Program Overview

Master of Arts – MA

The Master of Arts (MA) is a postgraduate degree that allows students to delve deeper into a subject that interests them. This qualification is designed for students who have achieved a high standard of academic performance in their Bachelor of Arts or BA (Hons) and wish to further enhance their knowledge and skills.

Overview

The MA is a parts-based qualification, consisting of two parts: Part One and Part Two. Students can choose to complete the degree via a coursework pathway or a research pathway. The coursework pathway includes a 60-credit research report, while the research pathway includes a 90 or 120-credit thesis.

Entry Requirements

To be admitted to the MA program, students must meet the university's entry requirements. Specifically, they must have:

• A Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent) with a major in the intended postgraduate subject, with at least a B grade average across the 200/300 level major courses
• A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with a subject in the intended postgraduate subject or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts with an endorsement in the intended postgraduate subject, or an equivalent qualification, with at least a B+ grade average across the 700-level courses for entry to the Research Pathway or a B grade average across the 700-level courses for entry to the Coursework Pathway

Structure of the Master of Arts

The MA is a 180-credit qualification, which can be completed in 1 year 6 months full-time or part-time. The structure of the degree includes:

• Part One subject courses (may include compulsory courses) – 120 credits (Coursework Pathway) or 60 or 90 credits (Research Pathway)
• Part Two research report – 60 credits (Coursework Pathway) or thesis course(s) – 90 or 120 credits (Research Pathway)

Subjects

Students can choose from a range of subjects, including:

• Defence and Security Studies
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Geography
• History
• Media Studies
• Museum Studies
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Social Anthropology
• Sociology

Fees and Scholarships

The estimated tuition fees for the MA program are:

• Domestic students: $10,652 – $11,615
• International students: $38,840 – $46,590

There are also various scholarships and awards available to students, including the Asia New Zealand Foundation Postgraduate Research Grants, Cat Pausé Postgraduate Scholarship, and Massey University Master's Research Scholarship.

Careers and Job Opportunities

Graduates of the MA program are adaptable and versatile, and can work across a broad range of sectors and roles, including:

• Advertising
• Aid and disaster relief workers
• Business managers
• Communications
• Conflict resolution
• Customs / immigration officers
• Defence forces
• Disaster relief
• Education
• Family therapists
• Foreign affairs
• Human resources
• International business
• Media production
• Mental health practitioners
• Novelists
• Peacekeeping
• Policy developers
• Policy development and analysis
• Politics
• Project management
• Public relations
• Research managers
• Risk management
• School principals
• Sign language interpreters
• Special education needs
• Specialist teachers
• Speechwriters
• Teaching English overseas
• Translation
• Travel and hospitality

Overall, the Master of Arts program at Massey University provides students with a comprehensive and advanced education in their chosen subject, preparing them for a wide range of career opportunities and further academic pursuits.