Overview
Psychology is the science of behaviour and how behaviour is represented in the brain.
Academic staff in the Department of Psychology study the way humans and other animals interact with the world and each other. They examine how our abilities change with age, what might underlie abnormal behaviour, and how we process and store information using our senses and memory. They study how our experiences shape our behaviour, and why things such as drugs, hormone levels, and lack of sleep can influence the way we behave.
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.
Psychology is a very popular course.
It may be a major in either Arts or Sciences and can be taken in conjunction with a number of degrees such as Commerce, English, Law, Physical Education, and Applied Science, to name but a few.
The Department of Psychology at Otago has a highly-regarded teaching programme and is internationally renowned for the strength of its research.
Career opportunities
Graduates from the Department of Psychology have gone on to secure jobs in universities, health services, business and industry, road safety, communications and planning, and various government agencies. Clinical Psychology graduates have gone on to work in the public health sector or in private practice.
Graduates with appropriate postgraduate qualifications work in research sections of the government, such as the Departments of Health, Justice, Social Development, Transport, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Many of our graduates spend time working overseas, particularly in the United States, United Kingdom, or Australia.
Contact details
Department of Psychology
William James Building
275 Leith Walk
Dunedin 9016
Tel +64 3 479 7644
Email psychology@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/psychology
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
- Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
- Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClPs)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
- Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Papers
See the full list of Psychology (PSYC) papers.
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Psychology
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | PSYC 111 Brain and Behaviour PSYC 112 Human Thought and Behaviour Either STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics is recommended | 18 18 |
| 200-level | PSYC 210 Principles of Psychological Research PSYC 211 Brain and Cognition PSYC 212 Social and Applied Psychology | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | Four of: Students intending to advance to postgraduate study should also take PSYC 311 Quantitative Methods | 72 |
| Plus | 198 further points which may include STAT 110 or STAT 115; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | 198 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Psychology
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Psychology
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Psychology is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Psychology
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Psychology or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Psychology must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Psychology prior to undertaking the thesis. |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Psychology
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | PSYC 111 Brain and Behaviour PSYC 112 Human Thought and Behaviour Either STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics is recommended | 18 18 |
| 200-level | PSYC 210 Principles of Psychological Research PSYC 211 Brain and Cognition PSYC 212 Social and Applied Psychology | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | Four of: Students intending to advance to postgraduate study should also take PSYC 311 Quantitative Methods | 72 |
| Plus | 198 further points which may include STAT 110 or STAT 115; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science | 198 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Psychology
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Psychology
| Papers |
|---|
|
Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology
| Papers and Thesis |
|---|
|
Minor subject requirements
Psychology as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | PSYC 111 Brain and Behaviour PSYC 112 Human Thought and Behaviour | 18 18 |
| 200-level | PSYC 210 Principles of Psychological Research PSYC 211 Brain and Cognition PSYC 212 Social and Applied Psychology | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | One of PSYC 313, PSYC 315, PSYC 317, PSYC 318, PSYC 319, PSYC 321, PSYC 323, PSYC 324, PSYC 325, PSYC 326, PSYC 327, PSYC 328, PSYC 329 | 18 |
| Total | 108 |
*Further information will be available for this paper in early September 2018, or see the 2019 Guide to Enrolment.
