Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

at Massey University - Manawatu Campus New Zealand

The quantitative skills that you’ll gain from a Massey Bachelor of Arts (Statistics) can set you apart from other graduates when applying for jobs. A Massey BA (Statistics) will teach you to interpret the science of evidence. Statistics allow us to quantify risk and make effective decisions even when we are uncertain about the world around us. Should I buy or sell my stock? Is this new treatment effective against breast cancer? What adverts should my website display in order to increase my revenue? How can I better interpret that weak distress signal coming from a vessel far out at sea? Being able to use data to find answers to questions like these makes statisticians some of the most highly sought-after employees.

There is a shortage of applied plant breeders in New Zealand and overseas - you will be in demand in the industry. Many graduates have employment before they graduate.

When you study the Postgraduate Diploma in Science (Plant Breeding) at Massey University you will become a member of a significant international scientific community responsible for global food security.  

This plant breeding major is unique in New Zealand. You will gain expertise in:

• quantitative genetics & applied plant breeding methods
• multisite experimental design
• data analysis & interpretation
• application of new molecular marker technologies in plant breeding
• understand disciplines such as agronomy, plant protection, plant physiology.

Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Arts (Creative Writing) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in creative writing without completing a second bachelor’s degree. You can then apply for postgraduate study in creative writing if you wish.

With Massey’s Master of Science (Conservation Biology), you will learn to address real conservation management problems. You will work in a small group setting and engage with staff of conservation agencies who are working on the ground to save our endangered native species.

The conservation biology qualification has a strong emphasis on integrating theory with practice and teaching state-of-the-art analytical techniques, providing a good stepping-stone to PhD research as well as employment opportunities.

The Graduate Diploma in Arts (English) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in English without completing a second bachelor’s degree. The Graduate Diploma in Arts (English) is a bridging tool for graduates in other subjects to get the equivalent of a major in English. You can then apply for a postgraduate qualification in English if you wish.

Epidemiology is the science concerned with study patterns of health and disease in different populations, or groups. If you are interested in a postgraduate programme that is predominantly taught, a postgraduate diploma may be right for you.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Science is for who have been able to demonstrate extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology (Biological Sciences) is a stepping stone to a research-based degree. Massey University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology (Biological Sciences) gives you the opportunity to join the pathway to in-depth research at a master's level.

Join Massey’s unique Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) to explore and understand microbes in the environment, from the soil to the air, and in the human body.

Microbiology is an essential science that helps us understand the microbes in the environment, including microbes that dwell in the soil, air and water, in our food and inside people, animals and plants. Microbiology can impact on many different areas, such as:

• Agriculture, where rumen microbes are both essential to dairy and good industries, but also responsible for much of New Zealand’s carbon emission;
• Bioprotection, where efforts to preserve native birds (kiwi) and plants (kauri trees) depend on expert control of microbial pathogens
• Microbes have applications as model systems to answer questions beyond the immediate range of microbiology, such as the causes of cancer or birth defects;
• Green and bio-based technologies, where microbes help preserve our environment by producing bio-based materials for use in diagnostics and vaccines or by harnessing solar energy for fuel production.

Let your love of animals take you into a field that is in high demand throughout New Zealand. With Massey's Bachelor of Science (Zoology) you have the chance to learn everything there is to know about animals.

Zoology is the animal science of the natural world. It examines animals on a variety of scales, from biological knowledge at the molecular level to animals as components of systems. It also includes the study of animal behaviour.

Much of our knowledge of the wider world and ourselves comes from the various 'screens' popular culture and the mass media use to entertain, inform, and instruct. The social, economic, and cultural importance of the mass media for communication in modern life requires critical analysis and understanding. In a world where it is difficult to escape the impact of the media, media studies provides analysis. It gives you an understanding of the production, consumption, and content of the media industries. The approach is interdisciplinary – you’ll draw on on areas like:

• Linguistics
• Textual analysis
• Cultural studies
• Aesthetics
• Politics
• Ideologies of gender, race, social class and national identity.

You’ll also learn about the media industry's codes, conventions, and production techniques.

The course includes a practical component as a useful learning supplement.