Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours (BSocSc(Hons))

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

Admission

  1. Candidates for the Degree must have
    1. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Social Sciences of the University of Waikato or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, and
    2. satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board and
    3. for the subjects listed in clause 7(a), normally achieved a B grade average either: over the best 120 points of their major; or over the 300 level papers completed that are listed for their major's subject.
  2. 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

  1. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree is one year.
  2. Candidates must enrol in the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences and follow an approved programme of study.
  3. Candidates must gain 120 points at 500 level or above.
  4. Candidates must gain at least 60 points from one of the following subjects, including any compulsory papers prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Subject Regulations:
    1. Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences subjects requiring admission through clause 2(c)

      Anthropology
      Economics
      Environmental Planning
      Geography
      History
      Philosophy
      Political Science
      Population Studies and Demography
      Psychology
      Public Policy
      Screen and Media Studies
      Social Policy
      Sociology

    2. Other Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Science subjects

      Health Development and Policy1

    3. Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies subjects

      Māori and Indigenous Studies
      Pacific and Indigenous Studies

  5. Candidates must include at least 30 points in research, as prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the Subject Regulations.
  6. Candidates may take up to 30 points from outside the field of the Degree.
  7. The field of the Degree comprises all the subjects listed in section 7 of these regulations.
  8. 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.

Award of Honours

  1. 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. Third Class Honours.
  2. Except with the approval of the Academic Board, the level of honours will be calculated on the basis of the grades of the first 120 points completed by the candidate while enrolled for the Degree, including any failed paper.

Variations

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

Notes:

There will be no new intake into this subject in 2025.