Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology)
Course details
| NZQF Level | 7 |
|---|
About the course
The Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) will give you an understanding of the science of human behaviour and what happens in people’s minds to influence their behaviour.
This includes how people think, remember and feel; what drives motivation and how personality is defined.
Availability
Our distance learning courses are offered throughout the year to help you fit study around your work and life commitments.
Courses are offered up to 12 times per year depending on demand and availability of academic staff.
Exact start dates are in the course information pages and in our Enrolment dates page:
Cost
- Course costs can be found on all course pages. The fees may increase annually.
- Qualification cost – to give you an idea of how much a qualification may cost in total over the duration of your studies, an approximate cost is provided for many of our qualifications. This is based on the required number of courses to complete the qualification and the average cost of those courses. It does not include annual administration fees, text books and course materials or external exam fees, and is subject to annual course fee increases.
Credits
Courses are assigned credits depending on how much time and effort is needed to complete their learning outcomes. In general, each credit represents approximately 10 hours of study time.
Delivery method
- Online – The course materials for online courses are delivered in an online format and all assignments are submitted online.
- Mixed – These courses are delivered using a mix of online and paper based course materials. This may include receiving paper course materials, submitting assignments online, or being required to participate in online forums and learning activities.
- Print Only - The course will be delivered using paper based courses materials, and assignments may need to be submitted in hard copy rather than online. This will depend on the course.
Whether courses are delivered online, on paper or a mixture of both, there may also be components such as workshops, noho marae, work experience and practicum to participate in. To find out what your course involves check the course information page.
EFTS
EFTS stands for equivalent full-time student. An EFTS is the study time required for each course and is used by the Tertiary Education Commission to decide if a course is part-time or full-time.
One year of full-time study is generally between 0.8 and 1.2 EFTS.
Level
You can tell how hard a course or qualification is by the level it is set at:
- Levels 1-4 are about the same as secondary school and basic trades training.
- Levels 5-7 are the same as university study.
Prerequisites
- Prerequisites are courses that must be completed before another course can be studied.
- Co-requisites are courses that can be studied at the same time as another course.
If a course has a specific prerequisite or co-requisite course, it will be listed on the course page under the title 'Prerequisites'. If no courses are listed, check the entry and other requirements under the qualification you are studying for. Some courses require you to have studied at a particular level prior to enrolling.
Student loans
Not all qualifications or students are eligible for student loans. You will need to meet criteria such as studying a minimum number of credits over a specific study period. It is up to you to apply for a student loan via StudyLink - Open Polytechnic does not do this for you.
Information about student loans and eligibility
Teaching weeks
Teaching weeks is the number of weeks that we teach a course. This differs from the enrolment period, which is based on the course start and end dates.
For example, a 20-week enrolment period will have 16 teaching weeks, followed by four weeks to accommodate marking, any extensions and reassessments, or exams.
Workload
The workload estimate given on a course page is calculated like this:
Number of credits x 10, divided by the number of teaching weeks for the course. The hours will be rounded up to nearest whole number.
Please note, this is a guide only. You may need more or less time for study, and you may also need to do more hours during assessment due dates or exams times.
- Level7
- Credits360
- Cost$16,020 NZ Domestic
Not including any course materials or external exam fees.
- Student loan
Available.
Career opportunities
Psychology degree graduates develop skills for interpreting complex human behaviours, inclusive of child and adolescent mental health and adult mental health, as well as a wide range of research and analysis skills relevant for scientific and social science research. These skills have application in a wide range of fields including mental and community health, justice, research, marketing, human resources, education, and life coaching. Upon completing our psychology degree, graduates may be eligible to enter graduate and postgraduate training, which is required for working as a psychologist.
What you will learn
In this qualification you will learn about:
- the fields and sub-fields within psychology, and how and why these relate to specific career
- paths and employment areas within Aotearoa New Zealand
- how to apply and evaluate scientific research methodologies and analysis used in psychology
- how to identify and demonstrate ethical behaviour in research and professional practice
- Aotearoa New Zealand's bicultural context based on the Treaty partnership with Māori, as tangata whenua
- know when and why Treaty principles should be applied
- how to understand and apply the practice of psychology within an Aotearoa New Zealand context
- the importance of respecting cultural diversity and apply this knowledge in interactions with people
- how to explain and evaluate behaviour from multiple perspectives in a variety of settings
- how to develop and evaluate insight into yours and other people’s behaviour and mental processes
- using psychological principles to work effectively as part of a team and independently
- using logical and innovative thinking to produce evidence-based solutions
- how to communicate clearly and effectively across a variety of formats and contexts
- how to find and critically evaluate information.
Video
About the provider
Open Polytechnic is New Zealand's leader in online and distance learning.
What’s our distance learning difference? It’s the almost 30,000 students who join us each year to study and achieve their career and personal goals.
It’s Open Polytechnic being New Zealand’s specialist distance learning provider for over 70 years.
All our students study by distance.
Distance learning is what we do.
Our programmes are designed exclusively for distance learning. Our online courses include a range of rich content to engage you – readings, videos, interactive elements, case studies, quizzes and activities, and forums.
Our academic staff are experts at teaching by distance learning. It’s what they do.
They will be with you every step of the way to encourage you, and ensure you understand the course content. They will help you gain the skills and knowledge you need, so that you can succeed.
If you need other support or help, we’ve got a range of people here for you.
With Open Polytechnic, you’re not alone.