Regulations for the Degree of Master of Arts (MA)
- The Personal Programmes of Study Regulations apply in these regulations.
- Candidates for the Degree must have
- qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts of the University of Waikato with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
- qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours of the University of Waikato with at least second class honours (second division), or for a Postgraduate Diploma with at least a B average, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, and
- satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
- In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the requirements of section 2 of these regulations may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.
- The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations in one calendar year or one and a half academic years. The normal minimum period of enrolment for candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations is one academic year. The requirements of the Degree must be completed within four consecutive years of first enrolling for the Degree.
- Candidates must enrol in the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences or the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies and follow an approved programme of study.
- Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain 180 points at 500 level or above. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations must gain 120 points at 500 level or above.
- Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain at least 60 points from one of the subjects in clause 9, including; either ALPSS500 or an approved research methods paper, at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study, and any compulsory papers prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Catalogue of Papers.
- Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations must gain at least 60 points from one of the following subjects, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study, and any compulsory papers prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Catalogue of Papers.
- Subjects for the degree are:
- Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences subjects
- Anthropology
- Chinese1
- English
- French1
- Geography
- History
- International Relations and Security Studies2
- Japanese1
- Music
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Screen and Media Studies
- Social Policy
- Sociology
- Theatre Studies
- Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies subjects
- Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences subjects
- Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations may take up to 60 points from outside of the field of the Degree. Candidates admission under section 2(b) of these regulations may take up to 30 points from outside the field of the Degree.
- The field of the Degree comprises all the subjects listed in section 9 of these regulations.
- If a candidate fails a paper or papers (worth not more than 30 points in total), they may repeat the paper or papers or take an alternative paper or papers with the same total points value on one occasion only. A candidate who fails a paper or papers worth more than 30 points in total will not be permitted to proceed with the Degree.
- The University will appoint two examiners for the candidate's thesis; one examiner external to the University and active in the research field of the thesis; and one examiner internal to the University, with a good grounding in the research field, who is not directly connected to the candidate, or the candidate’s thesis research or supervision.
- The Degree may be awarded with
- First Class Honours, or
- Second Class Honours (first division), or
- Second Class Honours (second division).
- or without honours.
- Except with the approval of the Academic Board, the level of honours will be calculated on the basis of the grades for all of the papers completed for the Degree.
- The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies or delegated authority may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases.
Admission
Requirements for the Degree
Examination of thesis (90 points and above)
Award of Honours
Variations
Notes:
1 There will be no intake into this subject in 2024.
2 Students who wish to present International Relations and Security Studies for the Degree are normally required to have completed the Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Security Studies.
List A: Advanced Study
Anthropology
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- ANTHY515
- Ethnographic Research Methods
- ANTHY522
- Visual Power: Images, Aesthetics & Politics
- ANTHY589
- Directed Study
- ANTHY593
- Anthropology Thesis
- ANTHY594
- Anthropology Thesis
- LEGAL540
- Critical Issues for Pacific Peoples and the Law
- LEGAL551
- Reconciliation, Justice and Indigeneity
English
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- ENGLI593
- English Thesis
- ENGLI594
- English Thesis
- LEGAL512
- Advanced Media Law
- LEGAL520
- Intellectual Property Law and Policy
Geography
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- GEOGY589
- Directed Study
- GEOGY593
- Geography Thesis
- GEOGY594
- Geography Thesis
- LEGAL531
- Advanced International Environmental Law
- LEGAL535
- Advanced Environmental Law
History
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- HISTY516
- History and Theory
- HISTY593
- History Thesis
- HISTY594
- History Thesis
- LEGAL505
- Critical Issues in the Treaty of Waitangi in Contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand
- LEGAL540
- Critical Issues for Pacific Peoples and the Law
International Relations and Security Studies
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- POLSC593
- Political Science Thesis
- POLSC594
- Political Science Thesis
- LEGAL531
- Advanced International Environmental Law
- LEGAL534
- Transnational Criminal Law
Music
- MUSIC504
- Professional Performance Practice
- MUSIC505
- Composition Project
- MUSIC514
- Composition Portfolio
- MUSIC522
- Composition Studies
- MUSIC524
- Advanced Performance
- MUSIC525
- Advanced Opera Studies
- MUSIC528
- Performance Studies
- MUSIC590
- Directed Study
- MUSIC591
- Research Project
- MUSIC592
- Dissertation
- MUSIC593
- Performance Composition Portfolio
- MUSIC594
- Music Thesis
Philosophy
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- PHILO588
- Foundations of Philosophical Research
- PHILO589
- Directed Study
- PHILO593
- Philosophy Thesis
- PHILO594
- Philosophy Thesis
Political Science
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- LEGAL526
- Legal Aspects of Cyber Security
- LEGAL568
- Issues in Public Law
- POLSC501
- Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice
- POLSC593
- Political Science Thesis
- POLSC594
- Political Science Thesis
Psychology
- PSYCH513
- Evaluation Research Analysis
- PSYCH526
- Clinical Internship: Assessment-Focused
- PSYCH527
- Clinical Internship: Treatment-Focused
- PSYCH541
- Case Study Analysis in Community Psychology
- PSYCH543
- The Practice of Community Psychology
- PSYCH545
- Special Topic: The WTF seminar: Facts, Fiction, Fake news
- PSYCH551
- Case Study Analysis in Applied Psychology ABA
- PSYCH552
- Ethical Issues in Psychology (ABA)
- PSYCH553
- The Practice of Psychology ABA
- PSYCH586
- Behaviour Analysis Practicum
- PSYCH587
- Behaviour Analysis Practicum
- PSYCH589
- Directed Study
- PSYCH590
- Directed Study
- PSYCH592
- Dissertation
- PSYCH593
- Psychology Thesis
- PSYCH594
- Psychology Thesis
Screen and Media Studies
- LEGAL512
- Advanced Media Law
- LEGAL520
- Intellectual Property Law and Policy
- MEDIA501
- Critical and Creative Approaches to Research
- MEDIA591
- Research Project
- MEDIA592
- Dissertation
- MEDIA593
- Screen and Media Studies Thesis
- MEDIA594
- Screen and Media Studies Thesis
Social Policy
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- LEGAL508
- Advanced Family Law
- LEGAL568
- Issues in Public Law
- SOCPY500
- Techniques for Policy Analysis
- SOCPY507
- Gender and Development
- SOCPY508
- Techniques for Policy Analysis
- SOCPY589
- Directed Study
- SOCPY593
- Social Policy Thesis
- SOCPY594
- Social Policy Thesis
Sociology
- ALPSS590
- Directed Study
- ALPSS591
- Research Project
- ALPSS592
- Dissertation
- LEGAL505
- Critical Issues in the Treaty of Waitangi in Contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand
- LEGAL525
- Critical Issues in Contemporary and International Indigenous Law
- SOCIO500
- Comparative Indigenous Criminology
- SOCIO504
- Marx, Marxism, and Beyond: Contesting Perspectives
- SOCIO589
- Directed Study
- SOCIO593
- Sociology Thesis
- SOCIO594
- Sociology Thesis
Theatre Studies
- LEGAL512
- Advanced Media Law
- LEGAL520
- Intellectual Property Law and Policy
- THSTS590
- Directed Study
- THSTS591
- Research Project
- THSTS592
- Dissertation
- THSTS593
- Theatre Studies Thesis
- THSTS594
- Theatre Studies Thesis