Course details

Summary

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

Want to know who makes decisions on many of the important issues, such as climate change, poverty, and student loans? Want to find out about how to influence those decisions? Interested in debates about rights, freedom, equality, justice?

Social Policy is designed to provide you with an understanding of the political, economic, social, and cultural factors that influence the development, implementation, and evaluation of social policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Social Policy explores the ways in which power, resources, and opportunities are distributed within society, and what influences that distribution. It introduces you to law, politics, and the role of government in a democratic society. The programme also examines the relationship between the state, political parties, the judiciary, the legal system, and the public in shaping legislation and developing policy.

Careers

Social Policy will equip you with the foundation knowledge and competencies required of a beginning policy analyst and researcher. It is largely a theoretical, rather than an applied programme, but you will certainly have the opportunity to learn a range of intellectual and practical skills which will stand you in good stead in the job market, assisting in positions such as:

• administration
• management
• policy analysis
• research

Requirements
The requirements for the Diploma in Arts endorsed in Social Policy are:

Pass 230.111 Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry
230.112 Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking

Pass at least 75 credits in Social Policy, including at least one of 279.101 or 200.162; 279.201; 30 credits at 200- or 300-level, and 15 credits at any level from the Social Policy schedule.

The remaining 15 credits for the Diploma in Arts can be from Part II of the schedule for the Bachelor of Arts degree (including further courses from the endorsement subject) and/or courses offered in other undergraduate degrees.

Entry criteria

Applicants must have completed New Zealand secondary school qualification or other equivalent overseas qualification.

English Language Requirements:

• IELTS score of 5.0 (no band less than 5.0)
• TOEFL iBT score of 61 overall (min 17 in Reading & Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 36 Overall (min 36 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 155