Master of Arts in Sociology

at Massey University - Auckland Campus New Zealand

This unique degree is for those who love being creative, writing and the performing arts, but also want to discover how the media shape our identities and our world.

In this unique composite major, you’ll study courses in both media studies and expressive arts. You’ll blend theory with creative practice.

Expressive arts is unique in New Zealand and was created in response to student demand. You’ll get to study a combination of the three creative discipline areas of theatre, creative writing, or digital media production.

In the media studies part of your study, you will learn about the production, consumption and content of media and their social, cultural, political and economic implications.

You will learn how decisions are made on what is communicated, how media forms and industry structures shape those messages, and how this impacts our lives and understanding of the world.

Equip yourself with the knowledge and empathy to lead cross-cultural interactions. Through the study of linguistics you’ll grow your ability to drive social change and shape the future of our nation.

Linguistics is the study of language, including:

• Its structure and meaning
• How it is learnt and used
• What our language says about who we are and where we come from.

From interacting with friends to communicating with colleagues, language plays a fundamental role in both our public and private lives. This includes written and spoken communication, problem-solving, and social and cultural awareness. Our lecturers will encourage you to develop a deeper understanding of your own self-identity and social interactions.

Specialise in Zoology for your Master of Science at Massey
When you study towards the Master of Science (Zoology), you will be able to take advantage of Massey’s expertise in animal-related disciplines. We have a wide and relevant group of expertise within the university:

• zoology
• veterinary science
• ecology
• wildlife health
• conservation biology
• agriculture
• physiology
• animal science
• environmental management
• social sciences.

You will learn from, and research with, highly-skilled, internationally recognised and active researchers in these fields, with a huge depth of knowledge and experience. Whatever focus you’d like to have in your postgraduate study and research, there is likely to be an expert at Massey who can help you dig deeper into your area of interest.

Gain practical business skills that employers are searching for with Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Business. You’ll be able to design this qualification to suit your interests and your lifestyle.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDipBus) provides you with an advanced education in business. It consists of taught courses, though you may include a project in an area of interest.

If you have a degree (not necessarily in business) and would like to study business at a postgraduate level this qualification may suit you.

Pursue your passion for education. The Massey Bachelor of Arts (Education) delivers skills and strategies for learning, from the sociological to the philosophical. You’ll explore the developmental and cultural factors that influence approaches to learning. You’ll gain transferable skills that will serve you personally and professionally.

You may not have previous international business experience but have found yourself a manager of staff working in this area. Or you may be looking at moving into a management role in the international business area. If so, Massey’s Master of Management (International Business) will increase your understanding and expertise in international-business related skills and knowledge. Such expertise is particularly relevant when working for firms in countries with small domestic markets (like New Zealand), where internationalisation is an imperative.

Exporting, internationalisation, and managing in a multinational environment

You will  learn and gain practical insights about:

• Essentials of exporting, including international market choice, basics of foreign exchange, international marketing, and logistics
• The underlying trade and internationalization theories  
• How to grow a multinational enterprise across diverse cultural, administrative and political, geographic and economic environments
• Strategies to enter foreign markets
• Strategies to compete successfully in international markets
• How to respond to cross-cultural management challenges such as working in multicultural teams
• How to respond to grand challenges in global markets (sustainability and resilience in times of crisis).

The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Social Anthropology) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in social anthropology without completing a second bachelor’s degree. A Massey Graduate Diploma in Arts (Social Anthropology) is a bridging tool for graduates in other subjects to get the equivalent of a major in social anthropology.

Massey University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology (Conservation Biology) gives you the opportunity to join the pathway to in-depth research at a master's level. The qualification consists of 90 credits of taught courses and 30 credits of research.

The qualification gives you the opportunity to show your analytical thinking and high-level research capability. 

The Master of Engineering Studies (Mechatronics) is part of the most well-established offering of mechatronics within New Zealand. Massey staff have many years work experience in these areas.

With the Master of Engineering Studies (Mechatronics) you will gain advanced knowledge in research methods, mechatronics, and robotics, as well as additive manufacturing and system design and integrations. This is through the taught element of the qualification. You will then have the opportunity to develop these further in a postgraduate research project.

Much of our knowledge of the wider world and ourselves comes from the various 'screens' popular culture and the mass media use to entertain, inform, and instruct. The social, economic, and cultural importance of the mass media for communication in modern life requires critical analysis and understanding. In a world where it is difficult to escape the impact of the media, media studies provide analysis. It gives you an understanding of the production, consumption, and content of the media industries.

The approach is interdisciplinary – you’ll draw on on areas like:

• Linguistics
• Textual analysis
• Cultural studies
• Aesthetics
• Politics
• Ideologies of gender, race, social class, and national identity.

You’ll also learn about the media industry's codes, conventions, and production techniques.

The course includes a practical component as a useful learning supplement.