Course details

Summary

Graduate in high demand

Massey’s Bachelor of Arts (Security Studies) will give you a powerful combination of critical thinking skills and knowledge of global security issues.

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

Our world provides numerous complex and multifaceted challenges to security. These include traditional interstate conflict, the threat of the spread of nuclear weapons, disputes linked to religious differences, control and exploitation of scarce resources, and the impact of globalisation and environmental change.

Management of threats to security is an important dimension of government and public policy. If you are interested in local and global security issues, Massey’s Bachelor of Arts (Security Studies) will give you knowledge in this area.

You can take security studies as a major to develop a specialisation, or a minor to complement other subject choices. It’s a flexible degree that will equip you for a number of careers.

Unique in New Zealand

Massey offers New Zealand’s only specialist education in security studies. It examines security challenges such as biosecurity, conflict resolution and cyber-crime at community and government levels. You’ll develop broad and transferable critical thinking skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to do an internship with government agencies such as Customs or the New Zealand Police.

Learn from the best

Our lecturers have professional and academic experience. Our courses are nationally and internationally respected, scholarly and career-focussed, and well-connected with potential employers. The programme is designed in collaboration with an advisory board of New Zealand’s top defence and security officials.

Careers

With a Bachelor of Arts (Security Studies) you’ll graduate in high demand.

By learning how people, property and information are protected, you can prepare for a career that’s challenging, rewarding and will help make the world a safer place. Knowledge of security can be applied to a range of professions and vocations such as:

• Government or non-government agencies
• Commercial companies
• Security
• Business
• Foreign affairs
• Trade, law
• Intelligence
• Border protection
• Law enforcement

Requirements

The major in Security Studies is not just for people employed in the military, it is for anyone with an interest in the various aspects of security, for example, security issues, strategy, terrorism and the law to name just a few areas of study.

Major Requirements

A major consists of 135 credits in Security Studies.

Entry criteria

Students must have successful completion of a qualification equivalent to the New Zealand Year 13 - NCEA Level 3 University Entrance.

English Language Requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5)
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall (min 19 in Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 50 Overall (min 42 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 170