Social Sciences Degree - Bachelor of Arts
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.
Develop a sound understanding of the interplay between social forces, economics and politics. You explore power dynamics, influences on decision making, demographic and behavioural trends, and the challenges caused by economic, political and social disadvantage.
You’ll also develop critical analysis and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for the public service, social sector and community organisations; all areas where many of our graduates start their successful careers.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.
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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.
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.
Recent placements included:
- ASB Bank
- CCS Disability Action
- Goodman Fielder
- Love to Live
- NZ Council of Trade Unions
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 courses
Complete the following courses:
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
Year 2 courses
Complete the following courses:
- POLS683 Aotearoa New Zealand Politics and Policy Making
- SOSC682 Methods of Social Research
And one of:
- CLSY601 Intercultural Competence in a Global World
- CONF683 Human Rights and Human Wrongs
- EDUC607 Education, Resistance and Social Justice
- HIST690 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi
Year 3 courses
Choose three of:
- POLS781 International Relations
- POLS782 Democratic Participation and Social Action
- SOSC782 Globalisation, Innovation and Change
- SOSC787 Diversity, Power and Discrimination (not offered 2024)
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/social-sciences-major
- Community work
- Local government
- Non-governmental organisations
- Policy analysis
- Research
- Further study in social work and foreign affairs
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Creative Writing
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Economics
- Education
- Event Management
- Global Tourism
- History
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Māori Development
- Māori Media
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting*
- Psychology
*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.
- Wide-ranging approaches to society and social change
- A mix of knowledge from sociology, political studies and economics
- Workplace experience in a community organisation or business
- Option to include subjects from across AUT in your degree
- Someone who wants to make a difference
- Part of a community
- Sociable and a team player
- Tolerant and empathetic
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.