Understand more about yourself and others Massey’s BA (Psychology) will help you explore how the brain works, and understand how we think, behave and make decisions. What is it Like? 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 can choose from a wide range of courses that reflect the diversity of psychology. 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 organizations, and produce unique and applied psychology research and training that’s recognized nationally and internationally. This strength and expertise enhances the reputation of your degree and ensures your knowledge is relevant to today’s society. 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. This better prepares you for further study and gives you a taste for where you might like to specialise. Careers A major in psychology can provide knowledge and skills relevant to a broad selection of applied psychology areas including clinical, health, education, and community, industrial and organizational 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 behavior and interactions that you will gain from a BA (Psychology) will be useful in many careers including: Counseling Human resources Public health Youth support Policy Rehabilitation psychology Scientific research Special education Requirements 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. Major requirements A major consists of 135 credits (nine courses) in Psychology; including 175.102 and 175.203.