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.

Women's and Gender Studies

Women’s lives, their status in society, the nature of contemporary gender relations, and the social construction of femininities, masculinities and sexualities, are the topics at the heart of Women's and Gender Studies at Waikato. Learn what critical thinkers have to say on these subjects, and bring your own understanding to the mix.

Women’s and Gender Studies at Waikato offers specialised knowledge of gender relations and social change in relation to the media, health, paid and unpaid work, education, sexuality, social policy and the law.

Adding Women’s and Gender Studies to your degree will enable you to develop critical thinking skills, and prepare you to respond effectively to a wide range of social justice issues. Students who enjoy social sciences and history, and are interested in learning more about women’s and men’s roles in society today and in the past, will find the subject a stimulating addition to their degree, either as a major or supporting subject.

Women’s and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary subject. It goes particularly well with sociology, social policy, anthropology, education studies, geography, history, law and psychology.

There are employment opportunities for Women's and Gender Studies graduates within advocacy groups, government agencies, human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations and social services agencies.

Career opportunities

• Equal Employment Opportunity Officer
• Gender Consultant
• Gender Development Project Coordinator
• Human Resource Manager
• Human Rights Advocate
• Policy Analyst

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.