Bachelor
Understanding how society works at an individual, family, community and government level is important if you want to participate in or influence the way decisions are made that impact on our society.
*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.
Learn to explain and analyse the characteristics of human society, social change, and human development and behaviour. You analyse cultural diversity and economic systems, and examine concepts of ethnocentrism and the impact of colonisation
You also demonstrate skills in data retrieval, analysis (including a range of statistical techniques) and presentation in relation to sociological, economic, political and psychological research.
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.
Social sciences courses
If you're majoring in social sciences, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight social sciences-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 coursesComplete the following courses:
Year 2 coursesComplete the following courses:
And one of:
Choose three of:
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.