Bachelor of Arts (BA) Majoring in Psychology
University of Otago
Key Information
Campus location
Dunedin, New Zealand
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Introduction
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Majoring in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is Otago's most flexible undergraduate degree Program, enabling students to study from a selection of more than 40 arts and social science subjects, as well as papers offered elsewhere in the University. Academic breadth is complemented by in-depth knowledge gained through majoring in one or two subjects with the option of minors in one or two others.
Students are taught by research-active scholars, are expected to undertake a diverse range of learning tasks and are challenged to develop their intellectual independence. Graduates of the Program are well-informed, versatile, independent thinkers with the information literacy, communication, research and interpersonal skills necessary for a career or further academic study. The completed BA is an possible qualification for the PGDipArts in the major subject of the degree.
Why study Psychology?
The Department of Psychology at Otago has a highly-regarded teaching Program and is internationally renowned for the strength of its research.
The research conducted in the Department of Psychology addresses problems in areas as diverse as sleep disorders, industrial relations, phobias, drug rehabilitation, aircraft safety, hyperactivity in children, how nonhuman animals think, as well as how the brain works.
Learn about human behaviour
Start a challenging career
Develop research skills in the social and behavioural sciences
Improve career flexibility with Psychology in your degree
Psychology is a very popular course. In it, you will learn:
how the brain stores memories and processes information
why drugs, head injuries and hormones influence behaviour
how parents' behaviour influences their children's development
how our abilities change from childhood to old age
how emotions affect our reasoning
how prejudice and stereotypes arise
what underlies disorders such as schizophrenia and dementia
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Curriculum
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Anthropology
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Asian Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Biblical Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Chinese
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Christian Thought and History
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Classics (including Classical Studies, Greek and Latin)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Economics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Education
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in English
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in English and Linguistics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in European Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Film and Media Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in French
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Gender Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Geography
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in German
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Global Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in History
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Indigenous Development | He Kura Matanui
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Information Science
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Japanese
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Language and Linguistics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Linguistics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Māori Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Mathematics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Music
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Pacific Islands Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Philosophy
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Politics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Religious Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Sociology
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Spanish
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Sport Development and Management
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Statistics
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Theatre Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Tourism, Languages and Cultures
Program Outcome
Cross Credits
A candidate who is enrolled for the degree concurrently with another degree, or who has completed one degree and is proceeding with the other, may cross credit 100- and 200-level papers which are common to both degrees up to a maximum of 126 points where the other degree is a three-year degree and up to a maximum of 180 points where the other degree is longer than a three-year degree.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
In addition to specialising in Psychology, a degree in Psychology is useful for a wide range of other disciplines as well. Students take Psychology as part of degrees in Law, Marketing, Neuroscience, English, Physical Education, Management, Applied Science, Philosophy, Education, or Health Sciences.
There are many careers in Psychology in New Zealand and overseas, including positions as scientists in universities, government agencies, organisations, and industry. Otago graduates are studying pilot error in aviation, learning deficits in children, the causes of rugby injuries, the biological basis of memory, and the effectiveness of alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
Otago also offers training in Clinical Psychology for those wanting to work in health-related services. Clinical Psychologists work in hospitals, private practice, and in the Department of Corrections. Many of our Clinical Psychology graduates work for a time overseas particularly in the UK or Australia.
Program delivery
Application Details
Applicants must apply online. They should also attach all the necessary supporting documents which includes scanned copies of their official high school or foundation transcripts (awards gained, marks, grades); scanned copies of the relevant official transcripts of previous university study; and provide proof of their identity this is usually achieved by providing a certified copy of the personal details page of their passport or a birth certificate (in English). Applicants may also be required to submit an Educational Credential Evaluators report (ECE). As soon as applicants have completed their online application, their proof of identity document must be posted to International Office, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. International student applications for semester 1/summer school study close: Oct-31; Semester 2 study close: Apr-30.