Qualification regulations for the Master of Science

Qualification Regulations

Part I

These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Degree of Master of Science requires that the candidate will have:

(a) been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Science with a major in the intended postgraduate subject, or equivalent; and

(b) achieved at least a B grade average over the 300 level majoring courses of the qualification(s) considered for admission, or equivalent;

or will have:

(c) been awarded or qualified for either the Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology in the intended MSc subject, or equivalent, having achieved at least a B grade average over the contributing courses and at least a B grade in an approved research methods course or equivalent; or

(d) been awarded or qualified for the Postgraduate Certificate in Science and Technology comprising courses in the intended MSc subject, or equivalent, having achieved at least a B grade average over the contributing courses and at least a B grade in an approved research methods course or equivalent.

2. In all cases the candidate will be required to meet the University admission requirements as specified and to have an approved research supervision plan.

3. Admission to the Degree of Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) requires that the candidate will:

(a) meet the requirements of Regulation 1; and

(b) meet all the requirements as defined by the New Zealand Dietitians Board for registration as an Entry-level Dietitian, in terms of good character and fitness to be a dietitian; and

4. Notwithstanding Regulation 1 (c), admission to Part Two of the Degree of Master of Science (Psychology) requires that the candidate will have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology with an endorsement in Psychology, or an equivalent qualification, having achieved at least a B+ grade average over the contributing courses.

5. Notwithstanding Regulation 1 (c), admission to the Degree of Master of Science (Psychology – Health Psychology) requires that the candidate will have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology, having achieved at least a B+ grade average over the 300 level majoring courses of the qualification(s) considered for admission, or equivalent; or will have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology with an endorsement in Psychology, or an equivalent qualification, having achieved at least a B+ grade average over the contributing courses.

6. Notwithstanding regulation 1, admission to the Degree of Master of Science (Mathematics) requires that the candidate will have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology with an endorsement in Mathematics, or equivalent, having achieved at least a B grade average over the contributing courses.

7. Notwithstanding regulation 1, admission to the Degree of Master of Science (Statistics) requires that the candidate will have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology with an endorsement in Statistics, or equivalent, having achieved at least a B grade average over the contributing courses.

Qualification requirements

8. Candidates for the Degree of Master of Science shall follow a parts-based programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 180 credits, comprising:

(a) Part One and Part Two as defined by the Schedule to the Degree;

(b) completion of a Subject.

9. Notwithstanding Regulation 8, the programme of study for candidates admitted to the Mathematics or Statistics subject will consist of a thesis totalling at least 120 credits as included in the Schedule to the degree.

10. Notwithstanding Regulations 1(c) and 1(d), and at the discretion of Academic Board, candidates may be required to complete a research methods course, should their entry qualification be deficient in research methods.

11. Notwithstanding Regulation 8, candidates admitted under Regulations 1(c), 1(d), 4 or 5 may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification in accordance within the limits specified in the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations.

Specialisations

12. Except as provided under Regulation 9, candidates must complete a subject by passing at least 180 credits in a subject including:

(a) a thesis of at least 90 credits (Thesis Pathway) or a research report of at least 60 credits (Coursework Pathway);

(b) at least 60 credits at 700 level, including, where identified in the Schedule to the Degree, a Research Methods course and any compulsory courses. The requirements for each subject are set out in the Schedule for the Qualification.

13. Notwithstanding Regulation 12, candidates may complete the subject Nutrition and Dietetics by passing 240 credits in that subject including:

(a) a thesis of at least 90 credits;

(b) 150 credits at 700 level, including where identified in the Schedule to the Degree, any compulsory courses.

14. Notwithstanding Regulation 12, candidates may complete the subject Psychology by passing at least 240 credits in that subject including:

(a) a thesis of at least 120 credits;

(b) 120 credits at 700 level, including where identified in the Schedule to the Degree, any compulsory courses.

15. Notwithstanding Regulation 12, candidates may complete the subject Mathematics or Statistics by passing a thesis of at least 120 credits in that subject as identified in the Schedule to the Degree.

16. Subjects available are: Agricultural Science, Animal Science, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Conservation Biology, Earth Science, Ecology, Horticultural Science, Human Nutrition, Mathematics, Nutrition and Dietetics, Plant Breeding, Psychology, Statistics and Zoology.

17. Notwithstanding Regulation 16, the following subjects are available under Transitional Provisions: Biochemistry, Computer Science, Exercise and Sport Science, Genetics, Geography, Microbiology, Nanoscience, Physics, Physiology, Plant Biology, Soil Science.

Student progression

18. In cases of sufficient merit, the Degree of Master of Science may be awarded with a class of Honours, or with Distinction or Merit, in accordance with the provisions specified in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

19. For the Coursework Pathway, progression to Part Two of the Degree of Master of Science requires that candidates will have achieved at least a B grade average over the Part One courses including at least a B grade for the research methods course.

20. For the Thesis Pathway, progression to Part Two of the Degree of Master of Science requires that candidates will have achieved at least a B grade average over the first 60 credits of Part One courses including at least a B grade for the research methods course.

21. Notwithstanding Regulation 19, progression to Part Two of the Degree of Master of Science (Psychology) and the Degree of Master of Science (Health Psychology) requires that candidates will have achieved at least a B+ grade average over the Part One courses.

Completion requirements

22. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates will apply.

23. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification, and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes; candidates who do not meet the requirements for graduation may, subject to the approval of Academic Board, be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology or the Postgraduate Certificate in Science and Technology should they meet the relevant Qualification requirements.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

24. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.

Transitional provisions

25. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion regulations and the Abandonment of Study provisions specified in the Part I regulations to the degree, candidates enrolled in the Master of Science prior to 1 January 2022 may satisfy admission and progression requirements in place in the 2021 Calendar. Such candidates may substitute a course or courses already completed towards the qualification for a course or courses at the same level and credit value within the Schedule for the degree.

26. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion regulations and the Abandonment of Study provisions specified in the Part I regulations to the degree, candidates enrolled in the Master of Science prior to 1 January 2022 in either the Mathematics or the Statistics subject may satisfy the credit requirements in place in the 2021 regulations by either:

• completing 160.870, or 160.875 (or 160.871 and 160.872) or 160.899 (or 160.897 and 160.898) and between 60 and 120 credits as defined by Part One of the Master of Science (Mathematics) schedule within the 2021 Calendar; or

• completing 161.893, or 161.875 (or 161.871 and 161.872) or 161.899 (or 161.897 or 161.898) and between 60 and 120 credits as defined by Part One of the Master of Science (Statistics) schedule within the 2021 Calendar.

27. These transitions arrangements expire 31 December 2025.

28. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion regulations and the Abandonment of Study provisions specified in the Part I regulations to the degree, candidates enrolled in the Master of Science prior to 1 January 2023 who have successfully completed 283708 and/or 285742 may substitute one or both of these for 284703 and 284704 and/or 284741. Such candidates who have successfully completed 119729 may substitute this for 119728.

29. These transition arrangements expire 31 December 2026.

Schedule for the Master of Science

Course planning key

Prerequisites: Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites: Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions: Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Key terms for course planning

Courses: Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code: Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits: Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations: Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Subjects

Agricultural Science (180 credits)

Part One

Choose at least 15 credits from

119728 Research Methods in Animal, Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences 15

Research methods for students planning to undertake research in animal, veterinary, agricultural, horticultural or applied sciences, with a focus on experimental research designs. Topics include: philosophy of science; research ethics; literature search and review techniques; project development and management; scientific writing; oral presentation skills; vocabulary of statistics; introduction to quantitative data analysis; and completion of a research proposal.

Restrictions: 119729, 162760, 162761, 162762

Regulations for The Master of Science - MSc