GeographySubject regulations

Geography matters because it is about human relationships: between people and the environment, between people and other people. A clear grasp of Geography can provide insight into environmental, social and cultural problems and help us manage our resources effectively.

Geography is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC) and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Geography may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Geography as a single major for the BA, BCC and BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Geography, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete GEOGY101 and GEOGY102.

To complete Geography as part of a double major for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degrees, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Geography, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete GEOGY101 and GEOGY102.

To complete a minor in Geography, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Geography major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.

Some Geography papers include practical work in the laboratory and/or fieldwork. Fieldwork may be carried out in weekends or in teaching recesses.

Further details are available from the Geography Programme.

Other qualifications

Prescriptions for:

A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Geography at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
To complete a [BA(Hons)]https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/calendar/regulations/bachelors-honours/bahons/) or BSocSc(Hons) in Geography, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research and at least 30 points from papers listed for Geography. Within the PGCert(Geog), PGDip(Geog) and BSocSc(Hons) a specialisation in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is available. Details of the specialisation requirements can be obtained from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
The qualification regulations define the admission requirements for enrolment into the MA or MSocSc in Geography.
Completion requirements for the MA or MSocSc in Geography vary according to admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including ALPSS500, one of GEOGY500, GEOGY520, GEOGY538 or GEOGY548, and at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.
Students admitted under b) above must complete 120 points from approved 500-level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.
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.
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.

Geography papers

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
GEOGY101Sustainable Geographies An introduction to the rich field of social and cultural geography with links to the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals. A foundation paper for...	15	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online) & 25B (Tauranga)
GEOGY102A Planet Under Pressure In recent decades humans have become geological agents, changing physical processes of the earth by such actions as burning fossil fuels, expanding...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online) & 25A (Secondary School - Unistart)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ENVPL201Introduction to Resource Management This paper is designed to provide students with an introduction to law and policy relevant to the practice of environmental planning and management...	15	25A (Hamilton)
GEOGY209Health, People, Place This paper draws on critical analysis of health, people and place to introduce contemporary developments in socio-cultural geography. Attention is...	15	25B (Online)
GEOGY219Māori Lands and Communities This paper introduces students to Māori geographical perspectives and examines key events that shape Māori communities and their relationships to...	15	25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY228Introduction to Geographical Information Systems and Big Data GIS and big data are revolutionising the application of Geography in the job market. This paper provides foundational knowledge in digital Geography...	15	25A (Hamilton)
PHILO217Environmental Ethics A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the...	15	25H (Online)
POPST201Population Studies This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the multidisciplinary field of Population Studies. Students will develop a sound understanding...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ENVPL300Planning in Aotearoa New Zealand This paper provides students with a practical understanding of the broad range of different types of contemporary urban planning which occurs in New...	15	25A (Hamilton)
ENVPL302Māori Resource Management This paper introduces Māori principles of resource management and examines their relevance to contemporary planning processes.	15	25A (Hamilton)
ENVPL309Urban Spatial Analysis This paper will provide students with hands-on spatial analytical skills for environmental planning practice in an urban context. Students will...	15	25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY301Disasters and Development Development has a significant influence on the way in which hazards impact on people, and the occurrence of disasters alters the scope of...	15	25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY302Cultural Mapping This paper delves into social and cultural geography, introducing key concepts, approaches, and methodologies for cultural mapping. This consists of...	15	25A (Hamilton)
GEOGY309Social and Cultural Geographies of Difference This paper is a forum for debate in critical geographies of difference. Key concerns are intersections between gender, ethnicity, nationality and...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga)
GEOGY328Geographical Information Systems GIS is used widely in a range of industries and government agencies, and graduates competent in GIS are sort after for employment. This paper is...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
PHILO317Environmental Ethics Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of...	15	25H (Online)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ALPSS500Academic & Professional Research & Writing In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills...	30	25A (Online) & 25B (Online)
ENVPL500Advanced Environmental Assessment and Planning This is a project-based paper that provides an understanding of how environmental assessments are prepared, and used to assist decision-making and...	15	25B (Hamilton)
ENVPL504Plan Making This paper covers the steps involved in plan-making and plan-implementation processes. This includes issues identification; visioning; definition of...	15	25B (Hamilton)
ENVPL508Plans and Consents This paper is designed to provide students with skills and experience in the application of resource management plans and the resource consent...	15	25X (Block)
ENVPL509Urban Spatial Analysis This paper will provide students with hands-on spatial analytical skills for environmental planning practice in an urban context. Students will...	15	25B (Hamilton)
ENVPL510Planning Theory This paper discusses the various theories that influence how we plan our world. It will cover issues such as power, justice, governance, politics...	15	25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY500People, Place, Power This paper is a forum for debate in geographies of people and power. Key concerns are the intersections between gender, Māori, Indigeneity...	30	25A (Online)
GEOGY520Human Dimensions of Environmental Change This paper examines the increasing risks imposed on human communities by global environmental change. The paper establishes a platform for the...	30	25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY538Automated Spatial Analysis using Geographic Information Systems Automated GIS, using programming or scripts, are extremely powerful compared to the 'point and click' environment, and are the most practical method...	15	25X (Block)
GEOGY558Applied Geographic Information Systems for Research and Planning GIS is used widely in a range of industries and government agencies, and graduates competent in GIS are sort after for employment. This paper is...	15	25A (Hamilton)
GEOGY591Research Project A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.	30	25X (Hamilton)
GEOGY592Dissertation A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.	60	25X (Hamilton)
GEOGY593Geography Thesis An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.	90	25X (Hamilton)
GEOGY594Geography Thesis An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.	120	25X (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
GEOGY800Geography MPhil Thesis	120	25X (Hamilton)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
GEOGY900Geography PhD Thesis	120	25I (Hamilton) & 25I (Tauranga) & 25J (Hamilton) & 25K (Hamilton) & 25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)

2025 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 9 Apr 2025 01:00am

GeographySubject regulations

Other qualifications

GradCert(Geog) and GradDip(Geog)

PGCert(Geog), PGDip(Geog), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc

MPhil

PhD

Geography papers