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MA - Geography as a main subject

The Master of Arts involves advanced study in an Arts subject and is intended for those who want to deepen their knowledge of that subject. The degree also includes a substantial component of independent research. The Master of Arts may be taken within the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, School of Arts or the School of Social Sciences.

Geography matters because it is about basic human relationships - between people and the environment, and between people and other people. Ranked among the top geography programmes in the world, the Geography programme at Waikato is the only solely human geography programme in New Zealand.


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Key information

Years: 1 - 1.5
Start Dates: Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)
Estimated Fees* (Domestic): $7,626 - $9,137 per year
Estimated Fees* (International): $35,900 - $40,855 (120 pts)
$53,855 - $61,290 (180 pts)
Entry Requirements: Postgraduate International
Area of Study:
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). *Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.

Career opportunities

  • Cartographer
  • Consultant
  • Environmental Manager
  • Immigration Policy Analyst
  • Researcher
  • Urban or Regional Planner

Degree Planner

Limited 500-level papers

A limited number of papers are offered at the 500-level in the Geography Programme. Outside Geographic Information Systems (GIS) papers, we only offer GEOGY520, Human Dimensions of Environmental Change.

As such, any graduate students in geography have to be accommodated through papers offered in other programmes.


Prescriptions for the PGCert(Geog), PGDip(Geog), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc

To complete a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Geography, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally GEOGY591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for Geography. Within the PGCert(Geog)), PGDip(Geog)) and BSocSc(Hons) a specialisation in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is available. Details of the specialisation requirements can be obtained from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.

To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA or MSocSc in Geography, a student must have completed either:

a) a BA or BSocSc with a major in Geography (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B average across the 300 level papers, or

b) a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Geography (or equivalent) and have gained at least second class honours (second division), or a PGDip in Geography (or equivalent) with at least a B average, and

c) have satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.

Completion requirements for the MA or MSocSc in Geography vary according to admission criteria:

Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including ALPSS500, one of GEOGY500, GEOGY520, GEOGY538 or GEOGY548, and at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.

Students admitted under b) above must complete 120 points from approved 500-level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.

500 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
ALPSS500Academic & Professional Research & Writing30.024A (Online), 24B (Online) & 24C (Online)
In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills for the future' identified by the World Economic Forum (2020), in order to produce resilient, creative students with strong analytic and critical thinking skills.
ALPSS590Directed Study30.024X (Hamilton)
This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff.
ALPSS591Research Project30.024X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum).
ALPSS592Dissertation60.024X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum).
ENVPL504Plan Making15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper covers the steps involved in plan-making and plan-implementation processes. This includes issues identification; visioning; definition of planning outcomes; development of programmes, policies and actions to achieve vision; and plan-implementation matters.
ENVPL508Plans and Consents15.024X (Block)
This paper is designed to provide students with skills and experience in the application of resource management plans and the resource consent process. Students are engaged in experiential learning relevant to the practice of environmental planning and management in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
ENVPL509Urban Spatial Analysis15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper will provide students with hands-on spatial analytical skills for environmental planning practice in an urban context. Students will develop quantitative problem solving and spatial thinking skills applied to real-world problems such as sea-level rise and housing inequality.
ENVPL510Planning Theory15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper discusses the various theories that influence how we plan our world. It will cover issues such as power, justice, governance, politics, neoliberalism, marxism, gender, democracy and environmental racism.
GEOGY500People, Place, Power30.024A (Online)
This paper is a forum for debate in geographies of people and power. Key concerns are the intersections between gender, Maori, Indigeneity, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, nationality and other social divisions in relation to geographies of justice.
GEOGY520Human Dimensions of Environmental Change30.024B (Hamilton)
This paper examines the increasing risks imposed on human communities by global environmental change. The paper establishes a platform for the critical analysis of human-environment relations by introducing students to important theoretical developments including the role of culture-nature dualisms, theories on population-environme...
GEOGY538Automated Spatial Analysis using Geographic Information Systems15.024X (Block)
Automated GIS, using programming or scripts, are extremely powerful compared to the 'point and click' environment, and are the most practical method for the spatial analysis of large data sets. GIS professionals are expected have the skills to write their own scripts, as well as execute and manipulate existing scripts. In this pape...
GEOGY558Applied Geographic Information Systems for Research and Planning15.024A (Hamilton)
GIS is used widely in a range of industries and government agencies, and graduates competent in GIS are sort after for employment. This paper is designed as an introduction to GIS for graduate students and is co-taught with GEOGY328. It covers all aspects of GIS analysis, including remote sensing and model building. ArcGIS Pro is u...
GEOGY593Geography Thesis90.024X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

Scholarships and prizes

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Subject links

Geography Programme


Subject Requirements

For more information about subject requirements please refer to the Catalogue of Papers for the most up to date information. If you have any questions and need more advice contact one of our friendly student advisors phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4080 or email: [email protected]


Contacts

School of Social Sciences
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4702
General Enquiries: [email protected]