Education and Society Subject regulations
This subject involves critical inquiry into the social, political, cultural, and economic policies, theories and practices of education in New Zealand society. Its origins are in humanities and social science disciplines such as History, Philosophy, and Sociology, and it has close affinities with contemporary interdisciplinary fields exploring social policy, culture, gender, and work. Education and Society raises questions about the role of education in addressing issues of social justice, power and inequality.
Education and Society is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Education and Society may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Education and Society as a single major for the BA, BCC or the BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Education and Society, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete EDSOC100; at least 30 points from EDSOC200, EDSOC201, EDSOC202 and EDSOC204; and at least 30 points from EDSOC300, EDSOC301, EDSOC302 and EDSOC303.
To complete Education and Society as part of a double major for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degrees, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Education and Society including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete EDSOC100; at least 30 points from EDSOC200, EDSOC201, EDSOC202 and EDSOC204; and at least 30 points from EDSOC300, EDSOC301, EDSOC302 and EDSOC303.
To complete a minor in Education and Society, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Education and Society major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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GradCert(EdSoc) and GradDip(EdSoc) The qualification regulations define the requirements for the Graduate Certificate and the Graduate Diploma. There are no specified subject papers that must be completed for the GradCert(EdSoc).
The GradDip(EdSoc) qualification must include EDSOC101 and one of EDSOC100, EDSOC200 or EDSOC201.
Education and Society papers
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
EDSOC100
Education: Past and Present
This paper critically examines educational ideas and practices by considering philosophical, historical, political, socio-cultural and economic... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) |
|
PHILO150
The Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to philosophy that investigates a range of big questions. The big questions may include: does God exist?, does my morality apply to... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Online) & 27B (Tauranga) |
|
SOCIO101
Introduction to Sociology
This paper prepares students for further study in a range of social science subjects. It introduces the main sociological theories, concepts and... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Tauranga) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
EDSOC200
Politics and Policies of Education in Aotearoa New Zealand
This paper explores the political influences and discourses that are enacted in and through education policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through this... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
EDSOC201
The Purpose of Education
This paper engages with a number of theoretical principles that have underpinned the ways in which the aims of education have been imagined and... |
15 | 27B (Online) & 27B (Tauranga) |
|
EDSOC202
Planning Learning Opportunities for Adults
This paper investigates fundamental concepts of adult learning and then studies some adult learning theorists whose work is relevant to programme... |
15 | 27A (Online) |
|
EDSOC203
Education in the Moana: Critical Indigenous talatalanoa
This paper provides the foundational ideas and principles associated with Indigenous education aligned with Moana Mātauranga. It will examine the... |
15 | 27G (Hamilton) & 27G (Online) |
|
EDSOC204
The Aotearoa New Zealand Educational Context
This paper provides critical analyses of the contexts of learning, teaching and education in Aotearoa New Zealand from a variety of historical... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Tauranga) & 27X (Online) |
|
SOCPY200
Social Policy and Social Issues
The paper continues the study of social policy at 200 level. The focus of this paper is on the welfare state, the policy cycle as well as social... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
EDSOC300
Māori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education
This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Māori philosophies. It considers how Māori and Western philosophies respectively describe the... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) |
|
EDSOC302
Adults Learning for Life
This paper explores the character of adult learning including analysis of social issues in the field. It focusses on areas within lifelong learning... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Online) |
|
EDSOC303
Education and Sexuality
A study of the ways childhood and adult sexuality is constructed, monitored and regulated in society and in educational settings. The major emphasis... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
EDUCA590
Directed Study
Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff. |
30 | 27I (Hamilton) & 27I (Online) |
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EDSOC100 Education: Past and Present
This paper critically examines educational ideas and practices by considering philosophical, historical, political, socio-cultural and economic...
Points 15An introduction to philosophy that investigates a range of big questions. The big questions may include: does God exist?, does my morality apply to...
Points 15This paper prepares students for further study in a range of social science subjects. It introduces the main sociological theories, concepts and...
Points 15 -
EDSOC200 Politics and Policies of Education in Aotearoa New Zealand
This paper explores the political influences and discourses that are enacted in and through education policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through this...
Points 15This paper engages with a number of theoretical principles that have underpinned the ways in which the aims of education have been imagined and...
Points 15This paper investigates fundamental concepts of adult learning and then studies some adult learning theorists whose work is relevant to programme...
Points 15This paper provides the foundational ideas and principles associated with Indigenous education aligned with Moana Mātauranga. It will examine the...
Points 15This paper provides critical analyses of the contexts of learning, teaching and education in Aotearoa New Zealand from a variety of historical...
Points 15The paper continues the study of social policy at 200 level. The focus of this paper is on the welfare state, the policy cycle as well as social...
Points 15 -
EDSOC300 Māori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education
This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Māori philosophies. It considers how Māori and Western philosophies respectively describe the...
Points 15This paper explores the character of adult learning including analysis of social issues in the field. It focusses on areas within lifelong learning...
Points 15A study of the ways childhood and adult sexuality is constructed, monitored and regulated in society and in educational settings. The major emphasis...
Points 15 -
EDUCA590 Directed Study
Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff.
Points 30
2027 Subject regulation information current as at 16 Aug 2026 01:00am