Why Study / Key Benefits

• Explore major social issues such as inequality, social justice, culture, ethnicity, gender, politics, environment, work and social change.
• Develop the ability to question assumptions and analyse social problems using sociological perspectives.
• Build research, critical-thinking, communication and problem-solving skills that can transfer across different occupations.
• Study both local and global social issues, including contemporary questions about technology, climate change, AI, globalisation and changing forms of work.
• Gain practical exposure to quantitative and qualitative research methods through research-focused courses.
• The major can be combined with a minor from the BA, Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Science, subject to the relevant regulations.
• Massey currently places Sociology within its wider politics, geography and society study area, with career applications including community development, policy analysis and service/design research.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Sociology major comprises 120 credits within the 360-credit BA. Students also complete the wider BA core and other elective/major requirements.

Sociology compulsory foundation

Students choose 15 credits from:

• 176101 The Sociological Imagination – 15 credits

This provides a foundation in Sociology, including individual and social processes, globalisation and social inequalities.

Subject options

Students can choose from subjects including:

• 176106 The Stuff of Everyday Life – 15 credits
  • Sociology of everyday life and material objects in local and global contexts.
• 294115 War and Society – 15 credits
  • War, armed conflict, society, communities, behaviour, culture, environment and world order.

Students can choose no more than 15 credits from this group.

Further Sociology topics

At least 30 credits are selected from options including:

• 176216 Globalisation in a Digital World – 15 credits
• 176218 Racism and Colonisation – 15 credits
• 176223 Social Inequality and Justice – 15 credits
• 176224 Gender: Bodies that Matter – 15 credits

These address globalisation and digital society, race and ethnicity, colonisation, inequality, gender and social transformation.

Advanced / research-oriented Sociology courses

At least 45 credits are selected from options including:

• 176302 Research Design and Practice – 15 credits
• 176308 Society, Climate Change and the Environment – 15 credits
• 176322 AI and the World of Work – 15 credits
• 176324 Imagining Other Worlds – 15 credits
• 176325 The Politics of Truth – 15 credits
• 230302 Practicing Fieldwork: Doing Qualitative Research – 15 credits.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme-specific major is:

• Sociology – 120 credits.

Students may optionally add a minor. Massey states that a BA Sociology student can choose a minor from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Science, subject to the relevant qualification regulations. The minor must be in a different subject from the major.

Programme Highlights

• Sociology major of 120 credits within a 360-credit Bachelor of Arts.
• Current study mode listed as distance and online.
• International students can study online from outside New Zealand.
• Broad coverage of contemporary social issues, including culture, ethnicity, class, inequality, gender, politics, environment and social change.
• Dedicated research and fieldwork components.
• Current curriculum includes emerging issues such as AI and work, digital globalisation and climate change.
• Students develop both theoretical and practical research capabilities.
• Massey currently states that its Sociology subject is ranked among the world's top 375 universities for Sociology by QS.
• The 2027 Humanities and Social Sciences guide describes Sociology as a BA major focused on understanding local society and its global setting.

Career Outcomes

Massey gives examples of recent Sociology graduates working as:

• Policy advisors at the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry for the Environment
• Vocational consultants
• Community researchers at K?inga Ora
• Social justice advocates for NGOs
• Human resources professionals
• Community liaisons for regional councils
• Event planners.

Other career areas identified by Massey include:

• research and policy analysis for government and NGOs
• teaching
• journalism
• community and social services
• political advocacy
• business
• planning and consultancy
• advertising and marketing
• film and television production. 

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current Sociology BA is listed as distance and online and is open to international students studying online from outside New Zealand.
• There are no additional Sociology-specific academic entry requirements beyond Massey's general university admission requirements.
• Not all courses are offered every year, and some courses can have both on-campus and distance delivery.
• Students completing the BA normally need five 300-level courses, with three 300-level courses required for the Sociology major.
• Students who already hold a bachelor's degree may request replacement of the BA's T? Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or T? Arohae: Critical Thinking courses, subject to special permission and submission of evidence of the completed degree.
• No portfolio, interview or professional work-experience requirement is specified for the Sociology BA.
• Programme-specific 2027 course availability should be confirmed before enrolment because Massey does not guarantee that every course will run in every year.

International Student Visa Requirements
Online study from outside New Zealand

Massey explicitly states that the Sociology BA is open to international students studying online from outside New Zealand.

A student who remains outside New Zealand and completes the qualification online generally does not need a New Zealand student visa simply to undertake online study.

Study in New Zealand

If an international student is admitted to a study arrangement requiring them to physically study in New Zealand, they generally need an appropriate New Zealand student visa.

For the Fee Paying Student Visa, Immigration New Zealand requires evidence including:

• an offer of place from an approved education provider;
• payment or appropriate funding for tuition;
• sufficient funds for living costs;
• acceptable medical and travel insurance;
• satisfaction of health and character requirements;
• genuine intentions to study;
• evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.

Living-cost funds

For tertiary study of one year or more, Immigration New Zealand currently requires evidence of NZ$20,000 per year for living costs when the student is paying their own living expenses. Acceptable evidence can include bank statements, scholarships, education loans, fixed-term deposits or an acceptable sponsor.

Work rights

Subject to the conditions attached to the individual visa, eligible tertiary students may be allowed to:

• work up to 25 hours per week while studying;
• work full-time during permitted scheduled holidays/breaks.