BSocSc - Population Studies as a major
Major, Second Major, Supporting
The Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) will challenge your thinking about the world and the people who live in it. The degree focuses on contemporary social issues, the ways in which humans interact with these issues and how such actions can be monitored and modified.
Learn about Population Studies through the Te Ngira Institute for Population Research at Waikato and gain a solid, research-led understanding of the population issues facing developed and developing countries, with a particular emphasis on the South Pacific.
Apply to enrol
Key information
| Years: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Points: | 360 |
| Start Dates: | Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July) |
| Estimated Fees* (Domestic): | $6,591 - $7,608 per year |
| Estimated Fees* (International): | $28,025 - $35,420 per year |
| Entry Requirements: | Undergraduate International |
| Area of Study: | |
| *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
- Health Sector Analyst
- Merchant Banker
- Policy Analyst
- Social Sciences Researcher
Degree Planner
Degree planner — BSocSc in Population Studies
Year 1
Any 100 level
paper listed below
Any 100 level
paper listed below
One from List A
Field of the Degree
100 Level
Field of the Degree
100 Level
Elective
Elective
Year 2
Any 200 level
paper listed below
Any 200 level
paper listed below
One from List B
PSYCH211 or SSRES200
Elective
Elective
Elective
Year 3
Any 300 level
POPST paper listed below
Any 300 level
POPST paper listed below
Any 300 level
paper listed below
Any 300 level
paper listed below
One from List C
Elective
Elective
Elective
- Major
- Compulsory
- Elective
BSocSc Papers
Lists A, B and C
List A: Academic Foundations
- ARTSC103 Rights and Reason
- ARTSC106 Critical Social Science Research: The Crisis of Climate Change
- ENSLA103 Undergraduate Research Writing for ESL Students
- ENSLA202 Academic Oral Strategies
List B: Cultural Perspectives
Any Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies paper, or
- ANTHY101 Exploring Cultures: Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTHY102 Exploring Cultures: Aotearoa and the Pacific
- ANTHY201 Patriots, Racists, and Foreigners: Ethnicity and Identity in Global Perspective
- DSIGN252 Cultural Perspectives in Design
- EDUCA200 Te Hononga Tāngata
- ENGLI200 Global Fictions
- FRNCH231 French Language Intermediate 1
- GEOGY219 Māori Lands and Communities
- INTLC101 International Languages and Cultures
- INTLC221 Understanding East Asia
- INTLC222 European and Latin American Cultures: Tradition and Modernity
- LINGS203 Language, Society and Culture
List C: Work-Integrated Learning
- ALPSS301 Work Integrated Learning - Placements
- ARTSW300 Arts and Cultural Festivals
- ARTSW301 Professional Practice in the Arts
- ARTSW302 Work-Related Arts Research Project
- LINGS301 Research Apprenticeship
- POPST300 Population Studies Work-Related Project
- PSYCH301 Psychology Research Assistantship
- SOCSC301 Work-Integrated Learning - Work-Related Project
- WRITE396 Writing Studies Work Placement
*Please consult our Student Advisors for the correct work-integrated learning paper.
*Not all papers are offered each year.
Papers
Papers available within Population Studies
Population Studies explores some of the most serious societal challenges we face for the 21st Century. Population issues have implications for the environment, employment, families, health, urbanisation, migration, security in old age and refugee movements. The undergraduate programme complements and supports other subjects in the university that are concerned with population by providing training in core concepts, methods and issues.
Population Studies is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Population Studies may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Population Studies as a single major for the BA or BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Population Studies, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must include 30 points from the 100 level papers listed, POPST201, and at least 30 points from POPST coded papers at 300 level.
To complete Population Studies as part of a double major for the BA, BSocSc or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Population Studies, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must include POPST201, and at least 30 points from POPST coded papers at 300 level.
To complete a minor in Population Studies, students must complete at least 60 points from the papers listed for Population Studies, including at least 30 points above 100 level. Students must complete POPST201, and at least one POPST coded 300 level paper.
Enquiries about undergraduate programmes in Population Studies should be directed to the undergraduate advisor.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSMAX101 | The World of Data | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) |
| This paper teaches students how to build datasets for analysis in health science, and critically evaluate and effectively present the results of such analyses, using commonly used software such as Excel, R, and SPSS. Students are introduced to issues of privacy, and cultural considerations for Maori and Indigenous health. | |||
| DATAX121 | Introduction to Statistical Methods | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) & 23A (Secondary School - Unistart) |
| An introduction to statistical data collection and analysis. Topics include general principles for statistical problem solving; some practical examples of statistical inference; and the study of relationships between variables using regression analysis. | |||
| GEOGY101 | Sustainable Geographies | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton), 23B (Online) & 23B (Tauranga) |
| An introduction to the rich field of social and cultural geography with links to the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals. A foundation paper for second year papers on contemporary cultural geographies, health geographies, and Maori geographies. | |||
| MAORI150 | Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton), 23B (Hamilton) & 23X (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. | |||
| PSYCH101 | Social Psychology, Health and Well-being | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) & 23B (Tauranga) |
| This paper will introduce major issues in psychology particularly as they relate to health, wellbeing, mental illness, forensic psychology, lifespan development, and social factors in a range of contexts. | |||
| SOCIO101 | Introduction to Sociology | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) & 23B (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 | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) & 23A (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. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEOGY209 | Health, People, Place | 15.0 | 23B (Online) |
| This paper draws on critical analysis of health, people and place to introduce contemporary developments in socio-cultural geography. Attention is paid to spatial well-being at a range of scales. | |||
| HELTH201 | Epidemiology and Bio-statistics | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) |
| This course provides students with basic understanding of the techniques and uses of epidemiology in preventing poor health, health planning and evaluation. | |||
| POLCY212 | Power, Politics and Policy Analysis | 15.0 | 23A (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 | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) & 23A (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. | |||
| PSYCH211 | Understanding Psychological Research | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) & 23A (Tauranga) |
| This paper will cover the basic methodological approaches relevant to psychological and social science research, including research design, data collection, data analysis, and the dissemination of research. | |||
| SOCPY200 | Social Policy and Social Issues | 15.0 | 23A (Online) & 23A (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 | Child Poverty & Social Policy | 15.0 | 23A (Online) |
| This paper develops students' theoretical understanding of social policy, focusing on the effects of child poverty. We examine how policy shapes and responds to poverty experienced by children and families. | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPSS390 | Directed Study | 15.0 | 23X (Hamilton) |
| This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff. | |||
| GEOGY309 | Social and Cultural Geographies of Difference | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) |
| This paper is a forum for debate in critical geographies of difference. Key concerns are intersections between gender, ethnicity, nationality and other social divisions in relation to place and environment. | |||
| GEOGY328 | Geographical Information Systems | 15.0 | 23A (Hamilton) & 23A (Online) |
| GIS is used widely in a range of industries and government agencies, and graduates competent in GIS are sort after for employment. This paper is compulsory for the GIS minor and covers all aspects of GIS analysis, including remote sensing and model building. ArcGIS Pro is used in the labs and students have the opportunity to instal... | |||
| GNSEX303 | Intersectionalities: Identities and Inequalities | 15.0 | 23B (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... | |||
| POPST300 | Population Studies Work-related Project | 15.0 | 23X (Hamilton) |
| This work-related project is mostly a university-based project with a focus on a workplace or community organisation relevant to population studies and research. Projects provide an opportunity to students utilise population studies skills and techniques and to reflect on the relevance of disciplinary knowledge in a professional se... | |||
| POPST302 | Exploring Population Change | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) & 23B (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. | |||
| POPST305 | Migration, Mobilities and Displacement | 15.0 | No occurrences |
| An examination of contemporary international migration with a particular focus on the drivers of migration, the social and structural forces that influence migration and the implications of different modes of governance. | |||
| PSYCH302 | Community, Culture and Diversity | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton) & 23B (Tauranga) |
| The focus of this paper is the study of social justice, intersectionality, transformative interventions, and social change strategies that are central to community, indigenous and liberation psychologies. Issues covered include inequalities, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class and (dis)ability. Key considerations are the broader co... | |||
| SOCIO303 | Big Tech, Big Data, Algorithms and Society | 15.0 | 23A (Online) |
| Thinking sociologically about digital technologies: algorithms in social life, surveillance, disinformation, the gig economy and precarity. What does it mean to do sociology in the age of big tech? | |||
| SOCPY300 | Social Policy | 15.0 | 23B (Online) |
| 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 | 15.0 | 23B (Hamilton), 23B (Online) & 23B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides a critical introduction to key issues in the formation of health policy at both a national and international level. | |||
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
Subject Requirements
Full requirements for Population Studies as a single major, part of a double major, or a minor subject are available in the Catalogue of Papers.
Contacts
School of Social Sciences
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4040
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: [email protected]