Psychology Major - Bachelor of Arts

Psychology is the study of human behaviour. It explores what humans need to develop and thrive. This major looks at psychology within the context of our society, where we live and work.

An understanding of psychology is useful for a wide range of careers – including career and employment counselling, community development, management, marketing and communications, politics, public health promotion, or training and development. The Psychology major can also provide the foundation for the postgraduate studies required for registration as a psychologist.


This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.

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This major introduces you to the main areas of psychology including cognitive, personality, clinical and social psychology. It takes a hands-on approach and provides you with research, assessment and intervention skills.

Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.

Core courses

  • CLSY500 Culture and Society
  • CLSY504 Knowledge and Inquiry
  • COMM570 Academic Communication: Conventions and Expectations

Psychology courses

Complete the following courses

  • PSYC502 Introduction to Psychology B
  • PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
  • PSYC683 Foundations in Psychological Inquiry
  • PSYC783 Advanced Psychological Inquiry

Choose from the following courses

Complete five of:

  • HEAL504 Psychology and Lifespan Development
  • PSYC601 Abnormal Psychology
  • PSYC602 Social Psychology
  • PSYC603 Psychological Assessment
  • PSYC604 Personality
  • PSYC605 Brain and Behaviour
  • PSYC680 Individuals and Identities
  • PSYC681 Cognitive Psychology

And three of:

  • HEAL709 Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
  • PSYC701 Experimental and Applied Behaviour Analysis
  • PSYC702 Critical Evaluation in Psychology
  • PSYC703 Experimental and Applied Behaviour Analysis II
  • PSYC704 Biopsychology
  • PSYC705 Positive Psychology
  • PSYC706 Health Psychology
  • PSYC707 Approaches to Psychological Intervention
  • PSYC780 Emotions and Human Nature
  • PSYC781 Applied Issues in Cultural and Social Psychology
  • PSYC782 Research Project
  • PSYC784 Developmental Psychology

Workplace experience

Workplace experience (Work Integrated Learning) is the final part of your degree and takes a full semester. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice.

Recent placements included:

  • Affinity Services
  • Anxiety New Zealand
  • Auckland City Mission
  • Auckland District Health Board
  • Idea Services
  • Red Cross
  • Women’s Health Action

  • Career and employment counselling
  • Community development
  • Management
  • Marketing and communications
  • Politics
  • Psychologist*
  • Public health promotion
  • Training and development

* Psychologists are professionals who have completed undergraduate studies in psychology, followed by postgraduate qualifications in a specialist area of professional practice in psychology. Careers include: child or educational psychologist, clinical psychologist, counselling psychologist, forensic psychologist and organisational psychologist.

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Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Psychology Careers

Key features
  • Covers the main areas of psychology: cognitive, personality, clinical and social psychology
  • Opens up a wide range of careers
  • Workplace experience in a community organisation or business
  • Industry links: Mason Clinic - Forensic Psychiatry Services, Department of Corrections and Waitemata District Health Board
See yourself as
  • Empathetic and ethical
  • Interested in the behaviour of people
  • Analytical and organised
  • Questioning and enquiring

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

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