Public PolicySubject regulations

Public Policy papers can be taken as part of an interdisciplinary programme of study, and they will allow you to combine real world knowledge of government with a variety of majors across all Divisions. They equip you with the ability to understand and interpret the most important issues of the day, including international affairs, environmental sustainability, security and crime, and social policies such as health care and housing affordability. Public Policy prepares you to deal with government in your future profession and business, work within government, and work for groups that lobby government.

Public Policy is available as a minor.

To complete Public Policy as a minor, students must gain 60 points in Public Policy, including at least 30 points above 100 level. Students must include POLSC102, POLSC212 and POLSC318.

Note:

Students are encouraged to contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office for programme advice.

Other qualifications

Prescriptions for:

A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Public Policy at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
To complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy, students must complete 120 points at 500 level, including POLSC501, and a further 60 points from the papers listed for Public Policy.
To complete a BSocSc(Hons) in Public Policy, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally POLSC591), POLSC501, and a further 60 points from the papers listed for Public Policy. Students will be permitted to substitute a maximum of 30 points with papers from another subject or subjects.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MSocSc in Public Policy, a student must have completed either:
a) a BSocSc with a major in Public Policy (or equivalent) with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
b) a BSocSc(Hons) in Public Policy (or equivalent) with at least second class honours (second division), or a PGDip in Public Policy (or equivalent) with at least a B average, and
c) have satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
Completion requirements for the MSocSc in Public Policy vary according to admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MSocSc. Within the 180 points students must also complete ALPSS500, POLSC501 and POLSC537.
Students admitted under b) above must complete 120 points including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MSocSc.

Public Policy papers

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
POLSC102New Zealand Politics and Policy This paper provides a foundation for the study of political science and public policy, with a particular focus on the study of government, politics...	15	25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Tauranga)
POLSC103Introduction to Political Psychology Politics affects every aspect of our lives. This paper is an introduction to understanding political behaviour, helping you become more critically...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga)
SOCPY100Introduction to Social Policy This paper examines the values behind social policy and introduces students to some of the important issues and debates in New Zealand and other...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Secondary School - Unistart) & 25A (Tauranga)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
EDSOC200Education and New Zealand Society This paper critically examines educational ideas and practices by considering philosophical, historical, political, socio-cultural and economic...	15	25A (Hamilton)
LEGAL201Public Law The principles and working of the constitution, the institutions of government, the exercise of public power and relations between the citizen and...	30	25D (Hamilton) & 25D (Tauranga)
POLSC211Political Systems around the World The paper introduces the comparative study of political institutions, the study of the politics of a number of countries, their similarities and...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
POLSC212Public Policy Analysis This paper introduces students to public policy analysis. Students focus on the role of politics, public participation and policy in addressing...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
POPST201Population Studies This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the multidisciplinary field of Population Studies. Students will develop a sound understanding...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
SOCPY200Social Policy and Social Issues The paper continues the study of social policy at 200 level. The focus of this paper is on the welfare state, the policy cycle as well as social...	15	25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ALPSS390Directed Study This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology, and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their...	15	25X (Hamilton)
ECONS307Economics of Land, Water and Environment This paper provides students with a detailed understanding of the role of economic analysis in solving real world environmental problems including...	15	25B (Hamilton)
GNSEX303Intersectionalities: Identities and Inequalities This paper provides a comprehensive review of the historical context for understanding contemporary issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social...	15	25A (Hamilton)
POLSC318Global Environmental Politics and Policy This paper explores contemporary debates on environmental politics, sustainability, justice, and environmental governance. It examines the political...	15	25A (Hamilton)
SOCPY300Applied Social Policy This paper provides students with experience of the ways in which policy is formulated and enacted. Theoretical perspectives are consolidated and...	15	25B (Online)

Code and paper title	Points	Occurrence/Location The study locations.
ALPSS590Directed Study This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their...	30	25X (Hamilton)
ALPSS591Research Project A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum).	30	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
ALPSS592Dissertation A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum).	60	25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
POLSC501Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice This paper introduces students to the fundamentals of policy analysis, and develops skills for higher-level research in public policy. A key focus is...	30	25A (Hamilton)
POLSC537Environmental Politics and Public Policy This paper introduces students to the complexities and challenges of environmental policy processes, and develops skills in scholarly research on...	30	25A (Hamilton)
POLSC593Political Science Thesis An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.	90	25X (Hamilton)
POPST501Population Health and Equity This paper explores population health in Aotearoa/New Zealand and internationally, emphasising the broader determinants of wellbeing and equity. It...	30	25A (Hamilton)
SOCPY500Techniques for Policy Analysis This paper exposes students to a selection of techniques in the policy toolkit that can be applied to problem solving in social policy issues. It...	30	25B (Online)

2025 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 9 Apr 2025 01:00am

Public PolicySubject regulations

Other qualifications

GradCert(PP) and GradDip(PP)

PGCert(PP), PGDip(PP), BSocSc(Hons) and MSocSc

Public Policy papers