Demography - Graduate Study

The graduate programme in Demography at The University of Waikato is based within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This programme provides core material in the discipline of Demography and emphasises an integrated approach to population studies in a multi- and interdisciplinary context. It is, therefore, of interest and relevance to students from a wide range of backgrounds, such as Sociology, Economics and Geography. Students have opportunities to engage in individual directed studies and to undertake research for a Masters or higher degree on a population-related subject. The programme is of interest to graduates who seek careers in research, teaching, policy-making, administration and evaluation in central, regional or local government service, in international and community organisations, and in the private sector.

Graduate programmes in population studies and demography are applied highly to policy issues as well as being academic and scientific. The main University Library contains a good collection of population materials, and a collection of survey, census and registration data is available to students through the Population Studies Centre. PC facilities are available for the use of Graduate students. While there is no trained field survey team, individual staff members of the programme have considerable experience in field surveys and have contracted large-scale national surveys to research agencies.

Scholarships
NIDEA - The National Institute for Demographic and Economic Analysis (formerly The Population Studies Centre) is a research institute based in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It is the only such unit in New Zealand that generates and co-ordinates research in population studies. Through research grants and other sources of funding, NIDEA is able to make available some Masters scholarships for students wishing to undertake research in population studies. For further details contact Professor Natalie Jackson (email: natalie.jackson@waikato.ac.nz).

Qualifications Available

Graduate Certificate (GradCert(PopSt))
Graduate Diploma (GradDip(PopSt))
Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours (BSocSc(Hons))
Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert(Dem))
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip(Dem))

Entry to the BSocSc(Hons) and MSocSc in Demography is open to suitably qualified graduates in any discipline who have at least one undergraduate Population Studies paper. For those students without this prerequisite, arrangements may be made for a qualifying programme. All intending students should discuss their programmes with Population Studies staff.

BSocSc(Hons) in Demography, PGCert(Dem) and PGDip(Dem)

To be eligible to be considered for enrolment for graduate study in Demography, a student should normally have at least a B average in their best three 300 level papers of the undergraduate major, should have a significant research methods component (normally two papers) in that degree, and have completed one undergraduate Population Studies paper.

To complete a BSocSc(Hons) in Demography, students must gain 120 points at 500 level or above, including the compulsory papers listed below.

Compulsory Papers:
     POPS507 Family Formation and Dissolution
     POPS509 Demographic Methods
     SSRP504 The Conduct of Social Science Research: Survey Research
     and a minimum of 15 points from:
     GEOG507 International Migration Issues
     POPS508 Population Health and Health Planning
     POPS589 Directed Study
     SOCP506 Social Policy: Comparative Approaches
     SOCP507 Social Policy and Ageing

MSocSc in Demography

Students for the MSocSc in Demography must take either a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and 60 points from approved 500 level papers. Students are strongly encouraged to take the option of a 120 point thesis at Master's level.

To be admitted to the MSocSc in Demography, students should normally have completed the core papers for the BSocSc(Hons) in Demography and achieved a B+ average or higher across their 500 level papers.

GradCert(PopSt) and GradDip(PopSt)

A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Population Studies at an advanced level in their first degree.

Papers

Graduate Demography Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

Useful Links:

Graduate Adviser