Master of Education
This programme is for educational practitioners who are graduates and want to improve their skills, knowledge and career prospects in Education. Developing skills in curriculum, pedagogy or policy development, the benefits include career advancement and the development of expertise in a specific area of educational practice.
Programme Highlights
- Our world renowned staff are active researchers who are known internationally as leaders in their specialist areas.
- Complete coursework at a pace that suits you – part-time while you work, or full-time over 18 months.
The Faculty of Education offers a postgraduate study award to associate teachers in recognition of their work in supporting the Faculty’s initial teacher education programmes and students. More information on Associate Teacher Postgraduate Study Award
This qualification can also be studied at the University of Waikato Tauranga.
Key information
| Years: | 1.5 |
| MEd Study Locations: |
Hamilton; Tauranga
Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info. |
| Start Dates: | Semester A (February) and Semester B (July) |
| Fees (Domestic): |
$7,185-$7,740 per year See if you're eligible for fees-free study in your first year |
| Fees (International): | $28,660 per year |
| Entry Requirements: | Postgraduate International |
| Faculty/s: | |
| *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. | |
Choose a main subject
Entry Requirements
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Admission normally requires a bachelors degree with at least B average in the third year and a teaching qualification.
Please include in your online application a 100-300 word statement describing your professional background and reasons for choosing this qualification.
120 point Master of Education available subject to meeting eligibility requirements. MEd Regulations
Credit for Previous Study Information
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Structure of Programme
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Students may focus their degree in a subject or a named MEd specialisation. It is also possible to create a personal programme of study by choosing the subject Education and taking a focused selection of papers.
The requirements are 180 points including:
- at least 60 points from the list for the subject or specialisation
- an approved Research Methods paper
- at least 30 points of independent supervised research in the area of the specialisation or subject
30 points may be taken from outside the field of the degree.
There are normally three options regarding how study can be planned. 180 Point Masters Study Plan Options.
Research Methods/Research
Choose one from:
- DSOE557 Research Methods
- MAOED500 Rangahau Kaupapa Māori - Kaupapa Māori Research
- EDUCA500 Culturally Responsive Methodologies incorporating kaupapa Māori and critical theories
And at least one from:
- THED590 Directed Study - see the Directed Study Guidelines and application form
- THED592 Dissertation - see the Dissertation Guidelines and application form
- THED593 Masters Thesis - see the Masters Thesis Guidelines and application form
- THED594 Masters Thesis
MEd Subjects and Specialisations
Adult Learning
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The subject of Adult Learning aims to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of learning and teaching processes, practices and structures in this area. It equips graduates with the knowledge to work alongside adults in New Zealand tertiary institutions such as adult and community education agencies, polytechnics, private training establishments, wananga and universities.
- PCSS530 Issues in Adult and Tertiary Education
Programme Advisor
Professor Brian Findsen
Email: brian.findsen@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4500 extn 8257
Room: TL.2.13
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
Please contact Programme Advisor to discuss your programme.
Arts Education
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This subject is concerned with the study of teaching and learning art, music, dance and drama in the education sectors, as well as in the population more generally.
Further papers will be offered from 2019. These will include a general Arts Education paper and papers in specialists Arts Education areas. For further information please contact the Programme Advisor.
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
See required research methods and research papers above.
Programme Advisor
Claire Coleman
Email: claire.coleman@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4466 extn 7867
Room: TC.3.26
Counselling Studies
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This subject is designed to give access to Counselling Studies within an education orientation. It is not a professional counselling qualification, but offers an introduction to practice skills within specific contexts. For example, qualified teachers who see their future in the pastoral network of a school can use these papers to develop their skills in and understanding of guidance and pastoral care.
At least 60 points from:
- HDCO540 Working with Groups
- HDCO546 Conflict Resolution: Restorative Practices
- HDCO549 Counselling and Contexts
- HDCO565 Restorative Practices in Education not offered in 2018
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
See required research methods and research papers above.
Programme Advisor
Paul Flanagan
Email: paul.flanagan@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4500 ext 7728
Room: TT.5.09
Education
Programmes of study - Early Years Education or eEducation
Students may choose papers from across the lists for the subjects or specialisations offered for the Master of Education, or choose one of the programmes of study within the subject Education.
Early Years Education
This area of study focuses on aspects of early years from birth to the middle school period of life and learning. These papers are especially relevant for those with a background in early childhood education who wish to further/deepen their understandings of pedagogy and curriculum with young children and examine issues, policies and philosophies that impact on infants, toddlers and young children, as well as teachers, parents and communities.
- HDCO502 Educational and Life Transitions: Changing Roles and Changing Contexts
- PCSS513 Educational Thought
- PROF513 Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs
- PROF533 Engaging Families and Communities in Early Years Programmes: Collaborative and Cultural Inquiry Approaches
- PROF551 Special Topic: Challenging Practice through Dialogue for 21st Century Learners
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
Programme Advisor
AProf Jayne White
Email: jayne.white@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4466 extn 8744
Room: V 19 Windermere Campus
eEducation
This programme is targeted at students, teachers and others involved with digital technologies at all levels of education who wish to develop their knowledge and practice of using them for teaching and learning purposes. The programme encompasses both online learning and emerging classroom and institution-based eLearning practice, and provides a sound platform for students wishing to progress to dissertation or thesis-level study in either of these areas. This programme is fully online and combines contemporary asynchronous and synchronous online learning technologies. All papers are thematically-based and offer participants opportunities to explore areas of personal and professional interest and relevance.
- PROF521 Digital Technologies in the Classroom: New Pedagogies, New Practices
- PROF522 Teaching and Learning Using the Internet - not offered in 2018
- PROF524 Learning and Leadership in the Communication Age
- PROF525 E-Learning Policy to Practice in the New Zealand Context - not offered in 2018
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
Programme Advisor
Dr Dianne Forbes
Email: dianne.forbes@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4466 extn 7844
Room: TL.3.14
Postgraduate Diploma in Education with a Specialisation in eEducation
Education and Society
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This subject involves critical inquiry into the social political, cultural, economic and personal theories and practices of lifelong education. Whilst its origins are in humanities and social sciences disciplines such as History, Philosophy and Sociology, Education and Society today has close affinities with contemporary interdisciplinary fields exploring issues of social policy, culture, gender, critical pedagogy, globalisation, and curriculum.
At least 60 points from:
- PCSS503 Indigenous and Post-Colonial Global Perspectives in Education
- PCSS507 Global Citizenship and International Development Education not offered in 2018
- PCSS508 Education Policy and Society
- PCSS513 Educational Thought
- PCSS530 Issues in Adult and Tertiary Education
- PCSS587 Globalisation, Cultures, Identities and Education
- PCSS589 Global Processes, Education and New Media Cultures
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
See required research methods and research papers above.
Programme Advisor
Professor Brian Findsen
Email: brian.findsen@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4500 extn 8257
Room: TL.2.13
Global Studies in Education
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This specialisation builds upon the traditions of comparative and international education as well as philosophy and sociology of education to explore and research the global dimensions of education. Our courses address globalisation, internationalization and interconnectivity; bicultural, multicultural and intercultural education and dialogue; education policy, politics and governance; global youth cultures and identities; new media and popular cultures; gender, class and racial inequalities; the political economy of knowledge production and knowledge management; education and development; the new global ecologies of learning; open education; and global citizenship.
Our courses are suitable for educators in all sectors of the community.
Required papers
- PCSS587 Globalisation, Cultures, Identities and Education
- And at least 30 points from the following papers:
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
See required research methods and research papers above.
Programme advisor
- Professor Tina Besley
Email: tina.besley@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (7) 838 4466 ext 6246
Room: TL.2.12
Human Development
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This subject critically examines diverse expressions of development. It explores the contextual, cultural and relational influences on individuals, families, groups and communities throughout the human lifespan. Graduates will be able to use their knowledge to enhance practice and policy imperatives in a range of careers of that involve working with or for people.
At least 60 points from:
- HDCO502 Educational and Life Transitions: Changing roles, and changing contexts
- HDCO503 Development of Children and Young People: International Perspectives
- HDCO504 Difference and Diversity in Human Development
- HDCO521 Contemporary Issues in Disability and Inclusion Studies
- HDCO540 Working with Groups
- HDCO544 Discourse and Counselling Psychologies
- HDCO549 Counselling and Contexts
- HDCO565 Restorative Practices in Education - not offered in 2018
- HDCO524 Intelligence, Creativity and the Development of Talent
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
See required research methods and research papers above.
Programme Advisor
Dr Nadine Ballam
Email: nadine.ballam@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 557 8940
Room: WIND V113
Language and Literacy Education
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This subject builds on your educational experiences, and provides opportunities to explore a variety of theoretical perspectives, approaches and issues as indicated by the papers offered. The purpose of these papers is to enable educators to deepen their knowledge of classroom practices, explore literacy acquisition in a diverse range of contexts, develop greater expertise in literacy leadership, and provide background for future literacy research interests.
At least 60 points from:
- ALED501 Literacy Education: Approaches and Perspectives
- ALED504 Reading Difficulties
- ALED522 Best Practice in the Writing Classroom
- ALED523 Using Literature in the Primary and Secondary Classroom
See required research methods and research papers above.
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
Programme Advisor
Wendy Carss
Email: wendy.carss@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4466 extn 7862
Room: TC.3.27
Māori Medium Teaching/Te Kaupapa Arareo Māori
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This specialisation is offered to teachers and gradates involved or wishing to be involved in Māori medium teaching contexts. The programme offers a critical examination of theories of first and second language acquisition, learning, teaching and assessment, indigenous theory and practice, indigenous language revival as well as leadership in the context of Māori medium education in Aotearoa New Zealand. This programme also introduces potential researchers to Kaupapa Māori research methodology. This programme is delivered through the medium of te reo Māori..
This specialisation has three required content papers and a required research methods paper.
Required papers
- MBED501 Mātauranga Reo Māori
- MBED502 Tirohanga Whakahaere
- MBED503 Te Whakaora Reo: Mātauranga Rumaki
- MAOED500 Kaupapa Māori Research
Directed study or dissertation to be determined in consultation with the Programme Adviser
- A TeachNZ Study Award is available for this programme.
Programme Advisor
Karaitiana Tamatea
Email: karaitiana.tamatea@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4466 extn 7814
Room: TT.3.06
Mathematics Education
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This subject caters for practising teachers who wish to strengthen their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in mathematics, or become curriculum leaders in mathematics/numeracy within their school, newly graduated teachers who wish to strengthen their PCK in mathematics, or become curriculum leaders in mathematics/numeracy within a school in the future.
At least 60 points from:
- MSTE501 Mathematics Education
- MSTE502 Acquiring Numeracy: How Thinking Develops
- MSTE503 Effective Practice in the Mathematics classroom
See required research methods and research papers above.
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
Programme Advisor
AProf Brenda Bicknell
Email: brenda.bicknell@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4466 extn 6971
Room: TC.2.40
Professional Learning
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This specialisation is offered for mid-career educators and professional learning facilitators, who work as leaders of professional learning initiatives with colleagues in schools and other communities of practice, where professional learning is an on-going expectation. The programme aims to support the development of practice of these professionals so that they are recognised as excellent practitioners of in-service professional learning. Students must have at least five years’ experience in a relevant professional context, and be currently employed in a relevant professional context.
Required papers
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
See required research methods and research papers above.
Programme advisors
Frances Edwards
Email: frances.edwards@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (7) 838 4466 ext 6170
Room: TT6.09
Anthony Fisher
Email: anthony.fisher@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (7) 838 4466 ext 7836
Room: TT.2.07
Science, Technology and Environmental Education
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This subject offers professional development for teachers of these curriculum subjects. An integrated approach is taken to education across Science, Technology, and Environmental Education. Students will develop their own approach to teaching their specialist subject(s). Students will be supported to complete an evidence-based inquiry on a teaching-related topic of their own choosing.
Please note that a specialisation for the MEd is available in STEM Education in which students can take papers from across all four contributing subjects, including Mathematics Education.
At least 60 points from:
- STER508 Science Education
- STER511 Technology Education
- STER512 Innovations in Science, Technology or Environmental Education
- STER513 Environmental and Sustainability Education
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
See required research methods and research papers above.
Programme Advisor
Dr Louise Milne
Email: louise.milne@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4466 extn 4680
Room: TC.4.05
STEM Education
Expand for specialisation details
This specialisation offers professional development for teachers of specific curriculum subjects. An integrated approach is taken to education across all the STEM (Science, Technology, Environmental Education and Mathematics) subjects. Students will develop their own approach to teaching their specialist subject(s), and will be supported to complete an evidence-based inquiry on a teaching-related topic of their own choosing.
Required papers
At least 60 points from:
- MSTE501 Mathematics Education
- MSTE502 Acquiring Numeracy: How Thinking Develops
- MSTE503 Effective Practice in the Mathematics Classroom
- STER508 Science Education
- STER511 Technology Education
- STER512 Innovations in Science, Technology or Environmental Education
- STER513 Environmental and Sustainability Education
You may choose further papers from any subject or specialisation offered for the Master of Education, or from the Master of Educational Leadership.
Contacts
Te Kura Toi Tangata Faculty of Education
Faculty Administrator - Postgraduate
Tracey Rowan
Phone: +64 (7) 838 4466 Ext: 7721
Room: TC.2.46
Email: educ_grad@waikato.ac.nz
Programme Adviser
Professor Brian Findsen
Email: brian.findsen@waikato.ac.nz
Phone: 07 838 4500 extn 8257
Room: TL.2.13
Faculty Co-ordinator - Postgraduate Studies (Tauranga)
Dr Nigel Calder
Phone: +64 (7) 577 8753
Room: WIND.V21
Email: nigel.calder@waikato.ac.nz