Master of Philosophy in Population Studies

at The University of Waikato - Tauranga Campus New Zealand

Strategic Management enables you to discern a company's potential, find new market opportunities, and develop a clear plan to achieve growth and success.

Strategy is at the top level of management. It considers the 'total enterprise' to ensure all of an organisation's resources are being managed effectively as a cohesive unit.

In this subject, you'll learn how to think critically about a company's situation and devise strategies to improve future performance. You'll develop an eye for emerging threats and opportunities, such as new competitors or changing consumer trends, and keeping pace with legislative or market changes.

You'll also analyse practical case studies about real-world companies to help you to develop your analytical, decision-making and problem-solving skills, which are in high demand with employers.

Ongoing progress in computer technology means that there is a steady need for more qualified computer professionals. The University of Waikato is recognised among the world’s best in computer science, and offers the largest range of advanced computer science courses in New Zealand.

A major in Computer Science is flexible, allowing you to focus on a particular area, or to complete a more generalist major. The papers available are carefully designed to ensure you have a good mastery of a particular area of Computer Science and will equip you with the skills you need to succeed in your chosen career.

Waikato is well-recognised internationally for our computer science research, and have especially enjoyed success with open source software development.

Students have the opportunity to work alongside internationally-respected academics on a wide range of exciting and innovative research projects in areas such as:

• Broadband communication
• Data compression
• Digital libraries
• Formal methods
• Human-computer interaction
• Machine learning
• Software engineering
• Cyber security.

Chemistry is fundamental to our understanding of all branches of science and for a wide range of industries.  A degree in Chemistry from the University of Waikato means you'll gain an excellent grasp of Chemistry theory, supported by a strong emphasis on practical expertise.

Employers recognise Waikato Chemistry graduates for their analytical and problem solving skills as well as for their high-level of practical abilities – including hands-on bench and modern instrumentation skills.

A Chemistry qualification from Waikato appeals to a wide range of employers including analytical, forensic, industrial, environmental and medical laboratories. There is a shortage of Chemistry graduates in New Zealand and overseas and a critical shortage of qualified Chemistry teachers.

Better building materials and textiles, improved medical aids, new alloys, more productive agriculture, better environmental control and remediation – all rely on the chemical expertise you'll gain from studying at Waikato.

The structure of our chemistry major includes a range of highly theoretical, highly applied, quantitative and qualitative aspects. It will develop your analytical and problem-solving skills, which can be applied to many other disciplines.

The pressure on our environment is increasing as the human population grows. Environmental Sciences provide a basis for understanding environmental problems, and finding solutions to them.

The growing human population is expected to exceed 9 billion within the next 40 years.  The need to provide for increasing human demands, while protecting and sustainably managing the environment, is one of our greatest global challenges. Environmental Science is at the core of this challenge.

A major in Environmental Sciences at Waikato encompasses ecology, earth sciences, and environmental chemistry as well as many other disciplines. It is about understanding and managing human impacts on our land, biodiversity, freshwater, oceans, atmosphere and climate while providing the food, water, energy, and mineral resource needs that are critical to our survival.

At Waikato we take a strong interdisciplinary approach so you will gain skills in applying the biological, chemical and earth sciences to understand and manage the impacts of human activities on the environment.

As Indigenous world views become increasingly important to society, a rapidly emerging area of study is Indigenous Studies. The Maori creative and performing arts papers diversify your existing program and provide unique insights into Maori tikanga.

Learning about Maori culture, language and knowledge is not just for Maori; it is crucial for all New Zealanders and international visitors to comprehend how Aotearoa/New Zealand’s unique Indigenous culture defines New Zealand’s identity - it is a cultural, social, economic and political force.

Also, learn how Maori Studies is located in the broader and global context of Indigenous Studies; a discipline that has flourished in the last decade as Indigenous scholars have confronted some of the major issues facing the world, such as efforts to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Civil engineers design and construct the fundamental requirements of society in key areas such as earthquake proofing, energy recovery, water/waste management, power generation, road networks, transport management, agriculture and forestry development.

As a Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Waikato you will have the practical and theoretical skills to help create, improve and protect our built and natural environments.  You will be ready to meet the strong demand for your skills both in New Zealand and around the world.

You will gain the knowledge and expertise required to work as a professional civil engineer including skills in the following areas

• Construction Engineering
• Structural Analysis
• Geotechnics and Geotechnical Engineering
• Water Engineering
• Mathematics, Computing and Modelling
• Project Management
• Structural Design
• Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Design
• Transport Engineering
• Environmental Engineering.

An important part of the Civil Engineering program at the University of Waikato is supported work placements into relevant industries. This gives you the opportunity for paid work experience while exploring the field of Civil Engineering you could choose for your career, ie structural, water resources, transport, geotechnical or construction engineering.

You'll work on major research design projects, creating products with commercial applications, which are then showcased at our annual Oji Fibre Solutions Engineering Design Show.  Importantly, there is also a focus on developing well-honed communication skills that are such a vital part of the profession.

Learn about Population Studies through the National Institute for Demographic and Economic Analysis at Waikato and gain a solid, research-led understanding of the population issues facing developed and developing countries, with a particular emphasis on the South Pacific.

Population problems are among the most serious challenges we face for the 21st Century. Population issues have implications for the environment, employment, families, health, urbanisation, migration, security in old age and refugee movements. It is vital that research develops integrated approaches to these issues, and policy makers and planners pay serious attention to population trends, their causes and effects.

Psychology is about understanding the behaviour and cognitive processes of people and animals in their physical, social and organisational environment. As a behavioural science, it examines the way behaviour is learned and can be changed. As a social science, it focuses on individuals within the context of families, organisations and other groups, communities, cultures and societies. As a biological science, it studies the senses (hearing, vision, touch) and how the brain and physiological systems relate to behaviour. As a cognitive science it studies perception, attention, memory, thinking and language understanding. The study of development, personality, learning and motivation are also part of Psychology.

From analysing the reasons for anger to considering the best way to train dogs, the study of Psychology allows insight into countless intriguing facets of cognitive function.

As a social science, Psychology focuses on individuals within the context of families, organisations and other groups, communities, cultures and societies. As a biological science, Psychology studies the senses (hearing, vision, touch) and how the brain and physiological systems relate to behaviour. As a cognitive science, Psychology studies perception, attention, memory, thinking and language understanding. The study of development, personality, learning and motivation are also part of Psychology at Waikato, as is animal behaviour and welfare.

The Mechatronics programme from the University of Waikato School of Engineering has a strong focus on integrating agriculture and infrastructure with software-hardware interfacing technology. 

The rapid spread of automated systems into most aspects of life has dominated technological innovations in the 21st century. Mechatronics engineers are trained to be masters of intelligent machines and work across many industries, making the latest “Smart Systems” work for us.

Strategic Management enables you to discern a company's potential, find new market opportunities, and develop a clear plan to achieve growth and success.

Strategy is at the top level of management. It considers the 'total enterprise' to ensure all of an organisation's resources are being managed effectively as a cohesive unit.

In this subject, you'll learn how to think critically about a company's situation and devise strategies to improve future performance. You'll develop an eye for emerging threats and opportunities, such as new competitors or changing consumer trends, and keeping pace with legislative or market changes.

You'll also analyse practical case studies about real-world companies to help you to develop your analytical, decision-making and problem-solving skills, which are in high demand with employers.