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Study Psychology at Otago

The science of behaviour, brain and cognition

Psychology is the science of behaviour, brain and cognition, exploring the complex way humans and other animals interact with the world and
each other.

Psychology examines the behavioural, perceptual, mental and emotional processes taking place in our brains. Psychologists also address applied topics as diverse as transport safety, eye-witness testimony, industrial relations, intellectual disabilities, hyperactivity in children, and other clinical issues.

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Why study Psychology?

  • Learn about human behaviour.
  • Start a challenging career.
  • Develop research skills in the social and behavioural sciences.
  • Improve career flexibility with Psychology in your degree.

You will learn

  • How the brain stores memories and processes information.
  • How our abilities change from childhood to old age.
  • How emotions affect our reasoning.
  • How prejudice and stereotypes arise.
  • How parents' behaviour influences their children's development.
  • What underlies disorders such as schizophrenia and dementia.
  • Why drugs, head injuries and hormones influence behaviour.

Career opportunities

In addition to specialising in Psychology, a degree in Psychology is useful for a wide range of other disciplines as well. Students take Psychology as part of degrees in Law, Commerce, Physical Education, Applied Science, Education, or Health Sciences.

Graduates from the Department of Psychology have gone on to jobs in universities, health and social services, business and industry, safety, communications and planning, and various government agencies. Clinical Psychology graduates have gone on to work in the public health sector, Department of Corrections, or in private practice.

Graduates with appropriate postgraduate qualifications work in research sections of the government, such as the Department of Health, Education, Justice, Social Development, Transport and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Many of our graduates spend time working overseas, particularly in Australia, the United Kingdom or USA.

Psychology at Otago

What does first-year Psychology involve?

There are two first-year papers, PSYC 111 Brain and Behaviour (semester 1) and PSYC 112 Human Thought and Behaviour (semester 2).

These papers have lecture and laboratory components and cover a wide range of topics such as:

Biopsychology – how do sleep, hormone levels, and drugs affect our behaviour?

Perception – what do our senses tell our brains?

Neuropsychology – how do our brains work?

Learning – how do our experiences influence our behaviour?

Development – why do our abilities and behaviours change with age?

Social psychology – how do people affect one another?

Abnormal psychology – when do we decide that behaviour is “abnormal”, and what causes such problems?

Cognition – how do we remember things, solve problems, and use language?

If I major in Psychology what other subjects might I consider?

That depends on your interests and strengths. Here are a few examples, but there are many other possibilities.

Student A takes Biology, Chemistry and Anatomy because they are interested in neuroscience.

Student B takes Marketing, Management and/or Human Resource Management because they want to work in business or industry.

Student C takes Mathematics and Computer Science because they are fascinated by artificial intelligence.

Student D is interested in issues of social change, so they add Politics, Philosophy and Economics to their degree.

Background required

Any University of Otago student can take first-year papers in Psychology. Secondary school English, biology and statistics are useful but not essential.

Requirements

Psychology as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc 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 Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

LevelPapersPoints
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 324, PSYC 325, PSYC 326, PSYC 327, PSYC 328, PSYC 329, PSYC 330

18
Total 108

PSYC papers

Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
PSYC111 2025 Brain and Behaviour 18 Semester 1
PSYC112 2025 Human Thought and Behaviour 18 Semester 2
PSYC203 2025 Abnormal Psychology 18 Semester 2
PSYC204 2025 Justice, Race and Class 18 Not offered in 2025
PSYC210 2025 Principles of Psychological Research 18 Semester 1
PSYC211 2025 Brain and Cognition 18 Semester 2
PSYC212 2025 Social and Applied Psychology 18 Semester 1
PSYC310 2025 Research Project 18 Full Year
PSYC311 2025 Quantitative Methods 18 Semester 1
PSYC313 2025 Cognition and Neuropsychology 18 Semester 1
PSYC315 2025 Social Psychology 18 Semester 2
PSYC317 2025 Biopsychology 18 Semester 2
PSYC318 2025 Developmental Psychology 18 Semester 1
PSYC319 2025 Comparative Cognition 18 Semester 1
PSYC321 2025 Special Topic 18 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026
PSYC323 2025 Sensation and Perception 18 Semester 1
PSYC324 2025 Health Psychology 18 Semester 2
PSYC325 2025 Psychology in Legal Contexts 18 Semester 1
PSYC326 2025 Human Factors and Ergonomics 18 Semester 2
PSYC327 2025 Psychology of Language 18 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026
PSYC328 2025 Behaviour Analysis in Everyday Life 18 Semester 2
PSYC329 2025 Cultural Psychology 18 Semester 2
PSYC330 2025 Drugs, Behaviour, Addiction, and Policy 18 Semester 2
PSYC331 2025 Applied Psychological Research 18 Not offered in 2025
PSYC401 2025 Behaviour Analysis 10 Semester 1
PSYC402 2025 Assessment in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology 10 Semester 1
PSYC403 2025 Adult Psychopathology 10 Semester 2
PSYC404 2025 Assessment in Clinical Psychology Practice 10 Semester 1
PSYC405 2025 Clinical Neuropsychology 10 Semester 2
PSYC406 2025 Foundations of Clinical Intervention 10 Semester 2
PSYC421 2025 Advanced Research Methods 10 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026
PSYC422 2025 Contemporary Issues in Psychology 10 Semester 1
PSYC423 2025 Advanced Topics in Health Psychology 10 Semester 2
PSYC424 2025 Contexts of Development 10 Not offered in 2025
PSYC425 2025 Advanced Topics in Behaviour Analysis 10 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026
PSYC426 2025 Social Cognition 10 Not offered in 2025
PSYC427 2025 Topical Issues in Child Development 10 Not offered in 2025
PSYC428 2025 Culture and Development 10 Semester 2
PSYC429 2025 Advanced Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience 10 Semester 1
PSYC430 2025 Synaptic Plasticity Mechanisms 10 Semester 1
PSYC432 2025 Special Topic 10 Not offered in 2025
PSYC433 2025 Advanced Theoretical Topic 10 Semester 1, Semester 2
PSYC434 2025 Advanced Quantitative Methods 10 Semester 2
PSYC435 2025 Developmental Psychopathology 10 Semester 1
PSYC436 2025 Topical Issues in Adolescent Behaviour 10 Semester 2
PSYC437 2025 Cognitive Neuroscience Seminar 10 Semester 2
PSYC438 2025 Nervous System Plasticity in Health and Disease 10 Semester 2
PSYC439 2025 Neurobiology and Behavioural Effects of Drugs 10 Not offered in 2025
PSYC440 2025 Special Topic: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Psychology 10 Semester 1
PSYC441 2025 Personality and Measurement 10 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2026
PSYC442 2025 Qualitative Methods in Psychology 10 Semester 1
PSYC443 2025 Te Waenganui: Intersecting Culture and the Mind 10 Semester 2
PSYC480 2025 Dissertation 40 Full Year
PSYC490 2025 Dissertation 60 Full Year, 1st Non standard period
PSYC495 2025 Master's Thesis Preparation 40 Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year, 1st Non standard period
PSYC501 2025 Clinical Intervention 75 1st Non standard period
PSYC601 2025 Clinical Psychology Internship 144 1st Non standard period

More information

Contact us

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

Studying at Otago

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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