Regulations for the Degree of Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc)

1. The Personal Programmes of Study Regulations apply in these regulations.

Admission

2. Candidates for the Degree must have
   1. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences 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
   2. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours of the University of Waikato with at least second class honours (second division), or a Postgraduate Diploma with at least a B grade average, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, and
   3. satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
3. 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.

Requirements for the Degree

4. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations is 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain at least 60 points from one of the following subjects, including an approved research methods paper 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 any compulsory papers prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Catalogue of Papers.
   1. Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences subjects
      Anthropology
      Economics
      Geography
      Health Development and Policy¹
      History
      Philosophy
      Political Science
      Population Studies and Demography
      Psychology¹
      Public Policy
      Social Policy
      Sociology
   2. Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies subjects
      Māori and Indigenous Studies
      Pacific and Indigenous Studies
8. Candidates must include
   1. a dissertation equivalent to 60 points, or
   2. a thesis equivalent to 90 points, or
   3. a thesis equivalent to 120 points.
9. Candidates may take up to 30 points from outside the field of the Degree.
10. The field of the Degree comprises all the subjects listed in section 7 of these regulations.
11. 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.

Examination of thesis (90 points and above)

12. 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.

Award of Honours

13. The Degree may be awarded with
    1. First Class Honours, or
    2. Second Class Honours (first division), or
    3. Second Class Honours (second division), or

    or without honours.

14. 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.

Variations

15. 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.

Notes:

1. These programmes will not be available to candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations.