AUT - Psychology major: Bachelor of Health Science
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Psychology major: Bachelor of Health Science
Psychology is an exciting and extremely rewarding area of health care in New Zealand. With this major, you will gain the skills and knowledge required in this profession.
Bachelor of Health Science: degree outline
Overview
Psychology teaches you about yourself and the people around you. It provides insight into why people think, feel and behave the way they do. The degree is theoretical and practical, with an emphasis on developing psychological understanding and skills that relate to life. By completing the Bachelor of Health Science in psychology you gain a competitive advantage when entering the health sector in areas such as mental health, social and youth work, health promotion, recruitment, human resources and addictions. Through this qualification, you develop people skills, learn to tolerate ambiguity, respect diversity, and gain an understanding of individual and group dynamics. This degree also opens the door to a career in non-health related areas such as market research, human resources and recruitment. To become a counselling psychologist, you need to complete further postgraduate study.
Want to enrol in a programme: Apply online
Structure
Below is a summary only. For a comprehensive overview of this qualification, please refer to the Academic calendar.
Year 1
You learn about human development across the lifespan, human body systems, health and environment and how to promote health. In semester 2, you learn interpersonal skills, plus an overview of psychology and its theories and applications. The basic elements of research in psychology are also presented.
555101 Lifespan Development and Communication
555201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
555301 Knowledge, Inquiry and Communication
555401 Health and Environment OR
555339 Māori Health, Development and Environment
556104 Health Promotion OR 527872 Māori Health Promotion
565603 Introduction to Psychology A
565604 Introduction to Psychology B
565605 Introductory Research Methods
Year 2
You learn to critically evaluate and interpret psychological research, and learn basic processes underlying thinking and memory. Other study areas include: personality and self-concept, social interaction and how people behave in groups, and how the brain influences behaviour. Discover the causes and treatments of psychological disorders, as well as learning how to assess different psychological conditions.
286108 Cognitive Psychology
556301 Methods of Research and Enquiry
557221 Health Law and Policy
566508 Social Psychology
566604 Psychological Assessment
566605 Personality OR 286103 Individuals and Identities
566420 Abnormal Psychology
566609 Brain and Behaviour
Year 3
You will learn to think flexibly, ethically and critically in the context of professional practice, gain advanced research skills and learn to apply these in the field of your choice: health psychology; biopsychology; applied behaviour analysis; psychology in the workplace; as well as different approaches to psychological treatments and the exciting new field of positive psychology.
557224 Professional Practice and Ethics
And 4 Psychology elective papers and 3 other elective papers approved by the Programme Leader
Te Ara Hauora Māori papers
Students who wish to seek careers with a Māori development perspective should select the following 4 papers as electives or as an alternative course of study.
555339 Māori Health, Development and Environment (instead of 555401 Health and Environment)
527872 Māori Health Promotion
567431 Applied Primary Māori Mental Health
567417 Utlising Supervision in Practice
We will support Te Ara Hauora Māori students form relationships with Māori health providers, industry stakeholders and communities, and AUT Māori staff and students.
Conjoint programme
A conjoint programme of study enables you to study 2 degrees at the same time and complete the 2 in less time than if you did them separately. You need to maintain a minimum grade average of B to continue in a conjoint programme. Graduates trained in the understanding of human psychology, as well as the skills of business and marketing, will be superbly equipped to pursue a range of careers, for example: advertising; employee efficiency; recruitment and training; management; and sales. You can study the Bachelor of Business & Bachelor of Health Science in psychology conjoint degree
Double major
This psychology major can also be completed as a double major with applied mental health or health promotion in the Bachelor of Health Science within a 3-year period.
Career information
Prospective employers often seek psychology graduates with a combination of skills. Traditionally, up to 85 percent of students who are awarded a degree in psychology work in public contact positions such as a: market researcher; family support worker; policy advisor or analyst; social worker; career advisor; communications co-ordinator; police officier; or youth worker. Further study is required to be a registered psychologist.
Video: Why Psychology was the perfect choice
Graduates and students of health science
Your other Bachelor of Health Science study options
You can choose to study the degree without a health major:
Or you can choose to major in one of the following specialised areas:Or you can choose one of our clinical degree areas:
Other courses you may be interested in
Bachelor of Business & Bachelor of Health Science (psychology) conjoint degree
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Addictions
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Health Science
Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management
Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy Studies