About the College
Introduction
The College of Humanities and Social Science's disciplines are concerned with understanding "the human condition" including:
- the origins and character of our diverse cultures;
- the distinctive foundations of New Zealand society, art, literature, religion, and public policy;
- the organisation of our communities, their governance and development;
- the nature of civil society, democracy, and the interaction of production, exchange and environment and
- our changing place in the world.
The Humanities disciplines focus on the linguistic, intellectual and cultural processes by which human beings make their lives meaningful. The Social Sciences disciplines focus on understanding the institutional, geographical, belief and cultural foundations of society, and a concern for the application of theoretical knowledge in the professions concerned with human well-being and the sustainability of communities.
College Structure
The College comprises eight Schools and one Centre (more detail on the Schools & Centres page):
Schools:
- English and Media Studies
- Health and Social Services
- History, Philosophy and Classics
- Linguistics and International Languages
- Māori Studies
- People, Environment and Planning
- Psychology
- Public Health
Centre:
A number of Research Centres are also based within the College, and are briefly listed below. A more detailed listing of these Centres is available on the Research Centres page.
The School of Public Health is comprised of:
- The Centre for Public Health Research
- The Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation
- The Sleep/Wake Research Centre
- Te Pumanawa Hauora (Research Centre for Māori Health and Development)
Ecological Economics Research NZ (EERNZ) explores the links between the environment, economy and people. The research focus is on ways the New Zealand environment can be protected while still allowing the economy and people of New Zealand to prosper.
