Master of Social Impact | Course handbook

General Information

Overview

The Master of Social Impact (MA-SI) is designed for high-performing professionals who want to upskill and advance their career in the field of social impact. This course is suited to social entrepreneurs working broadly across philanthropy, not-for-profit, private, and corporate sectors. This qualification gives you the skills required to lead people effectively in a rapidly changing social economic and business environment.

Note: This course will not be taking applications for 2024.

You might be interested in our Master of Business Administration, in which you can specialise in Social Impact. Applications are now open.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Master of Social Impact requires students to complete units of study to the value of 150 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Core units

100 credit points

Graduate certificate

Units of study	Unit code

Graduate diploma

Units of study	Unit code

Master degree

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Opportunity Discovery, Creativity and Design Core unit, 12.5 credit points	ENT60009
Corporate Responsibility and Accountability Core unit, 12.5 credit points	SIP60001
Leadership for Social Impact Core unit, 12.5 credit points	SIP60002
Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation Core unit, 12.5 credit points	SIP60003
Social Investment and Philanthropy Core unit, 12.5 credit points	SIP60004
Evaluation and Impact Measurement Core unit, 12.5 credit points	SIP70014
Strategic Philanthropy Core unit, 12.5 credit points	SIP80015
Social Venture Development Core unit, 12.5 credit points	SIP80017

Specialisation

50 credit points

Note: Where specialisation units are completed as part of the foundation or core, students must select alternatives from the list of units provided.

Accounting

Students must complete ACC60008 as a core unit and select any three from the remaining list of units.

Units of study	Unit code
Accounting Systems and Reporting Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ACC60008
Company Auditing Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ACC80003
Managerial Accounting Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ACC80008
Taxation Principles and Planning Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ACC80012
Financial Accounting and Theory Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ACC80019
Economics Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ECO80001
Business Modelling and Analysis Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN60003

Business Analytics

Students must complete any four units from the list below.

Units of study	Unit code
Cloud Enterprise Systems and Analytics Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF60012
Mobile Business and Social Media Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF60013
Business Information Systems Internship Project Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80005
Applied Business Analytics and Data Visualisation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80031
Predictive Analytics Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80040
Artificial Intelligence and Insights Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80051

Business Information Systems

Students must complete INF60007 as a core unit and select any three from the remaining units.

Units of study	Unit code
Business Information Systems Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF60007
Strategic Project Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF70005
Business Analytics and Visualisation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF70008
Contemporary Issues in Business Analysis Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80014
Governing Technology for Business Environments Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80042

Digital Marketing

Students must complete any four units from the list below.

Units of study	Unit code
Data Empowered Marketing Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	MKT60011
Consumer Behaviour Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	MKT60012
Global Digital Marketing Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	MKT70017
Branding and Creative Innovation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	MKT70019
Marketing Communications Agency Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	MKT80015

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Students to complete ENT60009 as a core unit and select any three from the remaining list of units.

Units of study	Unit code
Opportunity Discovery, Creativity and Design Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ENT60009
Growth Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ENT70012
Entrepreneurial Mindset, New Venture and Innovation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ENT70018
Venture Planning Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ENT70019
Project Management for Entrepreneurial Ventures Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	PRM60001

Finance

Students to complete four from the following list of units

Units of study	Unit code
Business Modelling and Analysis Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN60003
Elements of Financial Planning and Regulation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN60010
Modern Finance Issues Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN80001
Business and Entity Valuations Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN80002
Capital Markets Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN80004
Corporate Financial Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN80005
Derivatives and Risk Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN80018

Financial Technologies

Students must complete FIN60006 as a core unit and select any three from the remaining list of units.

Units of study	Unit code
Frontiers in FinTech Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	FIN60006
Cybersecurity Law, Policy and Ethics Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	CYB60003
Business Analytics and Visualisation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF70008
Blockchain: Business Models and Applications Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80050
Artificial Intelligence and Insights Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80051

Human Resource Management

Students to complete HRM60018 as a core unit and select any three from the remaining list of units.

Units of study	Unit code
Employee Relations Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	HRM60013
Human Resource Fundamentals Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	HRM60018
Strategic HRM in the Business Context Specialisation unit	HRM70006
Managing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	HRM70012
Strategic Human Resource Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	HRM70013
Human Capital Analytics Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	HRM80015

International Business

Students must select up to four units from the list below.

Units of study	Unit code
Business Innovation in Europe Study Tour Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	BUS70013
Business Innovation in America Study Tour Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	BUS70014
Business Innovation in Asia Study Tour Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	BUS70015
Managing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	HRM70012
International Trade and Investment Specialisation unit	INB60003
Global Business Cultures: Advanced Theories and Practices Specialisation unit	INB60004
International Internship Specialisation unit	MFP80002
International Internship - Extended Specialisation unit, 25.0 credit points	MFP80004
Supply Chain Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	SCM60003

Project Management

Students to complete INF70005 as a core unit and select any three from the remaining list of units.

Units of study	Unit code
Strategic Project Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF70005
Project Management for Innovative Outcomes Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	PRM60002
The Risk Management Spectrum Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	PRM60003
Leading Complex Projects Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	PRM70002
Project Governance and Resource Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	PRM80002
Operations Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	SCM60001

Research

Students must complete BUS80003 and BUS80021 as core units and select one of the two remaining units.

Units of study	Unit code
Research Methodology Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	BUS80003
Business Research Thesis Specialisation unit, 25.0 credit points	BUS80021
Quantitative Research Methods Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	BUS80017
Qualitative Research Methods Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	BUS80018
Advanced Microeconometrics Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ECO80002
Economics of Innovation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	ECO80003
Data Science Fundamentals Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80054
Social Network Analysis Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF80055

Supply Chain Innovation

Students must complete any four units from the list below.

Units of study	Unit code
Business Analytics and Visualisation Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	INF70008
Six Sigma Lean Green Belt Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	SCM60002
Supply Chain Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	SCM60003
Logistics Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	SCM60004
Project Management for Innovative Outcomes Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	PRM60002
Operations Management Specialisation unit, 12.5 credit points	SCM60001

Elective units (pre-experience)

*If a specialisation is selected then students do not complete any electives.

ACC60008 Accounting Systems and Reporting
BUS70013 Business Innovation in Europe Study Tour #
BUS70014 Business Innovation in America Study Tour #
BUS70015 Business Innovation in Asia Study Tour #
BUS70016 Indigenous Study Tour: Supporting Economic Development #
ECO80001 Economics
ENT60009 Opportunity Discovery, Creativity and Design
ENT70019 Venture Planning
FIN60003 Business Modelling and Analysis
FST80008 Designing for Change
HRM60013 Employee Relations
HRM60016 Behaviour in Organisations
HRM70006 Strategic HRM in the Business Context
INF70005 Strategic Project Management
INF80042 Governing Technology for Business Environments
MGT60031 Managing in a Complex World
MGT80002 Business Strategy
MKT70019 Branding and Creative Innovation
PRM60002 Project Management for Innovative Outcomes
PRM60003 The Risk Management Spectrum
ACC80003 Company Auditing
ACC80008 Managerial Accounting
ACC80012 Taxation Principles and Planning
ACC80019 Financial Accounting and Theory
ACC80020 Contemporary Issues in Accounting and Research
ENT60006 Opportunity Discovery
ENT70012 Growth Management
ENT70018 Entrepreneurial Mindset, New Ventures and Innovation
FIN60004 Entrepreneurial Finance
FIN60006 Frontiers in FinTech
FIN70006 Banking and Insurance Risk Management
FIN80001 Modern Finance Issues
FIN80002 Business and Entity Valuations
FIN80004 Capital Markets
FIN80005 Corporate Financial Management
FIN80018 Derivatives and Risk Management
FIN80019 Portfolio Management
FIN80026 Alternative Investments
FIN80027 Ethics and Behavioural Finance Research
FIN80028 Fixed Income Securities
HRM60018 Human Resource Fundamentals
HRM70012 Managing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
HRM70013 Strategic Human Resource Management
HRM80015 Human Capital Analytics
ICT80008 Professional Issues in IT
INB60003 International Trade and Investment
INB60004 Global Business Cultures: Advanced Theories and Practices
INF60007 Business Information Systems
INF60009 Database Analysis and Design
INF60010 Requirements, Analysis and Modelling
INF60012 Cloud Enterprise Systems and Analytics
INF60013 Mobile Business and Social Media
INF70008 Business Analytics and Visualisation
INF80001 Advanced Business Analysis
INF80003 IS/IT Research Project
INF80006 Business Analysis Practice
INF80014 Contemporary Issues in Business Analysis
INF80028 Business Process Management
INF80031 Applied Business Analytics and Data Visualisation
INF80040 Predictive Analytics
INF80050 Blockchain: Business Models and Applications
INF80051 Artificial Intelligence and Insights
LAW60003 Corporations and Contract Law
MGT60040 Management Analysis and Problem-solving
MGT80005 Leadership for Innovation
MKT60010 Marketing Management
MKT60011 Data Empowered Marketing
MKT60012 Consumer Behaviour
MKT70017 Global Digital Marketing
MKT70020 Services Marketing and Customer Management
PRM80001 Enterprise Project
PRM80002 Project Governance and Resource Management
SCM60001 Operations Management
SCM60002 Six Sigma Lean Green Belt
SCM60003 Supply Chain Management
SCM60004 Logistics Management

Note: # students need to discuss these options with their Course Director prior to enrolling.

Elective units (post-experience)

ACC60002 Accounting Information and Managerial Decision Making
ECO60003 Managerial Economics
FIN80014 Business Finance and Quantitative Analysis
INF80007 Business Information Systems for a Rapidly Changing World
INF80023 Managing IT Enabled Innovation and Transformation
INF80048 Enterprise Architecture
INF80049 Digital Business Risks
LAW60005 Contracting with Corporations
LAW70001 Compliance and Risk
LAW80008 Corporate Governance
LAW80009 Governance Strategy and Leadership
MKT60006 Strategic and Entrepreneurial Marketing
SIP60001 Corporate Responsibility and Accountability
SIP60002 Leadership for Social Impact
SIP60003 Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation
SIP60004 Social Investment and Philanthropy
SIP70014 Evaluation and Impact Measurement
ENT80031 Venture in Action
ENT80032 Innovation Discovery and Technology Transfer
FIN80021 Applied Financial Services Project
HRM80018 Leading Change
HRM80019 Human Resource Consultancy Project
MGT60041 Leading
MKT80010 Marketing Strategy and Planning
SCM80002 Innovative Supply Chain Technologies
SIP80015 Strategic Philanthropy
SIP80017 Social Venture Development
MGT80004 Leadership, Innovation and Creativity
MFP80002 International Internship #
MFP80004 International Internship - Extended #
BUS80027 Business Internship Project #
BUS80028 Business Internship Project Extended #

Note: # students need to discuss these options with their Course Director prior to enrolling.

Aims and objectives

Upon successfully completing the Master of Social Impact, students will be able to:

apply coherent and advanced knowledge of social impact concepts in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking
apply problem solving, design and decision making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team, and use basic tools and practices of social impact within project work
demonstrate professionalism, integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, respect and an awareness of professional practices and cultural norms in a global and sustainable context
apply fundamentals to the analysis, design and operation of a business model using appropriate social impact methods and tools
reflect on, and take responsibility for, their own learning and self-management processes, and develop skills to review, reflect on and plan to improve their professional performance
apply knowledge of research principles and methods to plan and execute a piece of research with some independence.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the course find careers in the philanthropy and not for profit sectors, social enterprise, corporate responsibility in the private and public sectors.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Social Impact is 75 credit points (normally six units).

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Interested in the Master of Social Impact?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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