新英格兰大学

The Master of Arts is designed to enable graduates to pursue further studies in an area of personal interest, for professional development, or as a pathway to higher degree research, by studying a number of graduate level units. Whilst completing their major, students are able to tailor a program of study to suit their interests by enrolling in units within the one subject area, or selecting units from a range of subject areas, as listed for this course.

Career Opportunities

A Master of Arts allows you to refine your professional skills, in a relatively unrestricted program of study. Examples of careers that can be assisted through an MA include, but are not limited to: historical archivists, museum curators, criminal justice work, industrial relations, local history, management, policy development and implementation, public relations, public service, foreign affairs, education, business and administration, migrant and multicultural affairs, overseas aid and development agencies, political and social advocacy, journalism, human resources and research.

Employers often look for flexibility in their staff, expecting to retrain staff as work demands change. To meet this need, they tend to seek out people who are intellectually flexible, with analytical minds and good communication skills. Students in an MA are trained to think for themselves, acquire and process information, communicate their thoughts effectively and exercise initiative. These are skills that employers want.

Course Aims

This course offers those people who have already completed an undergraduate degree the opportunity to continue university study, either to further career or professional aspirations or to pursue a specific area of interest. The course can also provide an avenue into a research degree such as a research Masters or PhD. Students can complete either a specific (ie, badged Major) or non-specific (non-major) degree. The course also provides the opportunity to complete reading and dissertation (research) units. The major subject areas are provided from three Schools within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences: the School of Arts, the School of Humanities and the School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• appreciate and apply expert knowledge of specific subject areas, including recent development, research principles and inter-disciplinary approaches and practice;
• demonstrate and apply mastery of higher level research and communication skills including theoretical, technical and analytical concepts to their research; and
• utilise enhanced critical thinking and analytical skills with creativity and initiative in a variety of academic settings, including a research project and capstone experience, with high level personal output.