Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology

at The University of Waikato - Tauranga Campus New Zealand

Computer Science is rapidly changing the world we live in. Studying Computer Science at the University of Waikato, you'll learn about software systems and how people and computers interact. You’ll also learn how to create new software, and ensure it's easy for people to use.

Ongoing progress in computer technology means that there is a steady need for more qualified computer professionals. The University of Waikato is recognised among the world’s best in computer science, and offers the largest range of advanced computer science courses in New Zealand.

A major in Computer Science is flexible, allowing you to focus on a particular area, or to complete a more generalist major. The papers available are carefully designed to ensure you have a good mastery of a particular area of Computer Science and will equip you with the skills you need to succeed in your chosen career.

Waikato is well-recognised internationally for our computer science research, and have especially enjoyed success with open source software development.

Students have the opportunity to work alongside internationally-respected academics on a wide range of exciting and innovative research projects in areas such as:

• Broadband communication
• Data compression
• Digital libraries
• Formal methods
• Human-computer interaction
• Machine learning
• Software engineering
• Cyber security.

The pressure on our environment is increasing as the human population grows. Environmental Sciences provide a basis for understanding environmental problems, and finding solutions to them.

The growing human population is expected to exceed 9 billion within the next 40 years.  The need to provide for increasing human demands, while protecting and sustainably managing the environment, is one of our greatest global challenges. Environmental Science is at the core of this challenge.

A major in Environmental Sciences at Waikato encompasses ecology, earth sciences, and environmental chemistry as well as many other disciplines. It is about understanding and managing human impacts on our land, biodiversity, freshwater, oceans, atmosphere and climate while providing the food, water, energy, and mineral resource needs that are critical to our survival.

Studying accounting is your pathway to working with clients to help them make their businesses more profitable and successful, and reduce their exposure to financial risk. With accounting you'll gain the skills you need to become a trusted business adviser and make strategic financial decisions for organisations.

Accountants can earn attractive salaries and are in demand both in New Zealand and overseas. They often work in high-level management positions where skills in financial control, decision making, legal compliance and leadership are essential.

If you enjoy working with numbers and people, and want to help businesses grow, then accounting may be a good fit for you.

In this subject, you'll learn how to prepare financial records to comply with professional reporting standards, and gain an understanding of commercial and taxation laws that apply to businesses.

A qualification in accounting can lead you into all kinds of industries, such as agribusiness, manufacturing or entertainment.
Become a professionally qualified accountant

Professionally qualified accountants are paid attractive salaries, and can work anywhere in the world.

In this subject, you'll learn how to prepare financial records to comply with professional reporting standards, and gain an understanding of commercial and taxation laws that apply to businesses.

A qualification in accounting can lead you into all kinds of industries, such as agribusiness, manufacturing or entertainment.

Become a professionally qualified accountant
Professionally qualified accountants are paid attractive salaries, and can work anywhere in the world.

Everyone needs to know the law, not just lawyers. The Rule of Law is the cornerstone of the civilised society. It defines rights and obligations and provides structure to institutions of government and commerce. As an individual it governs all aspects of our lives, shapes our behaviour and provides the building blocks for our community. Law underpins many professions - business people, financial consultants, police officers, forensic scientists, parole officers, policy advisors and many other professions all need an understanding of the law.

Study towards a Bachelor of Laws
Choose to study an LLB and you will gain a practical set of skills designed to meet the demands of any legal career and the ability to go into to practice as a barrister or solicitor. You will gain a thorough knowledge of the law, its implications and how it applies in today’s context, you will gain well developed analytical and research skills, and be able to think critically with well-developed communication skills and a sense of social responsibility

Psychology is about understanding the behaviour and cognitive processes of people and animals in their physical, social and organisational environment. As a behavioural science, it examines the way behaviour is learned and can be changed. As a social science, it focuses on individuals within the context of families, organisations and other groups, communities, cultures and societies. As a biological science, it studies the senses (hearing, vision, touch) and how the brain and physiological systems relate to behaviour. As a cognitive science it studies perception, attention, memory, thinking and language understanding. The study of development, personality, learning and motivation are also part of Psychology.

From analysing the reasons for anger to considering the best way to train dogs, the study of Psychology allows insight into countless intriguing facets of cognitive function.

As a social science, Psychology focuses on individuals within the context of families, organisations and other groups, communities, cultures and societies. As a biological science, Psychology studies the senses (hearing, vision, touch) and how the brain and physiological systems relate to behaviour. As a cognitive science, Psychology studies perception, attention, memory, thinking and language understanding. The study of development, personality, learning and motivation are also part of Psychology at Waikato, as is animal behaviour and welfare.

The Human Performance Science major represents a distinctive approach to sport and exercise science. It is based on four pillars; strength and conditioning, exercise physiology, biomechanics and injury prevention, and psychology. The science of human performance extends beyond high performance sport and includes links to the general population, movement-related professions, exercise, nutrition and physical health.

This major provides an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of sport and exercise science, with the scope to follow one of the pillars at a higher level.

In the Human Performance Science major you will also benefit from the established relationships the University has with professional sport franchises, such as Magic Netball and Chiefs Rugby. Extending beyond high performance sport, this major includes links to the general population, movement-related professions, exercise, nutrition and physical health, providing career opportunities across the breadth of sport, physical activity and physical health professions. 

The Human Performance Science major represents a distinctive approach to sport and exercise science. It is based on four pillars; strength and conditioning, exercise physiology, biomechanics and injury prevention, and psychology. The science of human performance extends beyond high performance sport and includes links to the general population, movement-related professions, exercise, nutrition and physical health.

This major provides an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of sport and exercise science, with the scope to follow one of the pillars at a higher level.

In the Human Performance Science major you will also benefit from the established relationships the University has with professional sport franchises, such as Magic Netball and Chiefs Rugby. Extending beyond high performance sport, this major includes links to the general population, movement-related professions, exercise, nutrition and physical health, providing career opportunities across the breadth of sport, physical activity and physical health professions. 

The Human Development program explores the development of individuals, families, groups and communities throughout the human lifespan. It is important for those wishing to go into professions such as youth work, eldercare, social work, counselling and teaching. An understanding of human development is relevant to many other careers that involve working with or for people.

Papers  develop skills relevant to career objectives such as human relations, human services, program planning, community liaison, counselling, policy and evaluation, administration of programs concerned with the family or other groups and research.

Graduates gain a solid foundation in theory and research to understand and explain the development of people from the early years through to old age, have the ability to examine how different contexts influence people's lives, learning and behaviour, and are able to apply this knowledge to specific life situation

Education and Society involves critical inquiry into the social, political, cultural, and economic policies, theories and practices of education in New Zealand society. Its origins are in humanities and social science disciplines such as History, Philosophy, and Sociology, and it has close affinities with contemporary interdisciplinary fields exploring social policy, culture, gender, and work. Education and Society raises questions about the role of education in addressing issues of social justice, power and inequality.

Writing Studies at Waikato offers a writing-intensive learning experience that will enable you to grow as a writer no matter where your interest lies. It will give you the research skills needed to write convincingly about the past, or create a vivid sense of the contemporary world. It will develop the reading and analytical skills essential for effective writing.

You can structure your Writing Studies program to suit your interests and needs. There are papers offered in

• Creative writing
• Literary non-fiction, including food writing
• Business communication
• Professional speaking and speech writing
• Public relations writing
• The philosophy of language and communication
• Understanding the requirements of specific audiences and readers
• Science communication
• Writing for screen media
• Theories of reading
• Academic writing and research.

Writing Studies graduates seek employment opportunities working for newspapers and magazines, central and local government, schools, the media, theatres and publishing houses. Writing Studies also lends itself to a freelance career.