Social Policy (2024)

Social Policy is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC) and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Social Policy 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 Social Policy as a single major for the BA, BCC 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 for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degree, 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 and postgraduate programmes in Social Policy should be directed to the Programme Convenor.

On this page

• Prescriptions for the GradCert(SocPol) and GradDip(SocPol)
• Prescriptions for the PGCert(SocPol), PGDip(SocPol), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc
• Prescriptions for the PhD
• 100 Level
• 200 Level
• 300 Level
• 500 Level
• 900 Level

• Prescriptions for the GradCert(SocPol) and GradDip(SocPol)

  A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Social Policy at an advanced level in their first degree.

  Each programme of study for the Graduate Certificate must include at least one SOCPY coded 200 level paper and at least one SOCPY coded 300 level paper. Each programme of study for the Graduate Diploma must include at least one SOCPY coded 200 level paper, and at least two SOCPY coded 300 level papers.

  For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.

• Prescriptions for the PGCert(SocPol), PGDip(SocPol), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc

  To complete a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Social Policy, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including SOCPY500, at least 30 points in research (normally SOCPY591) and at least 30 points from any other SOCPY or SOCIO coded 500 level papers.

  To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA or MSocSc in Social Policy, a student must have completed either:

  a) a BA or BSocSc with a major in Social Policy (or equivalent) with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board, or

  b) a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Social Policy (or equivalent) with at least second class honours (second division) or a PGDip in Social Policy (or equivalent) with at least a B average, and

  c) have satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.

  Completion requirements for the MA or MSocSc in Social Policy vary according to admission criteria:

  Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc. Within the 180 points students much also complete ALPSS500, and 60 points from SOCPY coded papers.

  Students admitted under b) above must complete 120 points from approved 500-level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.

• Prescriptions for the PhD

  The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

• 100 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  POLSC102	New Zealand Politics and Policy	15.0	24B (Hamilton) & 24B (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	15.0	24B (Hamilton) & 24B (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	24A (Hamilton) & 24A (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.
  SOCPY101	Social Policy & the Welfare State	15.0	24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online)
  This paper covers the rise of the welfare state as the primary means of social policy delivery in New Zealand.

• 200 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  POLCY212	Public Policy Analysis	15.0	24A (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.
  SOCIO206	Environmental Sociology: From Denial to Actions	15.0	24A (Online)
  The environment and climate are as much about human activity, economic and political choices as scientific information. Thinking sociologically, not just as individuals is the key to change.
  SOCPY200	Social Policy and Social Issues	15.0	24A (Online) & 24A (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	24A (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.
  SOCPY202	Addressing Precarity: A Global Perspective	15.0	24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online)
  This paper considers human precarity: past, present and future. The focus is on its contemporary forms under global market competition, and ways to make a more secure world in the future.

• 300 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  ALPSS390	Directed Study	15.0	24X (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 or minor under the guidance of academic staff.
  GNSEX303	Intersectionalities: Identities and Inequalities	15.0	24B (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...
  POLCY318	Global Environmental Politics and Policy	15.0	24A (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.
  SOCIO305	Human Enhancement Technologies and Social Life	15.0	24A (Online)
  This paper analyses the causes and impacts of technologies of human enhancement on individuals and societies. The paper addresses issues such as smart drugs, gene edits and cybernetics.
  SOCIO311	Current Issues in Crime Control and Social Justice	15.0	24G (Online)
  This paper examines sociological explanations for criminal behaviour and examines issues within criminal justice.
  SOCPY300	Applied Social Policy	15.0	24B (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	24A (Hamilton), 24A (Online) & 24A (Tauranga)
  This paper provides a critical introduction to key issues in the formation of health policy at both a national and international level.
  SOCPY302	Welfare to Workfare and Beyond	15.0	24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online)
  This paper seeks to explore the relationship between the NZ labour market and welfare system, focusing on the rise of the neo-liberal welfare state, its consequence and alternatives.
  SOCPY303	Critical Feminism and the Prison State	15.0	24A (Online)
  This paper employs anti-carceral feminist theories and frameworks to explore the phenomenon of mass female imprisonment across nation states, with a particular focus on Indigenous and Black Imprisoned Radical Tradition.

• 500 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  ALPSS500	Academic & Professional Research & Writing	30.0	24A (Online), 24B (Online) & 24C (Online)
  In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills for the future' identified by the World Economic Forum (2020), in order to produce resilient, creative students with strong analytic and critical thinking skills.
  ALPSS590	Directed Study	30.0	24X (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.
  ALPSS591	Research Project	30.0	24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
  A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum).
  ALPSS592	Dissertation	60.0	24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
  A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum).
  POLSC501	Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice	30.0	24A (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 ...
  POLSC537	Environmental Politics and Public Policy	30.0	24A (Hamilton)
  This paper introduces students to the complexities and challenges of environmental policy processes, and develops skills in scholarly research on environmental policy making. A significant focus of the paper is on analysing and understanding the complex intersections of institutions, culture, science and technology, and systems of ...
  SOCPY500	Techniques for Policy Analysis	30.0	24A (Online)
  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.
  SOCPY593	Social Policy Thesis	90.0	24X (Hamilton)
  An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

• 900 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  SOCPY900	Social Policy PhD Thesis	120.0	24I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton)
  No description available.