History Major - Bachelor of Arts
Understand the past to change the future by studying the History major in the Bachelor of Arts.
With the Bachelor of Arts in History you delve into the history of New Zealand and major events in our world over the centuries. Our history courses are different from other New Zealand universities – you can learn online and will be fully supported throughout the semester. It’s easy to get in touch with your lecturer or arrange an individual tutorial to support your learning.
There’s a strong focus on the practical application of history. You’ll develop advanced skills in research, writing, analysis and debate; skills that are essential for a wide range of careers, including in roles as a policymaker, diplomat, manager or board member.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.
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Further your understanding of key events in the history of New Zealand and the world, and develop effective communication, critical thinking and other transferable skills.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.
Core courses
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:
- CLSY502 Intercultural Competence
- ENGL502 Reading New Zealand
- ENGL503 A Pacific Reader
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- KORE500 Korean Language and Culture 1
- MAOR505 Te Mānūtanga Beginners Māori Language 1
- MAOR506 Te Ekenga Waka Beginners Māori Language 2
- NZSL502 Deaf Community and Culture I
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
- SPAN502 Spanish 1B
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
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.
You could also take the Foundations in Research course to prepare you for 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.
History major courses
If you're majoring in history, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight history-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 courses
Complete the following course:
And one of:
- EDUC554 Past and Present Perspectives of Aotearoa
- HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
- HIST504 Gender and Development in Asia and the Pacific since WWII
Year 2 courses
Complete the following course:
And two of:
- HIST691 Tā Moko: Marked Histories and Identities
- HIST692 Our People, Our Stories: Contemporary New Zealand Oral Histories
- HIST694 Auckland in the Twentieth Century
Year 3 courses
Complete the following course:
- HIST711 Historical Methods
Complete two of:
- HIST701 Nostalgia and Utopianism in New Zealand History
- HIST707 He Wānanga mō Te Reo Māori: History of the Māori Language
- HIST709 Gender and Culture
- HIST710 Special Topic in History
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-arts/history-major-bachelor-of-arts
- History teacher
- Diplomat
- Heritage manager
- Museum/gallery curator
- Journalist
- Policy specialist
- Civil servant
- Researcher
- Content producer
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Creative Writing
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Economics
- Education
- Event Management
- Global Tourism
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Māori Development
- Māori Media
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting*
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
*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.
- Covers major historical events in New Zealand and around the world
- Online learning with strong support from your lecturer
- Learn from world-class academic staff
- Valuable workplace experience in your final semester
- Option to include subjects from across AUT in your degree
- Interested in historic events
- Questioning and enquiring
- Inquisitive and open-minded
- Connected with the community and the world
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.