Course details

Summary

Excel in the growing health industry

If you’re interested in improving people’s health and wellbeing, and want to make real changes in the community, the Bachelor of Health Science (Psychology) is a great career choice.

What is it Like?

With a Massey Bachelor of Health Science (Psychology) you’ll explore the thoughts, feelings and actions of individuals and groups in a social and cultural context. A psychology major will help you make sense of the human impact on the world in which we live.

Get the skills you need

The psychology major offers you the opportunity to appreciate and critique the contributions made by psychological research to the evaluation of health, health status and health promotion. You’ll learn to adopt an evidence-based approach to problem-solving and decision-making that can be related to the interface between mental and physical health.

You’ll learn how the structure of the brain affects our behaviour, and how factors such as culture, gender, poverty and mental illness affect our health, thinking and behaviour.

A wide choice of psychology courses

At Massey, you can choose from a wide range of courses that reflect the diversity of psychology. You’ll learn about the natural, social and biological side as well as research methods and applications of psychology.

Your psychology major combines:

• natural science, focusing on perception, cognition, learning and the biological bases of behaviour;
• social science, dealing with emotions, individual differences, behaviour and relationships and the wider social context.

We’re well-connected and relevant

Through our connections with a wide range of community and statutory organisations, we produce unique and applied psychology research and training that is recognized nationally and internationally. This strength and expertise will enhance the reputation of your degree and ensure your learning will be relevant to today’s society.

Take your study further

There’s an opportunity to take postgraduate study, and qualify for work in clinical psychology, community psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology and organisational psychology.

Careers

The psychology major in the Bachelor of Health Science will help you develop a career that focuses on psychological aspects of the health of individuals and their families, workplaces and communities.

You’ll get knowledge and skills relevant to a broad selection of applied psychology areas including clinical, health, education, community, industrial and organizational psychology. These diverse options mean you can study what you’re most passionate about, and carry that passion forward into your career.

The knowledge of human behaviour and interactions that you will gain from a Bachelor of Health Science (Psychology) will be useful in many careers including:

• Counselling
• Public health
• Youth support
• Policy
• Rehabilitation psychology
• Scientific research
• Special education

Bachelor of Health Science structure

The Bachelor of Health Science (BHlthSc) is a 360 credit (equivalent to 3-years full time study) undergraduate qualification which offers students the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the maintenance and enhancement of the health and well-being of individuals and communities both nationally and internationally. Students are required to take the 8 core courses and a major.

Entry criteria

There are no special entry requirements beyond those that qualify you for study at University. Computer literacy is recommended. If you do not have a Science or Mathematics background, you can get a head start in your studies by taking foundation courses in Science or Mathematics.

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