Course details

Summary

Studying a graduate diploma helps you develop knowledge and skills in your chosen subject area which will enable you to undertake a new career or further study.

Graduate diplomas are intended to provide the equivalent of a major in a subject area that is different to your first degree’s major. You may be eligible if you haven’t studied for a degree before if you can demonstrate an interest in the subject area and a satisfactory academic ability.

A graduate diploma is a more in-depth version of a graduate certificate, is studied at undergraduate level, and can be completed in the equivalent of one year (two semesters) of full-time study.

To complete the qualifications, students need to gain 120 points at 100 level (first year papers) or above, including at least 80 points at 300 level (third year papers) or above, in the graduate diploma subjects.

Education and Society

Education and Society involves critical inquiry into the social, political, cultural, economic and personal theories and practices of lifelong education.

Education and Society today has close affinities with contemporary interdisciplinary fields exploring issues of social policy, culture, gender, work and leisure. Since education is as much concerned with who we might become as who we already are, it is relevant to all our collective and personal decision-making on questions of justice, rights and freedom.

Education and Society is available as a major for the BA and BSocSc. Education and Society may also be taken as a second major or as a supporting subject within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.

To complete a major in Education and Society, students must gain 120 points above 100 level in Education and Society, including 60 points at 200 level, including at least 40 points from PCSS coded papers, one of which is PCSS201, PCSS205 or PCSS231, and 60 points at 300 level, including at least 40 points from PCSS coded papers. As well as the 100 level prerequisites specified for papers at 200 level and above, it is recommended that students intending to major in Education and Society include one or more of HDCO100, HIST107, PHIL150, PSYC102, SMST102, SOCY101, TIKA163 or TIKA164 in the first year of their programme of study.

To complete a supporting subject in Education Studies, students must gain 30 points at 100 level, including PCSS101 and one of HDCO100, HIST107, PHIL150, PSYC102, SMST102, SOCY101, TIKA163 or TIKA164, and at least 40 points above 100 level, including one of PCSS201, PCSS205 or PCSS231.

Entry criteria

A qualification considered equivalent to a New Zealand bachelor’s degree with a B average.

English language requirements:

IELTS - 6.5 overall (no less than 6.0 in writing); iBT (internet based TOFEL) - 90 with a score of 22 in writing; Pearson PTE Academic- 65 with English language requirements no less than 58 for each communicative skill; From Waikato Pathways College - Successful completion of Level 8 with a B grade average in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic (CAAE) programme.