Without Specialisation – Diploma in Arts

This introductory course examines the nature of the contemporary local and global economic environment in which businesses operate, and considers how economics can aid in business decision-making.

This course introduces students to the field of Development Studies and to some of the Big Issues facing people living in the Global South or ‘developing’ countries. We talk about the Big Ideas that influence the approaches taken to try and solve these issues and we illustrate these with case-studies from many parts of the world. The key Big Issues we focus on in this course are Food Security and Hunger and Migration/Refugees.

This interdisciplinary course investigates contemporary global development. This course will explain different approaches to development and will explore a choice of topical themes that highlight problems and some of the strategies involved in addressing global concerns.

A consideration of concepts, processes, practices, and possible strategies for sustainable development at global, national and community levels. Special attention is paid to examples of strategies that seek more sustainable livelihoods.

A study of contemporary Oceanic (Māori and Pasifika) literature in English contextualised in relation to customary and pre-colonial Oceanic literatures, narratives, and storytelling methods.

This course will consider how economic and social inequality is reproduced across space.

We live in an increasingly interconnected and dynamic world. Rapid economic, environmental, political and social change increasingly occurs at a global scale. This course examines the links between global change and the places that we live, analysing how and why this change has occurred and what it means for us.

A study of the Treaty of Waitangi background, texts, principles, and application to contemporary New Zealand. There is a particular focus on land, legislation, court decisions, social policies, the environment, constitutional matters, claims to the Waitangi Tribunal and Treaty settlements. Differing perspectives of hapū/iwi/Māori and the Crown, as well as opportunities for resolution, are explored.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

This course examines the intersecting material, social, and digital complexities of late capitalism in the context of increasing conditions of globalisation and glocalisation. Using a variety of sociological optics, the course aims to assist students to develop critical understandings that will enable them to be constructive contributors to their future worlds.

A review of the development of ideas of race and nation from the early modern era in Europe through to their world-wide crisis of the twentieth century including contemporary attempts to move beyond race via the concepts of ethnicity and indigeneity in Aotearoa New Zealand.

An examination of how social structures create inequalities with a focus on gender, class, and ethnic diversities and identities and how claims for social transformation are made.

This course examines the interconnections between society and the environment from a social sciences perspective, emphasising the roles of science and politics in the creation of environmental knowledge and practice. We examine the causes and consequences of environmental problems, including climate change. We also consider possibilities for transformative change through activism, Te Ao Māori and other Indigenous perspectives, markets, government, and community-led initiatives.

The development and application of macroeconomic models to globally-oriented economies, and the assessment of real-world policy problems from a practical perspective.

The development and application of models of consumer optimisation, producer behaviour, and competition in markets.

This course incorporates financial markets into macroeconomic models and analyses government policies that address current macroeconomic events.

The modelling of microeconomic decision-making of competing firms in industries, with application to real-world issues.

An examination of the fundamental theories, principles and definitions of community development. Individual, group and community action is examined with emphasis on the relationship between individual and social change.

An examination of contemporary international conflict drawing on case studies from around the world.

A multidisciplinary study of magic and witchcraft in selected societies in different time periods.

This course provides a survey of Greek History from the Bronze Age to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

A study of the nature and uses of Greek mythology in ancient Greek literature and art.

This course provides an introduction to Roman history, from its mythical beginnings to the battle of Actium in 31 BC.

An introduction to warfare in antiquity, in its social and political contexts, with an examination of weapons, tactics, strategy, famous battles and generals.

This course explores views of happiness in the ancient Greek and Roman world from Homer to Marcus Aurelius.

This course offers a systematic study of ancient Greek attitudes and practices relating to love and sexuality as reflected in history, literature, art, and philosophy, and against the background of the family and society at large.

A comparative study of the Trojan War in ancient literature and modern adaptations.

A survey of techniques, developments and achievements in Greek architecture, sculpture, wall- and vase-painting, set in their archaeological and social contexts. The period covered is from the Bronze Age through to Late Classical times.

An exploration of the role(s) that such stories played in Roman society, religion, and politics.

This course examines ancient Greek tragedy in translation. It looks at the transformation of myth into tragedy in the fifth century BCE and reflects on why these classical dramas remain popular today.

A study of the first 200 years of Roman imperial rule, from the time of Augustus to the death of Marcus Aurelius.

A study of the religion of the Greeks and Romans, approached through both literary and archaeological sources. The course focuses on cult practices and their impacts on the societies of the time.

A detailed survey of techniques, developments and achievements in Hellenistic and Roman architecture, painting, mosaics and sculpture, set in their archaeological and social contexts. The period covered is from the Hellenistic Age through the Republic down to the Late Empire.

This course examines formations of identity and belonging in relation to concepts of place and turangawaewae (‘standing place’). The multiple factors shaping identity formation, citizenship and public engagement will be explored, and students will develop awareness of and reflect on diverse perspectives regarding identity and citizenship, and apply this understanding to analyse issues in contemporary New Zealand society.

The course explores our connections, impacts, and roles in the world, and our rights and responsibilities as global citizens. It examines what citizenship means in 21st century Aotearoa/NZ, given its history, cultural diversity, and place in the global arena. The course introduces the notion of global citizenship, and explores the relationship between individual and collective action in addressing global problems.

The questions of and possibilities for agency and action form the core of this course, through an enquiry-based exploration of the capacities of the humanities and social sciences for action, intervention and contribution in professional and community contexts. The course also covers the development and application of research skills, problem-solving skills, and ethical awareness in addressing practical issues.

The course provides the students with a basic proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese). Upon successful completion of this course, students will have acquired the phonetics, knowledge of a set of characters, and the vocabulary and basic sentence constructions.

The course builds on the proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin) that is developed in 241.101 Chinese 1A. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have acquired the phonetics, a further set of characters and vocabulary, and more complex sentence constructions.

A course of Chinese history, philosophy, literature and arts before 1912.

An introduction to the multifaceted nature of China’s recent transformation from economic, societal, political and diplomatic perspectives.

Provides students with intermediate level of proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Intermediate level structures, vocabulary and characters are reinforced through oral and written exercises. Students acquire the tools appropriate to this level to discuss topics relevant to themselves and to Chinese culture and society.

Aims to further develop intermediate level proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Entails a further set of intermediate level structures, vocabulary and characters that are reinforced through oral and written exercises. Students discuss topics appropriate to this level and that are relevant to themselves and to Chinese culture and society.

This course will examine the emergence and transformation of Chinese international migration in the global context of China’s interactions with the outside world and diaspora’s changing patterns of political, social and cultural adaptations in various regions in the world.

An integrated account of social and historical developments of contemporary China (from 1912 to the early 1990s) through a study of selected literary texts and films. No knowledge of Chinese is required.

Provides students with pre-advanced level proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Pre-advanced level structures, vocabulary and characters extend and refine linguistic capabilities through oral and written exercises, and students will acquire comprehension and communication skills to deal confidently and accurately with various situations.

Provides students with advanced level proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Advanced level structures, vocabulary and characters extend and refine linguistic capabilities through oral and written exercises, and students will acquire greater comprehension and communication skills to deal confidently and accurately with various situations.

A systematic study of Chinese grammar based on contrastive analysis as an approach to develop communicative skills through increased language awareness. Topics include basic concepts, sentence structure, special verbal constructions, tense and aspect, and complements.

An advanced introduction to the theory and practice of translation from and into Chinese, with an emphasis on the development and application of written translation skills.

An advanced-level research project on an approved topic about Chinese language, literature, history, politics or other cultural aspect.

An examination of methods and practices used in a consultative approach to assist learners with special needs in an inclusive educational environment.

A critical examination of social, cultural, political, historical and philosophical influences on the development of education in Aotearoa/New Zealand and internationally.

This course is an exploration of what it means to be a learner in digital social worlds.

This course explores the philosophical complexities of education in its personal, institutional and social dimensions. Students will be introduced to some of the major debates in philosophy of education and engage in the critical and continual practice of applying philosophy across the many contexts of education.

This course explores the sociology of education by critically inquiring into the relationship between personal experience, education and society. Students will be introduced to primary sociological concepts like race, class and gender to critically reflect on education.

An exploration of the ways New Zealand’s current education institutions have been influenced by evolving philosophies of education, alongside key historical, sociological, ideological, political, and economic forces.

Education as an everyday practice is the focus for critical theories of education. This course explores ways education has been theorized as a practice of liberation as well as a practice of oppression. Students will use these concepts to examine the role of education in shaping the social structure of Aotearoa New Zealand.

An examination of the educational experiences of Pasifika peoples in New Zealand in formal and informal settings both in the past and present with a focus on effective teaching and learning practices.

This course considers the politics of education in Aotearoa New Zealand, using current social issues and education policy reforms to examine role of education in a democracy.

An examination of the contribution of psychology to an understanding of educational processes with a focus on the learner, learning processes and instruction. Issues of theory, research and application will be studied in a variety of educational situations.

This course provides in depth exploration of the strategies and interventions for maintaining positive learning environments that support effective school engagement and achievement.

An exploration of the ethics, principles, and key processes of everyday teaching and learning as a basic form of social interaction, giving students the opportunity to explore teaching and learning across the lifespan.

A study of contemporary theory and research on motivation in educational contexts with emphasis on implications for learning and for educational practice.

A study of informal teaching and learning practices in a workplace, volunteer, leisure, cultural or community organisation setting. Focus is on the application of everyday teaching and learning theory in a real community context where access is self-negotiated by the student.

Assessment concepts and procedures for learning and teaching, the construction and use of educational assessments, and contemporary issues in evaluation.

An examination of how people learn in formal and informal settings

A study of relationships between cultural values and education and of the extent of Māori educational needs and aspirations.

An introduction to the study of lifespan human development and learning within changing social and physical contexts.

An examination of physical, cognitive and psychosocial development during infancy and childhood in diverse contexts.

An examination of the physical, cognitive and psychosocial development during adolescence and emerging adulthood in diverse contexts.

An applied study of human development, examining risk, protective, and promotive factors which contribute to resilience and positive developmental outcomes across the lifespan.

An exploration of the importance of being literate and numerate through an in-depth study of our engagement with mathematics and literacy in everyday life.

An examination of the nature of war and its impact on society. The course explains how contemporary armed conflict and the use of force affects the world order, people and their communities, human behaviour, culture, and the environment.

An introduction to the history of warfare on land, at sea, and in the air. The course examines how armed forces and the conduct of war have evolved in response to broad military, societal, political, and technological change.

An examination of emerging and re-emerging defence and security challenges within the global environment, from strategic competition and conflict, to threats posed by emerging technologies, to the security implications of climate change. The increasingly interconnected nature of these challenges will be a central focus of the course.

This course provides an exploration of the key global trends that are shaping the future of security and warfare and examines how these trends interact to impact at the individual, societal, state, and international level.

A study of defence and security intelligence from ancient times through to today, with emphasis on the evolution of intelligence organisations and activities, the impact of technological advances, and the wider political, social and ethical issues surrounding its practice.

An exploration of the processes and fundamental language and figurative techniques involved in creative writing. Students learn and apply such fundamental elements of craft as image, metaphor, denotation and connotation, and syntax. They do so through the close reading primarily of published poetry—as well as some fiction, non-fiction and drama—through their own practice as creative writers, and through providing and receiving workshop feedback.

An introduction to the fundamental narrative elements of creative writing. Concepts such as structure, plot, point of view, character and dialogue are learned through close reading of texts drawn from fiction, creative non-fiction, drama and poetry, and applied through the creation of original creative texts and through workshopping and peer review.

An in-depth study of the skills, formats, technique and terminology of professional script writing, with emphasis on the adaptation of traditional approaches across the diversity of contemporary media.

An intermediate-level introduction to the craft of writing targeted at ‘middle readers’ – roughly 9-13 years – across a variety of forms.

A creative writing course in which students develop and advance poetry skills within the major modes of lyric poetry and within the context of a more advanced engagement with fundamental elements of craft. In addition to reading poetry and critical essays on the genre, students will write original poetry and critically review their own work and the work of peers.

An intermediate-level introduction to the craft of nonfiction writing in a variety of genres, with a particular focus on the application of techniques usually associated with fiction and poetry to nonfiction material.

A beginning to intermediate-level study of the craft of fiction, investigating a range of forms by means of creative production, workshopping and peer review.

A study of the relationships between creative writing and ecological concerns, covering a range of contemporary forms from eco-fictions, nonfictions, or poetry, to nature writing, to animal stories. It engages students in the workshopped production of original creative work.

An exploration of the poetics and politics of experimentation and subversion in contemporary fiction and metafiction including analysis of the work (both creative and critical) of major practitioners, theorists and original student compositions.

An advanced study of the process of writing that consolidates knowledge of creative writing craft, expands understanding of genre, and analyses aesthetic and/or cultural aspects of published manuscripts across genres. The first portion of an envisioned full-length creative manuscript will be drafted with an emphasis on the critical evaluation of its aesthetic and/or cultural implications.