Psychology – Bachelor of Arts

Massey’s BA (Psychology) will help you explore how the brain works, and understand how we think, behave and make decisions.

Where you can study

Auckland campus
Distance and online
Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand, or studying online outside New Zealand
Note: Some courses are also available at Manawatū

Specialise in Psychology for your Bachelor of Arts at Massey

With a Massey BA (Psychology) you will explore the thoughts, feelings and actions of individuals and groups in a social and cultural context.

Psychology will help you make sense of the human impact on the world in which we live. At Massey, you’ll learn about the natural, social and biological side as well as research methods and applications of psychology.

Psychology combines:

  • natural science, focusing on perception, cognition, learning and the biological bases of behaviour;
  • social science, dealing with emotions, individual differences, behaviour and relationships and the wider social context.

You will ask questions such as:

  • How do people perceive, learn, think, develop, behave and relate to each other?
  • How does the structure of the brain affect behaviour?
  • What makes people different from each other?
  • How does being in groups affect people’s behaviours; how do social groups affect what we do?
  • How do factors like culture, gender, poverty and mental illness affect the way we think and behave?

A psychology degree will equip you with valuable transferable skills including research, analysis, communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

Market-leading in New Zealand, recognised internationally

Massey graduates more researchers and clinical psychologists than any other university in New Zealand. We’re connected to a wide range of community and statutory organisations, and produce unique and applied psychology research and training that’s recognised nationally and internationally.

Applied learning opportunities for undergraduates

While most universities wait until postgraduate study to offer applied learning, we introduce this in the final year of your degree. We have a broad selection of courses, across areas including forensic, experimental and community psychology that demonstrate how foundational skills can be applied.

A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a good fit if you:

  • are interested in people, thoughts, feelings and behaviour
  • want a career devoted to human welfare.

Planning information

If you study full time, in the first year you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.

If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school if you wish. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.

You need to pass five courses at 300-level for your BA. One of these (230310) is in the compulsory core and three are required for your major. If you are not taking a double major or a minor, you will need to take one 300-level elective course to meet this requirement.

About this major

A major consists of 120 credits (eight courses) in Psychology; including 175101, 175102 and 175203.

The two 100-level Psychology courses introduce you to the basic concepts in Psychology: one from the social perspective and the other from the scientific perspective. The other compulsory course is the 200-level Introduction to Psychological Research course, which has to be passed before commencing the 300-level courses. For the rest of the major you can select courses which are of interest to you.

Not all courses will be offered in all modes or across all campuses in any given year.

Progressing to a master’s

If you wish to progress to the Master in Educational and Developmental Psychology qualification it is strongly advisable to have 60 credits of education courses in your BA (Psychology).

Minors

Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.

A minor must be in a different subject from your major.

A Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) with a minor

You may choose a minor from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Science. If the minor is from another degree the regulations of that qualification will apply.

A psychology minor (for students who are studying a different degree) 

If you are not studying towards a BA (Psychology) and wish to complete a minor in psychology see the BA regulations for requirements.  

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Core courses for the Bachelor of Arts

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Bachelor of Arts core courses

Psychology courses

Compulsory courses

Choose 45 credits from
Course code: 175101 Psychology as a Social Science 15 credits

An introduction to psychology as the scientific study of human behaviour, with emphasis on individual differences and social influences. The course aims to develop an awareness of the issues, terminology, methods and techniques involved in the study of human behaviour.

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Course code: 175102 Psychology as a Natural Science 15 credits

An introduction to methods and findings from the scientific study of psychology and its application to everyday human behaviour. Examination of basic behavioural, perceptual and cognitive processes and how these are influenced by biological mechanisms and cultural context.

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Course code: 175203 Introduction to Psychological Research 15 credits

An introduction to methods commonly used in psychological research with particular emphasis on measurement, study designs, data analysis, and communicating research results.

Prerequisites: 175102

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Subject courses

Choose no more than 15 credits from
Course code: 175103 Introduction to Indigenous Psychologies 15 credits

The course provides foundational content of indigenous psychologies, including the rationale for their inclusion in the discipline of Western Psychology, as well overviewing their application across multiple domains (e.g., health, education, social, policy, etc) in Aotearoa New Zealand specifically, and more generally in other cultural contexts across the globe.

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Choose at least 15 credits from
Course code: 175201 Social Psychology 15 credits

A survey of contemporary experimental social psychology. Against this backdrop critical perspectives are introduced with particular emphasis on the practice of discursive psychology in the New Zealand context.

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Course code: 175205 Brain and Behaviour 15 credits

An introduction to basic biological processes underpinning behaviour and what happens when these processes are disrupted. Students will develop critical thinking and effective communication skills (both verbal and written) in relation to biological psychology.

Prerequisites: 175102

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Course code: 175206 Memory and Cognition 15 credits

The central goal of the course is to consider how knowledge is represented and processed in the brain. Students will be introduced to the mental processes involved in thinking and knowing, studied within a converging methods framework that includes evidence from experimental psychology, neuroscience, neuropsychology, and cognitive science.

Prerequisites: 175102

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Course code: 175210 Ngā Tirohanga Rua o te Taha Hinengaro: Bicultural Perspectives in Psychology 15 credits

This course engages with the concept of culture, and its relevance and importance in a bicultural country such as Aotearoa. The interplay between non-Western cultural perspectives and the dominant form of psychology situated within a predominantly Western scientific paradigm, is explored. Indigenous perspectives in general and Māori worldviews specifically, are examined within and juxtaposed to, the discipline of psychology.

Restrictions: 175312

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Choose at least 45 credits from
Course code: 175301 Community Psychology 15 credits

Community psychology focuses on people within the contexts of social settings and systems, that is, in ecological relationships with social and physical environments. Conceptual frameworks, the roles of research and practice, and specific intervention strategies developed and used by community psychologists will be among topics considered.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175302 Introduction to Clinical Psychology 15 credits

This course provides an introduction to clinical psychology and mental distress, with an emphasis on current thinking and research in the field. The course examines: the core concepts in defining and classifying mental distress; some of the major psychological disorders across the lifespan; empirically supported approaches to explaining mental distress; and treatments aimed at supporting people towards recovery.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175303 The Practice of Psychological Research 15 credits

Study of the practice of psychological research. Students undertake a range of exercises and class projects to develop practical research skills.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175304 The Psychology of Security 15 credits

An exploration of how psychology can be utilised to improve our understanding of, and responses to, the various security challenges posed by the contemporary environment.

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Course code: 175306 Assessment of Individual Differences 15 credits

Study of the basic concepts of psychological testing within the broad context of the assessment of individual and group differences. Examination of the rationale behind testing and its application to a wide range of assessment situations.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175309 Forensic Psychology 15 credits

The focus of this course is to study the issues and controversies in contemporary relationships between psychology and law. The diversity of the field of forensic practice is reflected in the topics covered, and the themes of violence and justice are used to represent the multidisciplinary influences at the nexus of psychology and law within mental health and legal systems.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175311 Psychology of Women 15 credits

A theory and research-based examination of the Psychology of Women as a sub-discipline with particular focus on how research in the field challenges gender biases and social assumptions. The history of the field is illustrated by classic and contemporary examples of research methodologies suitable for critical studies of sexuality, mothering and gender-based violence.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175313 Gender and Violence 15 credits

A critical, research-based examination of the forms and prevalence of gendered violence, and an examination of selected legislation and intervention practices advocated for reducing and eliminating gendered violence in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175314 Advanced Indigenous Psychologies 15 credits

The course provides advanced content of indigenous psychologies, including their specific application in the theory, research and practice of psychology across multiple domains (e.g., health, education, social, policy, etc) in Aotearoa New Zealand specifically, and more generally in other cultural contexts across the globe.

Prerequisites: Any 200-level psychology course

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Course code: 175316 Evolution, Culture and Mind 15 credits

An evolutionary approach to viewing humans as a species socialized into meaning-making, focusing on biological, cultural, and evolutionary bases of human behaviour, and on applying different approaches to culture to understand the self, and the functioning of societies and culture.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175317 Health Psychology 15 credits

This course consists of an introduction to and critique of general theories and models that have been used to understand, describe, predict and change behaviours related to health and illness and health promotion. It has a strong focus on the application of health psychology in the New Zealand context.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175318 Experimental Psychology 15 credits

An examination of cognitive, neuropsychological and electrophysiological techniques of experimental psychology through a hands-on approach.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175343 Personnel Psychology and Career Development 15 credits

Study of applied aspects of individual differences in organisations. Issues such as selection and training, performance evaluation, occupational health and vocational and career development will be studied.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Course code: 175345 Organisational Psychology 15 credits

An introduction to key concepts within organisational psychology, concentrating on the interplay between theoretical issues and practical concerns. Students will be enabled to critically evaluate the implications which different psychological perspectives have for understanding organisational problems.

Prerequisites: 175203

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Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for Massey’s BA (Psychology), outside of university admission regulations.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

If you have already completed a bachelor degree

If you have already completed a bachelor degree you may replace 230111 Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or 230112 Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking with courses of your choice. You will need to apply for replacement courses via a Special permission request in your portal and you will need to attach evidence of your completed degree with the request.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Can't meet the entry requirements?

If you need to do a course before you start your qualification, there may be options for you in Summer School.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Scholarship and award opportunities

Search our scholarships and awards

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

A major in psychology can provide knowledge and skills relevant to a broad selection of applied psychology areas including clinical, health, education, community, industrial and organisational psychology. These diverse options mean you can study what you are most passionate about and carry that passion forward into your career.

The knowledge of human behaviour and interactions that you will gain from a BA (Psychology) will be useful in many careers including:

  • counselling
  • human resources
  • public health
  • youth support
  • policy
  • rehabilitation psychology
  • scientific research
  • special education.

International students

New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.

Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.

As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.

Accreditations and rankings

QS Ranking - Psychology

Massey is ranked in the world's top 250 universities for psychology by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Learn more

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