Doctor of Indigenous Philosophies

If you are interested in becoming a research expert in the area of Indigenous Knowledge, the Doctor of Indigenous Philosophies provides you with the opportunity.

This 3-year degree will provide you with superior research and critical thinking skills to work at national and international levels for and with Indigenous communities. Your work and research will be aimed at furthering critical knowledge in this field for the benefit of the health and human services sector and policy development.

This course will allow you to undertake your own research project focussed on providing benefit to Indigenous peoples under the supervision of an expert.

The completion of a doctorate is a significant achievement recognized by employers across sectors, both nationally and internationally.

Career Opportunities

Students who graduate with a Doctor of Indigenous Philosophies will be well placed for a career in research and academia, the government, professional or community sector, working in policy development, service delivery, and program evaluation, and as leaders and high-level managers.

Major Areas of Study

The focus of the candidate’s research will be negotiated and agreed to by the candidate, their supervisor, and the Director of Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples. The candidates will be encouraged to restrict their investigations to issues that are relevant and provide benefit to Indigenous peoples.

Note: Students are required to take units in all 3 sessions.

Assessment methods

Each unit is typically assessed using three tasks, which may include a process-based assignment such as a journal, a performance-based assessment, and a report. Full details of assignments are contained in the study guide for each unit.

The coursework stage units are awarded grades of High Distinction, Distinction, Credit or Pass. In order to proceed to the thesis stage, a candidate must achieve a credit average for the coursework units.

The thesis is not formally assessed during the writing period but is submitted for examination to external examiners upon completion. The Professional Doctorate will be awarded after the thesis has been examined and determined to meet the requirements of the award.

Teaching methods

Students are encouraged to attend on-campus classes in order to build relationships with other students and Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples. On-campus students will experience a variety of teaching approaches based on Indigenous pedagogy, including story-telling, yarning circles and discussions with Indigenous Elders.

Online students will receive a combination of a podcast or video-linked seminars and/or engage in synchronous online video or teleconference discussions. All students are required to attend a week-long (four to five day) intensive workshop for each unit (two weeks for double-weighted units). The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Facts, figures, rankings and awards

Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and connected regional research university, with vibrant campuses in northern New South Wales and the southern Gold Coast. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and many are available in a dynamic online form. Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

Why SCU?

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 20Bold, progressive and just 23 years of age – Southern Cross University is one of the Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Universities and one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities .

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. All are unique regions renowned for their natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia. We also deliver degrees with collaborators in China, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

We have a large and diverse range of courses available online, offering interactive and immersive learning experiences wherever our students are.

Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

We aim to produce graduates who are career ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach.

The University has a strong focus on industry and community collaboration to produce engaged teaching and research outcomes.

This connectivity is seeing Southern Cross University lead the $13.8m national Farming Together Pilot Program, partnering with the Northern Rivers Co-operatives Alliance and the Australian Government. The University has also introduced an important new Centre for Organics Research with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia report, Southern Cross achieved outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 24 research fields. In nine research fields, the University was evaluated at the highest possible classification of 'well above world standard'. This was achieved in the fields of Geochemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Science and Management, Zoology, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Crop and Pasture Production, Forestry Sciences, Nursing, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Campuses

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses on the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses (International students)

Southern Cross University's branch campuses at Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are conveniently located in the central business districts.

Studying at SCU Sydney, Melbourne or Perth gives international students the opportunity to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in three of the world's most liveable cities. Southern Cross University collaborates with EduCo Sydney Branch Pty Ltd for the operation of the SCU Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses.