, you'll learn from world-class academics and leading researchers.

In your first year, you'll explore your interests and passions. Try a language; or get a taste for history, English, politics or creative writing. In your second and third years, you'll delve deeper while also choosing electives and minors that broaden your skills and knowledge. You may also choose to develop professional skillsets in areas like psychology, public health, marketing, science, sport management and more.

This flexible degree also offers a range of study options. You can choose to study face-to-face at our Melbourne Campus and enjoy our on-campus facilities, or you can study online – knowing your experience will mirror on-campus students, with tutorials delivered in a synchronous manner. Unlike many other online degrees, at La Trobe you can login to live sessions and engage directly with academics and your fellow students in real time.

Gain real-world experience and build valuable connections that will shape your career. Take on an industry placement at organisations like SBS Radio, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the United Nations Association of Australia or travel overseas for an international sustainability experience.* Many of our exchange programs are financially supported. Your dedicated course advisor will help you to find your path and explore new opportunities.

The world is waiting for you. Step into it.

The French Studies major enables you to participate in a dialogue with the French-speaking world by developing your proficiency in the language and your knowledge of French history, society and culture. The French Studies major will give you access to a vast network of international communication and a rich body of literary, historical and scientific knowledge. French is spoken on all continents and in various organisations such as the United Nations and Médecins Sans Frontières. The language prepares you to excel in numerous fields including education, translating and interpreting, foreign affairs and trade, international law and humanitarian work. You will be strongly encouraged to apply for an exchange program with one of La Trobe’s partner universities in France.(Please note: overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) You should enrol in the appropriate stream at first-year level: Beginners (students with little or no prior knowledge of French), Intermediate (students with Year 11 French or equivalent), Advanced (students with Year 12 French or equivalent) or Extended (native or near-native competency).

Print. Online. Radio. TV. Podcasts. Social media. Mobile storytelling. There are many ways to create content and break the news. As digital storytelling rapidly evolves, employers need graduates who are more than just writers or presenters. They need producers, designers, videographers and podcasters – people who understand the core elements of a powerful story, with the technical skills to make stories shine.

With La Trobe's Bachelor of Media and Communication, you'll learn how to tell stories across any medium. Graduate with a portfolio of work, industry experience and specialised knowledge to meet the demands of the rapidly changing media and communication landscape. With majors in journalism, sports media, media industries, creative and professional writing, or marketing – you can make your degree your own.

Cover news and feature stories as part of Upstart and Upstart Live. Our industry-grade newsroom boasts a three-camera television studio, professional radio broadcast spaces, a dedicated audio recording studio and digital editing suites. You'll experience the adrenaline of live television and radio broadcasting as a presenter, producer and vision switcher – all under the mentorship of highly experienced teachers.

And you won't just create news. You'll also look behind the headlines and investigate the ethical and legal questions that confront journalists every day. Explore the new dilemmas created by rapidly evolving technologies and draw on the expertise of a wide range of experts and media professionals.

Shape your own future with this interdisciplinary degree. You'll choose one major, then explore your interests or build further skills when you choose an optional second major, minors and electives from across the university. You'll graduate with your primary major on your academic transcript, so future employers can recognise your expertise.

Gain real-world experience and build valuable connections that will shape your career. Take on an industry placement at a media organisation or study overseas through international exchange.

Journalism

Quality journalism is more important than ever. Learn to tell stories that matter through a myriad of platforms, including social media, digital news channels, podcasts and television. You’ll graduate with practical experience and a portfolio of work to show future employers.

Due to the global effects of population growth and the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people living with chronic conditions is on the rise. As a result, the demand for nurses in all specialised fields is expected to rapidly increase.*

La Trobe's Master of Nursing lets you match your study to your career aspirations. Enhance your knowledge and skills in specialist areas by choosing from a range of clinical and non-clinical subjects.

If you're a registered nurse working in Australia, you'll have access to a wide variety of specialisations. Enjoy a flexible, blended learning approach that combines face-to-face workshops with online study that you can fit around your work commitments and access from anywhere. For a clinical specialisation you will also undertake advanced clinical training in your own hospital's relevant work setting.

If you're looking to pursue a career as nursing educator, academic or manager, you'll have access to our online non-clinical specialisations. Develop advanced knowledge of nursing research along with the critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills you need to thrive as a nursing researcher, educator or leader.

Rapid evolutions in science and technology mean our advancements sometimes outpace the law. Get the skills to stay ahead.

In La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws(Honours)/Bachelor of Science, you can pursue multiple interests and gain a powerful combination of legal skills and cutting-edge scientific knowledge.

From stem cell research to how personal information is collected, stored and shared, advances in science and technology have real human impacts. This double degree uniquely prepares you to address contemporary challenges from a scientific, legal and ethical perspective.

Benefit from our progressive approach to legal education with a law degree you can shape to your own career goals. You'll get a solid grounding in the basics of law and hone your expertise in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution – skills valued by employers across industries.

Your science degree offers you huge flexibility, with an extensive range of majors to choose from. Follow your interests in emerging areas like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science or traditional fields including chemistry, botany and genetics. Bring knowledge to life in world-class facilities, including the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), and learn from academics who are leaders in their fields.

Take your skills into the real world while you study. You'll have the opportunity to do placements in a range of legal settings, including community legal centres, law firms, government agencies, and judges and magistrates (subject to availability). On the science side, you could complete a placement with one of our industry partners – previous students have worked with CSIRO, Bayer Crop Science, and various government departments.

You will graduate ready to start your career as an expert legal practitioner, with an advanced understanding of scientific concepts or a science professional with a solid understanding of regulatory environments and how they impact scientific work.

Botany

Explore the intersection between plants and society. You’ll learn about plant ecology, physiology, reproduction and biotechnology while building skills in project design, data collection and analysis. Botany is vital to dealing with environmental issues, the sustainable food supply and the management of our natural resources.

Students commencing their studies at Albury-Wodonga campus are required to transfer to the Melbourne campus from second year to complete this major.