BA - Social Policy as a major
If you’re fascinated by the history and creative activities of humankind and how this shapes societies and our future, then a Bachelor of Arts (BA) is for you. Our graduates are in demand for their flexible skills, practical outlook and depth of understanding they bring to their roles.
Be a force for change. Study Social Policy at Waikato and develop a critical understanding of how policy-making impacts on every person, regardless of their age, ethnicity or gender – then learn how to influence it.
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Education and Society
- English
- Environmental Planning
- Geography
- History
- Human Development
- International Languages and Cultures
- Law
- Linguistics
- Music
- Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Māori Language/Te Reo Māori
- Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Population Studies
- Psychology
- Screen and Media Studies
- Sociology
- Theatre Studies
- Writing Studies
Apply to enrol
Key information
| Years: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Points: | 360 |
| Start Dates: | Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July) |
| Fees (Domestic): | $6,117-$7,132 per year |
| Fees (International): | $25,160 - $32,750 per year |
| Entry Requirements: | Undergraduate International |
| Faculty: | |
| *Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. | |
Career opportunities
- Advocate
- Case Manager
- Community Worker
- Policy Analyst
- Researcher
Degree Planner
Degree planner — BA in Social Policy
Year 1
Any 100 level
paper in footnotes
One from List A
(see BA Papers below)
Field of the Degree
100 Level
Field of the Degree
100 Level
Elective
Elective
Year 2
Any 200 level
SOCPY paper
Any 200 level
SOCPY paper
Any 200 level
paper listed in footnotes
One from List B
(see BA Papers below)
Field of the Degree
200 Level
Elective
Elective
Elective
Year 3
Any 300 level
SOCPY paper
Any 300 level
SOCPY paper
Any 300 level
paper listed in footnotes
Any 300 level
paper listed in footnotes
One from List C
(see BA Papers below)
Elective
Elective
Elective
- Stream
- Elective
- Compulsory
BA Papers
Lists A, B and C
List A: Academic Foundations
- ARTSC101 Indigenous Social Science Research
- ARTSC102 Art in Context
- ARTSC103 Rights and Reasons
- ARTSC105 Language in Context
- ENSLA103 Undergraduate Research Writing for ESL Students
- ENSLA202 Oral Skills for Academic English
List B: Cultural Perspectives
Any Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies paper, or- ANTHY101 Exploring Cultures: Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTHY102 New Zealand and the Pacific
- INTLC101 International Languages and Cultures
- ANTHY201 Ethnicity and Identity
- ANTHY202 Polynesian Ethnography
- DSIGN252 Cultural Perspectives for Design
- EDUCA200 Te Hononga Tangata
- ENGLI200 Global Fictions
- FRNCH231 French Language Intermediate 1
- GEOGY219 Māori Lands and Communities
- HISTY225 Indigenous Histories: Narratives, Ethics and Decoloniality
- INTLC221 Understanding East Asia
- LEGAL211 International Law: Global and Comparative
- LINGS203 Language, Society and Culture
- Any MAORI paper
- Any PACIS paper
List C: Work-Integrated Learning
- ARTSW300 Arts and Cultural Festivals
- ARTSW301 Professional Practice in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- ARTSW302 Work-Related Project in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- LINGS301 Research Apprenticeship
- MEDIA307 Professional Studio Production
- POPST300 Population Studies Work-Related Project
- PSYCH300 Work Placement in Psychology
- SOCSC300 Work-Integrated Learning - Work Placements
- SOCSC301 Work-Integrated Learning - Work-Related Project
- SPNSH300 Spanish Internship
- WRITE396 Writing Studies Work Placement
*Please consult our Student Advisors for the correct work-integrated learning paper.
Papers
Papers available within Social Policy
Social Policy provides students with an interdisciplinary perspective on key social issues of policy concern and opens up possibilities of employment in areas such as governmental social policy agencies, local bodies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.
Students may choose from a combination of core and elective papers in Economics, Education Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Political Science and Public Policy, Population Studies, Social Science Research, Sociology, and Work, Employment and Society which, when combined, offer theoretical and applied approaches to the study of social policy issues.
Social Policy is available as a major for the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Social Sciences. Social Policy may also be taken as a second major or as a minor with other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Social Policy as a single major for the BA or BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Social Policy, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must include SOCPY100, at least 30 points from SOCPY coded papers at 200 level' and at least 30 points from SOCPY coded papers at 300 level.
To complete Social Policy as part of a double major, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Social Policy, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must include SOCPY100, at least 15 points from SOCPY coded papers at 200 level, and at least 30 points from SOCPY coded papers at 300 level.
To complete a minor in Social Policy students must complete at least 60 points from the papers listed for Social Policy, including at least 30 above 100 level. Students must complete SOCPY100, at least one SOCPY coded 200 level paper, and at least one SOCPY coded 300 level paper.
Enquiries about undergraduate, diploma and graduate programmes in Social Policy should be directed to the Programme Convenor.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ECONS102 | Economics and Society | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces selected economic models, with a focus on developing and applying critical thinking skills to a range of business and social issues and to economic policies. | ||
| EDSOC101 | The New Zealand Educational Context | 20B (Hamilton), 20B (Online) & 20B (Tauranga) |
| The paper addresses the educational policies, ideas and processes shaping the educational contexts within which New Zealanders learn and teach. | ||
| MAORI150 | Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi | 20A (Tauranga) & 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper seeks to provide a sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It reviews historical and contemporary interpretations and takes into account the interplay of contextual issues of the time. | ||
| POLSC102 | New Zealand Politics and Policy | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides a foundation for the study of political science and public policy, with a particular focus on the study of government, politics and policy in New Zealand. | ||
| SOCIO101 | Introduction to Sociology | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Tauranga) |
| This paper prepares students for further study in a range of social science subjects. It introduces the main sociological theories, concepts and practices that enable an understanding of contemporary societies. | ||
| SOCPY100 | Introduction to Social Policy | 20A (Hamilton) & 20A (Tauranga) |
| This paper examines the values behind social policy and introduces students to some of the important issues and debates in New Zealand and other democratic societies. | ||
| WKEMP100 | Work, Employment and Society | 20B (Hamilton) |
| The purpose of this paper is to focus on the interdisciplinary account of the changing forms and social contexts of work from ancient times to the present and beyond. | ||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| EDSOC200 | Education and New Zealand Society | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper critically examines educational ideas and practices by considering philosophical, historical, political, socio-cultural and economic aspects. It examines how the interrelationships between education and society change over time. | ||
| POLCY212 | Power, Politics and Policy Analysis | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to public policy analysis. Students focus on the role of politics, public participation and policy in addressing society's big problems, how they are framed and defined, and how solutions are developed and implemented within the context of the policy process. | ||
| POPST201 | Population Studies | 20A (Hamilton) & 20A (Online) |
| This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the multidisciplinary field of Population Studies. Students will develop a sound understanding of the demographic drivers of population change and composition, while exploring some of the rich theories and methodological approaches which comprise Population Studies. | ||
| SOCPY200 | Social Policy and Social Issues | 20A (Hamilton) & 20A (Tauranga) |
| The paper continues the study of social policy at 200 level. The focus of this paper is on the welfare state, the policy cycle as well as social problems, such as poverty. | ||
| SOCPY201 | Social Policy, Families and Children | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Tauranga) |
| This paper further develops students' theoretical understanding of social policy, while focusing specifically on policy related to families and children, providing insight into the relationships between policy and lived experience. | ||
| SOCWK205 | Community Development | 20A (Tauranga) |
| This paper critically explores the evolution, dimensions and practice of community development in Aoteoroa New Zealand including Maori development. It also focuses on the strategies, skills and tools necessary for community development practice. | ||
| WKEMP201 | Employment Relations in New Zealand | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the employment relations legislation and its impact on employers, unions and workers. Other issues considered include occupational health and safety, industrial training and practice of employment relations | ||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ECONS307 | Economics of Land, Water and Environment | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides students with a detailed understanding of the role of economic analysis in solving real world environmental problems including pollution, sustainable development, resource scarcity, and climate change. | ||
| EDSOC300 | Maori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education | 20A (Online) |
| This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Maori philosophies. It considers how Maori and Western philosophies respectively describe the self's relationship with thought and knowledge in the context of education. | ||
| GNSEX303 | Intersectionalities: Identities and Inequalities | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides a comprehensive review of the historical context for understanding contemporary issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social class. It investigates micro and macro level experiences and the social construction of identities. In doing so, this paper looks at how power is distributed in society, the theories that... | ||
| HMDEV300 | Children's Development in Families | 20A (Online) |
| This paper examines the development of children within family and community contexts. Contemporary issues will be investigated with an emphasis on theory and research and their impact on policy and practice. | ||
| PACIS300 | Contemporary Critical Issues in the Pacific | 20A (Hamilton) & 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides an in-depth examination of a number of contemporary critical issues in the Pacific as identified by leading Pacific scholars, writers, artists, auteurs and activists. | ||
| POLCY318 | Global Environmental Politics and Policy | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores contemporary debates on environmental politics, sustainability, justice, and environmental governance. It examines the political processes underpinning the search for cooperative solutions to environmental dilemmas, including climate change. | ||
| POPST302 | Exploring Population Change | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Online) |
| This paper applies methods for measuring population size, composition and change, which are used extensively for understanding population issues in public policy, human resource planning, forecasting and business planning. | ||
| SOCIO311 | Current Issues in Criminal Justice | 20B (Online) |
| This paper examines sociological explanations for criminal behaviour and examines issues within criminal justice. | ||
| SOCPY300 | Social Policy | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides students with experience of the ways in which policy is formulated and enacted. Theoretical perspectives are consolidated and extended to enhance opportunities for employment in the social policy field. | ||
| SOCPY301 | Health, Wellbeing and Policy | 20A (Hamilton) & 20A (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides a critical introduction to key issues in the formation of health policy at both a national and international level. | ||
| SOCPY390 | Directed Study | 20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton), 20D (Hamilton), 20G (Hamilton) & 20S (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides students with a flexible opportunity to undertake investigation of a specific topic from a social policy perspective. | ||
| WKEMP300 | Education, Skill and Employment | 20A (Hamilton), 20A (Online), 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Online) |
| The purpose of this paper is to focus on policy and practice in the field of paid work, education and training. This encapsulates tertiary education a field that includes: adult and community education; higher education; vocational education and training; human resource development; and workplace learning. | ||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| EDSOC501 | Education Policy and Society | 20A (Hamilton) |
| A critical analysis of educational policies and practices, with particular references to New Zealand. | ||
| POLSC501 | Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the fundamentals of policy analysis, and develops skills for higher-level research in public policy. A key focus is developing critical awareness of policy processes, of the drivers of change, and of the role of both 'evidence' and public participation in policy-making, in the pursuit of inclusive ... | ||
| POPST501 | Population Health and Equity | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores population health in Aotearoa/New Zealand and internationally, emphasising the broader determinants of wellbeing and equity. It introduces aspects of epidemiology, considers historical, indigenous and contemporary perspectives of health, and explores relationships between health, community and society. | ||
| POPST507 | Critical Demography | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to critical demography as an approach that draws on social science theories to understand key demographic phenomena. Interactive seminars will comprise a blend of structured lectures and in-class discussion focussed on weekly readings drawn from Aotearoa NZ and internationally. The first part of the p... | ||
| POPST509 | Research Methods for Population Analysis | 20B (Hamilton) & 20B (Online) |
| This paper provides students with hands-on experience conducting population research, working with real world data to analyse to investigate population issues. Students will gain a sound understanding of how to access, analyse and interpret data and how to communicate their findings, skills directly applicable to a range of policy,... | ||
| PSYCH511 | Evaluation Research Design | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides a theoretical grounding in programme evaluation, with an emphasis on the evaluation of programmes in the not-for-profit sector. Emphasis is placed on qualitative methods, collaborative approaches and evaluation as a strategy of incremental social change. | ||
| PSYCH513 | Evaluation Research Analysis | 20X (Block) |
| This paper provides an introduction to evaluation praxis with a major focus on completing a small scale evaluation of a social service or health programme. Such roles as consultant, advocate, liaison and technician are part of the skills students experience. Engagement with the client through refining and negotiating an evaluation ... | ||
| SOCIO500 | Comparative Indigenous Criminology | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper focuses on a critical comparison of indigenous people's experiences of crime control policies and interventions in settler-colonial jurisdictions. | ||
| SOCIO503 | Comparative Indigenous Criminology | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper offers students an opportunity to engage in in-depth critique and analysis of Indigenous peoples' experiences of crime control in settler colonial contexts. By focussing on the 'big four' settler colonial jurisdictions, Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, the US and Australia, the paper is also designed to introduce students ... | ||
| SOCPY507 | Gender and Development | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This graduate paper explores fundamental constructs of feminishm within the context of development schemes and policies. | ||
| SOCPY508 | Techniques for Policy Analysis | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper exposes students to a selection of techniques in the policy toolkit that can be applied to problem solving in social policy issues. It also reflects on the values and assumptions underlying methods. Students will be taught to apply policy methods critically and in context. | ||
| SOCPY589 | Directed Study | 20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton) & 20S (Hamilton) |
| Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff. Open to selected students who meet the criteria set out in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Graduate Handbook. | ||
| SOCPY590 | Directed Study | 20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton) & 20D (Hamilton) |
| Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff. Open to selected students who meet the criteria set out in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Graduate Handbook. | ||
| SOCPY591 | Dissertation | 20X (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| SOCPY592 | Dissertation | 20X (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| SOCPY593 | Social Policy Thesis | 20X (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
| SOCPY594 | Social Policy Thesis | 20X (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
900 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| SOCPY900 | Social Policy PhD Thesis | 20I (Hamilton) & 20X (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
Subject Requirements
Social Policy is available as a major for the BSocSc.
Social Policy is available as a major for the BSocSc. Social Policy may also be taken as a second major or as a minor within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.
For more information about subject requirements please refer to the Catalogue of Papers for the most up to date information. If you have any questions and need more advice, please contact one of our friendly student advisors on phone:
Note: Social Policy is available as a major for the BSocSc in Hamilton and Tauranga. Tauranga-based students majoring in Social Policy may substitute SOCW305 for SOCP304
Please note: For all graduate subject requirements, please check the information provided in the papers section above.
Study in Tauranga
You can complete your BA in Social Policy without leaving the Bay. To find out about being one of the first students in our new Tauranga CBD campus (opening in 2019), email a Future Students Advisor: info@waikato.ac.nz.
Contacts
School of Social Sciences
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4138
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: socp-fass@waikato.ac.nz
Graduate and Postgraduate Email Enquiries: socp-grad@waikato.ac.nz