Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Studies

JCU’s Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Studies is the first postgraduate coursework degree in Australia to explicitly focus on the intersection of Indigenous and Western ideas, priorities and knowledge positions. Whether you are an Indigenous or non-Indigenous professional or community member, this qualification can equip you to broaden your intercultural communication skillset and embrace the possibilities of Indigenous thinking. Enhance your career opportunities as you develop the language and dispositions to work more effectively with Indigenous communities and people through online learning materials, discussion and practical learning activities.

Ancient knowledges, contemporary solutions

The JCU Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Studies will prepare you to respond to contemporary issues, as well as incorporate Indigenous perspectives into your consideration of global challenges. Deepen your understanding of the complexity of Indigenous experiences today through the completion of four subjects: Indigenous Australians; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as Colonial Subjects; Comparative Indigenous Studies; and Navigating the Cultural Interface.

Within the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Studies, you will build a foundational understanding of traditional knowledges and practices and analyse the impact of colonisation on Indigenous populations. You will gain theoretical knowledge from case studies featuring Indigenous people across the world. Combine this with practical learning that empowers you to analyse contemporary issues from the standpoint of Indigenous peoples within Western spaces. Your experience examining key factors influencing both Indigenous and non-Indigenous viewpoints, as well as your skills in communicating varied perspectives to diverse audiences, will be in high demand across professional and academic settings.

International students must attain an IELTS Academic with an average level of 7.5 or more, across the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing; no score below level 7.0 in any of these components; and a score of 8.0 or more in the components of speaking and listening. Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.

English competency requirements may also be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor degree or master degree from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, or
• Undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University.

Professionals with education and experience in navigating the intersection of Indigenous and Western ideas and social models are highly valued in both Australian and international settings. The knowledge and skills you gain through the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Studies are applicable to almost every industry and field of work or academia.

Your ability to generate innovative responses to complex social and cultural challenges can build your capacity within your current role, make you stand out to prospective employers, and assist you to take on roles with greater responsibility and interpersonal requirements.

Graduates with experience in Indigenous studies commonly pursue careers in policy, public service, corporate organisations, not-for-profit sectors, media, research and education.

Pursue further study and research with the Master of Philosophy (Indigenous) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Indigenous). The Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Studies also qualifies you to enrol in the Master of Global Development, with a focus on Indigenous Futures.