Regulations for the Degree of Master of Environment and Society (MEnvSoc)

1. The Personal Programmes of Study Regulations apply in these regulations.

Admission

2. Candidates for the Degree must have
   1. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Social Sciences of the University of Waikato with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
   2. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours, or Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours with at least second class honours (second division), or Bachelor of Environmental Planning, with at least a B grade average across the 300 and 400 level papers, or for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma of the University of Waikato in a relevant subject, with at least a B grade average, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent,
      
      and
   3. satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
3. In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the requirements of section 2 of these regulations may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.

Requirements for the Degree

4. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under 2(a) of these regulations is one calendar year or one and a half academic years. The normal minimum period of enrolment for candidates admitted under 2(b) of these regulations is one academic year. The requirements of the Degree must be completed within four consecutive years of first enrolling for the Degree.
5. Candidates must enrol in the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences and follow an approved programme of study.
6. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain 180 points at 500 level or above. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations must gain 120 points at 500 level or above.

7. 1. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain at least 60 points from the papers listed in Appendix A to these regulations, and at least 30 points from the papers listed in Appendix B to these regulations, including any compulsory papers prescribed in the Environment and Society entry in the University of Waikato Catalogue of Papers.

   2. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations must gain at least 30 points from the papers listed in Appendix A to these regulations, including any compulsory papers prescribed in the Environment and Society entry in the University of Waikato Catalogue of Papers.
8. Candidates must include at least 45 points from the papers listed in Appendix C to these regulations.
9. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations may take up to 60 points from outside the field of the Degree. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations may take up to 30 points from outside the field of the Degree.
10. If a candidate fails a paper or papers (worth not more than 30 points in total), they may repeat the paper or papers or take an alternative paper or papers with the same total points value on one occasion only. A candidate who fails a paper or papers worth more than 30 points in total will not be permitted to proceed with the Degree.²

Examination of thesis (90 points and above)

11. The University will appoint two examiners for the candidate's thesis; one examiner external to the University and active in the research field of the thesis; and one examiner internal to the University, with a good grounding in the research field, who is not directly connected to the candidate, or the candidate’s thesis research or supervision.

Award of Honours

12. The Degree may be awarded with
    1. First Class Honours, or
    2. Second Class Honours (first division), or
    3. Second Class Honours (second division), or
    4. or without honours.
13. Except with the approval of the Academic Board, the level of honours will be calculated on the basis of grades for all of the papers completed for the Degree, including any failed paper.

Variations

14. The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Division or delegated authority may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases.

Notes:

1. Candidates admitted under 2(a) may include a 120 point thesis only with the approval of the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Division or delegated authority. Candidates admitted under 2(b) will not normally be able to include a research component of more than 90 points.
2. Candidates who are ineligible to continue with the Degree may be eligible to graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma.