MSc - Environmental Sciences as a main subject
Main Subject
The Master of Science is valued for its flexibility and excellence, and can be tailored to suit your needs. You can select your papers from a range of subjects and the mix of research and taught papers are customised to suit your interests and goals.
The pressure on our environment is increasing as the human population grows. Environmental Sciences provide a basis for understanding environmental problems, and finding solutions to them.
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Key information
| Years: | 1 - 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Points: | 120 - 180 |
| Start Dates: | Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July) |
| Estimated Fees* (Domestic): | $8,276 - $9,292 per year |
| Estimated Fees* (International): | $40,860 (120 pts) $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
- Agricultural Adviser
- Biosecurity Officer
- Coastal Resource Manager
- Consent Planner
- Environmental Analyst
- Environmental Scientist
- Hydrologist
- Oceanographer
- Water Resource Manager
Degree Planner
Papers
Papers available within Environmental Sciences
Prescriptions for the PGCert(EnvSci), PGDip(EnvSci), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc(Res) and MSc(Tech) [1]
To complete a postgraduate subject in Environmental Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 60 points (for PGDip a minimum of 90 points) of taught papers in the subject at 500 level, including at least 30 points with an ENVSC prefix from the papers in List A, and a maximum of 30 points from the papers in List B. They must also complete any research requirement for their degree, typically ENVSC592 (60 points), ENVSC593 (90 points) or ENVSC594 (120 points), as well as any other degree requirements. Candidates should select their papers in consultation with the Postgraduate Convenor and enrolment in BSc(Hons) is only by invitation of the Postgraduate Convenor.
List A papers are: ENVSC501, ENVSC502, ENVSC503, ENVSC504 and ENVSC505.
List B papers are: BIOEB502, BIOEB503, BIOEB504, BIOEB505, BIOEB506, BIOMO503, BIOMO512, CHEMY503, EARTH501, EARTH502, EARTH503, EARTH504, EARTH505, EARTH506, ENGEV544, ENGEV545, SCIEN511, SCIEN512 and SCIEN589.
[1] The MSc(Tech) will not be offered in 2024.
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOEB503 | Terrestrial Ecology | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper aims to develop students' understanding of ecological theory with a focus on terrestrial ecosystems, and of how theory can inform ecosystem management and our understanding of environmental problems. As well as exploring some of the big questions in contemporary ecology (both nationally and internationally), the paper fo... | |||
| BIOEB504 | Freshwater Ecology | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores how advances in ecological theory and scientific methods can deliver new insights into the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems. The paper also considers how this knowledge can improve our understanding of environmental problems and help guide freshwater management. | |||
| BIOEB505 | Coastal and Estuarine Ecology | 15.0 | 24X (Block) |
| This paper emphasises multi-disciplinary science to better understand the functioning of soft-sediment ecosystems. The course will cover ecological principles through to the impacts associated with human activities and their management. | |||
| BIOEB506 | Environmental Physiology | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| An examination of selected topics in environmental physiology, considering how animals and plants interact with their environment and influence ecological processes in natural and managed ecosystems. | |||
| BIOMO503 | Microbiomes | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores microbiomes in the environment and in association with multicellular organisms, including humans, to understand their critical ecological roles in ecosystem and host function and health. | |||
| BIOMO512 | Molecular Techniques for Environmental Science | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper will introduce students of diverse scientific backgrounds to current and emerging molecular analytic and diagnostic techniques used across biological and environmental sciences. | |||
| CHEMY503 | Analytical Methodology | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| An advanced study of analytical methodology and instrumental techniques, this will investigate sample extraction techniques, and instrument choice for a variety of sample matrices. | |||
| EARTH501 | Volcanic Techniques and Applications | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper investigates geological techniques used to reconstruct eruption processes and histories, and their application to society, including volcanic facies analysis, tephra studies (tephrochronology), volcanic glass and mineral studies, juvenile and lithic studies, and volcanic hazards. | |||
| EARTH503 | Coastal Processes: Analysis and Prediction | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper considers techniques to predict coastal processes for management and research, including assessment of which processes to observe, how to obtain and analyse data, and using results for prediction. | |||
| EARTH504 | Geohazard Risk | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This seminar paper evaluates the methodologies used to characterise risk associated with geohazards, and assesses the impact of strategies employed to avoid or mitigate this risk. | |||
| EARTH506 | Sedimentary Geology | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| A paper that builds on the foundational knowledge of sedimentary geology established at the undergraduate level. It focuses on examining the application of sedimentological, stratigraphical, and geophysical principles to mapping Earth materials and building cross sections through sedimentary basins. | |||
| ENVSC502 | Conservation and Restoration: Theory and Practice | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the application of scientific principles and theories in conservation biology and restoration ecology, with particular reference to New Zealand examples showcasing management of species and ecosystems impacted by human activities. | |||
| ENVSC503 | Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Land | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| Processes and factors controlling exchanges of water, carbon and greenhouse gases in natural or managed ecosystems, methodologies to quantify them, and approaches to mitigate undesirable anthropogenic consequences. | |||
| ENVSC504 | Pollution and Environmental Contaminants | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the ecological effects of chemical and non-chemical pollution. Analysing online databases and the scientific literature provides practical and theoretical understanding of the impacts of pollution and methods to measure such effects. | |||
| ENVSC505 | Environmental Systems: Biogeosciences across Scales | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines how core concepts in the multidisciplinary field of biogeochemistry provide a systems understanding across scales. | |||
| ENVSC592 | Dissertation | 60.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation - 60 points. | |||
| ENVSC594 | Environmental Sciences Thesis | 120.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research - 120 points. | |||
| SCIEN512 | Data Analysis and Experimental Design | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper covers aspects of research design for experiments, and methods for analysis of scientific data using modern statistical techniques. | |||
| SCIEN589 | Directed Study | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24C (Hamilton) & 24C (Tauranga) |
| No description available. | |||
Scholarships and prizes
Selected scholarships for Environmental Sciences students.
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Dr Stella Frances Memorial Scholarship Accepting applications
For students who are enrolled or are intending to enrol in the final year of a masters degree at the University of Waikato and are undertaking research that applies to the conservation or environmental issues in the Waikato region.
Closing Date: 29 February 2024
Tess Embling Memorial Scholarship Not currently accepting applications
For full and part-time students, who are enrolled in or are intending to enrol in the first year of a Masters degree in the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science in 2023. The scholarship will have a value of up to $5,000.
Looking for more scholarships?
Contacts
School of Science
Phone: 0800 924 528 or +64 7 838 4625
Email: [email protected]
Website: sci.waikato.ac.nz
Facebook: facebook.com/WaikatoScience