Bachelor
New Zealand Sign Language is an official language of New Zealand, and an understanding of sign language and Deaf culture is useful for many careers.
*This major focuses on New Zealand Sign Language and developing the skills to become a Sign Language interpreter. It doesn't include the option to include courses from different subjects.
The first year focuses on the development of receptive and expressive fluency in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), and the study of the Deaf community and culture. In the second and third years, you can either continue with further language acquisition, learn about the interpreting profession, or choose courses related to intercultural competence.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.
All Bachelor of Arts students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Complete one course from each of the following clusters. Each cluster aligns with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Partnerships and Reduced Inequalities
Choose one of:
Peace and Justice, Climate Action and Economic World
Choose one of:
Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing
Choose one of:
Quality Education, Gender Equality and Reduced Poverty
Choose one of:
Workplace experience is an important part of your degree, and the Work Integrated Learning course is the final part of your degree. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice. It's a great way to get industry experience while still being able to get feedback from AUT lecturers, and for many of our students this workplace experience also leads to a job offer.
Recent placements included:
You could also take the Foundations in Research course if you're considering continuing into postgraduate study.
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it's so beneficial when you start your career.
New Zealand Sign Language and Deaf studies courses
If you're majoring in New Zealand Sign Language and Deaf studies, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight Deaf studies-related courses you study throughout your degree.
If you don't have any experience with New Zealand Sign Language, you may need to take additional foundation-level language courses. Contact the programme leader on george.major@aut.ac.nz for more information.
Year 1 coursesComplete two of:
Complete three of:
Complete three of:
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.