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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.

Papers studied within the History programme at Waikato can be grouped into seven themes – health, sustainability, conflict, global, national histories, professional practice and indigenous/encounter. 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.

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Key information

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

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

Prescriptions for the GradCert(Hist) and GradDip(Hist)

A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included History at an advanced level in their first degree.

For further details, contact the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Office.

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

To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in graduate History papers, a student should normally have at least a B average in either the best three of their 300 level History papers or all their undergraduate History papers.

To complete a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in History, students must gain 120 points from approved 500 level papers, including at least 30 points in research (normally HISTY591).

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

a) a BA or BSocSc with a major in History (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or

b) a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in History (or equivalent) with at least second class honours (second division), or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent.

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

Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including either a 120 point thesis, or a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.

Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.

Prescriptions for the MPhil

The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

Prescriptions for the PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

100 Level

Code Paper Title Occurrence / Location
HISTY107New Zealand Histories: Fresh Perspectives20A (Hamilton)
This introductory paper provides students with an overview of New Zealand's history, from first settlement to the present. The paper showcases exciting new developments in local and international historical scholarship and engages with contemporary issues.
HISTY117Global Histories20B (Hamilton)
This paper introduces students to global history, focusing on social, economic and political encounters between peoples across the Pacific Ocean from the Spanish Galleon trade to Cook's voyages of 'discovery'.

200 Level

Code Paper Title Occurrence / Location
HISTY200Pacific History20A (Hamilton)
This course introduces students to the history of the Pacific from the middle of the sixteenth century through to World War II. The course will examine cross-cultural encounters and the development of the major imperial systems that were established in the region, with a focus on exploring the ways in which different Pacific commun...
HISTY206History in Practice: Historical Methods and Research20B (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.
PHILO215Moral and Political Philosophy: A Historical Introduction20A (Hamilton)
A study of the moral and political philosophy of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hume and Mill. This paper uses Plato's Republic to introduce students to central issues in Moral and Political Philosophy, including questions about virtue, happiness, justice, liberty, democracy, tyranny, feminism, art, censorship, and moral educat...
POLSC224Terrorism, Violence and the State20B (Hamilton)
Terrorism is an increasingly prominent global phenomenon. We will clarify it conceptually and situate it historically with theory and case studies in situating it in comparative political and International Relations analysis.

300 Level

Code Paper Title Occurrence / Location
HISTY300Gender in History20A (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 History20B (Hamilton)
An examination of key commodities that have reshaped diets, economies and societies across the globe since the early modern period.
HISTY330Researching Iwi Māori History20A (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...
HISTY390Directed Study20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton) & 20D (Hamilton)
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.
POLSC300Religion and Political Violence20G (Online)
This paper examines religious attitudes to political authority and political violence. Students study the writings of major thinkers in the Christian tradition including Augustine, Aquinas, Luther and Calvin.

500 Level

Code Paper Title Occurrence / Location
HISTY500Private Lives in the Archives20B (Hamilton)
This paper examines how and why the personal lives of individuals are recorded and preserved in archives, and engages with practical, ethical, and intellectual questions about historical research.
HISTY516Historical Theories and Methods20A (Hamilton)
This paper prepares students for professional historical practice and higher study through an investigation of relevant historiographical theories and methodologies.
HISTY591Dissertation20D (Hamilton)
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
HISTY592Dissertation20X (Hamilton)
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
HISTY593History Thesis20X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
HISTY594History Thesis20X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

800 Level

Code Paper Title Occurrence / Location
HISTY800History MPhil Thesis20X (Hamilton)
No description available.

900 Level

Code Paper Title Occurrence / Location
HISTY900History PhD Thesis20I (Hamilton) & 20X (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

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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: wfass@waikato.ac.nz

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

Contacts

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4030
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: hist-fass@waikato.ac.nz
Graduate and Postgraduate Email Enquiries: hist-grad@waikato.ac.nz