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History

Historians study the past to understand the present. History at Waikato will inspire you to understand current events in light of historical context and give you a first-rate history education from a top 200 QS-rated programme.

You'll explore connections to previous generations, how they influence today, and if they were really all that different. History isn't just what happened before, but is also an investigation into, and use of, reliable research methods. We'll challenge you to ask questions, use critical enquiry into historical evidence and consider new ways of looking at the past in light of that new evidence.

When you study History, it isn't just for the classroom either. New Zealanders are keen to gain new perspectives on the "hidden history" of the pre-Waitangi Tribunal. People are also fascinated to learn their family's story and the circumstances that surround their ancestor's immigration to New Zealand.

Key themes of our research and teaching are Māori and Indigenous history, Pacific history, gender in history, research methods and theory, and US history. You'll gain a broad perspective of what goes into the correct historical analysis as well as analytical and critical thinking skills that employers value in other fields.

Apply to enrol

Key information

Study Locations:Hamilton, Online
Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info.
Area of Study:

Study History in these qualifications

Study History as a specialisation of

Career opportunities

  • Archivist
  • Documentary Researcher
  • Historian
  • Journalist
  • Museum or Gallery Curator
  • Political Speechwriter
  • Tour Guide

100 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
HISTY107New Zealand Histories: Fresh Perspectives15.022A (Hamilton)
This introductory paper provides students with an overview of Aotearoa New Zealand's histories through hundreds of years of Maori and Iwi history and British Colonial invasions, to the present. Students explore popular overarching myths and narratives of Aotearoa NZ history, key events, peoples and leading scholarship in the field....
HISTY117Global Histories15.022B (Hamilton)
This course offers an introduction to the field of global history. As well as looking at specific events, the course examines some of the major global interactions and transformations that have driven social and cultural change across time.

200 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
HISTY200Pacific History15.022B (Hamilton)
This course introduces students to the history of the Pacific from first settlement through to World War II, focusing on how indigenous peoples and diverse newcomers have engaged with each other and the Pacific's oceanic environment.
HISTY206History in Practice: Historical Methods and Research15.022A (Hamilton)
The paper focuses on the fundamental and accepted practices in academic historical scholarship and surveys a variety of significant historical and theoretical approaches to the discipline.
HISTY235Māori and Treaty History in Professional Practice15.022G (Hamilton)
This paper examines the application of Maori and Treaty history to professional practice. It explores how these histories are relevant to historical work in the private and public sectors today.
POLSC201Modern Political Thinkers15.022A (Online)
This course examines the ideas of a number of modern political thinkers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, and Marx.

300 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
HISTY300Gender in History15.022B (Hamilton)
Gender in History examines the role of gender in society, culture, and the lives of individuals by introducing students to a range of historical case studies and methodologies.
HISTY301Sugar and Spice: Commodities in Global History15.022B (Hamilton)
An examination of key commodities that have reshaped diets, economies and societies across the globe since the early modern period.
HISTY330Researching Iwi Māori History15.022A (Hamilton)
This paper explores the history of Maori and iwi peoples from Pacific origins to the present. It addresses the turning points, myths, discourses and narratives that have been mobilised to present Maori and iwi historical experiences. Students will examine the popular methods, theories, sources, and questions that have driven resear...
HISTY380Special Topic15.022A (Hamilton)
This paper introduces students to a specific field of historical enquiry while encouraging the development of professional-level skills in research and presentation.
HISTY390Directed Study15.0No occurrences
A Directed Study is a taught paper enabling an undergraduate student to undertake a piece of extended historiographical research. Students enrolled in this paper work on a focused piece of research and are individually supervised.
INTLC317French Culture from Versailles to the Revolution15.022B (Hamilton)
A study of France's literary, social, and historical movements from the Golden Age of Versailles through to the Enlightenment and the Revolution it inspired.

500 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
HISTY512Environmental History30.022B (Hamilton)
Environmental History explores the ways in which human societies, cultures, and economies have imagined and shaped, as well as been shaped by, the natural world across time and place from the development of agriculture to 20th century environmental movements.
HISTY516History and Theory30.022A (Hamilton)
This paper prepares students for professional historical practice and higher study through an investigation of relevant historiographical theories and methodologies.
HISTY591Dissertation30.022A (Hamilton), 22B (Hamilton) & 22D (Hamilton)
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
HISTY592Dissertation60.022X (Hamilton)
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
HISTY593History Thesis90.022X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
HISTY594History Thesis120.022X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

800 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
HISTY800History MPhil Thesis120.022X (Hamilton)
No description available.

900 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
HISTY900History PhD Thesis120.022I (Hamilton), 22J (Hamilton), 22K (Hamilton) & 22X (Hamilton)
No description available.

Scholarships and prizes

New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.

Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships

Find your scholarship

Potential PhD, MA or Honours Dissertation Candidates

All potential PhD, MA or Honours dissertation candidates must contact a current History staff member to discuss their Honours, MA or PhD dissertation topic before enrolling.

Staff may already have full supervision workloads or be away on research leave, so the sooner candidates contact staff the better. Potential candidates who wish to enrol in an Honours 591, MA programme or PhD thesis should take time to check whether current staff are available and have expertise in their chosen preferred topics.

Subject links

History Programme

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]

Please note: For all graduate subject requirements check the information provided in the Graduate Study Options section above.

Contacts

School of Social Sciences
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4030
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: [email protected]
Graduate and Postgraduate Email Enquiries: [email protected]