Educational Psychology – Bachelor of Arts

With Massey’s BA (Educational Psychology) you will explore lifelong learning and teaching through an understanding of cultural, cognitive, social, behavioural and emotional aspects of ako and development.

At Massey, educational psychology is:

• the application of Western and Māori psychological knowledge in education and human development
• a science and an art that seeks to understand
• an art that seeks to apply those understandings in the real world, to help learners realise their potential

You will learn about the complex relationships between learners and their environment. You can choose from a wide range of courses that reflect the diversity of psychology and education.

The types of questions you will consider in the BA (Educational Psychology) include:

• how can we make learning more effective?
• what are the cultural and social mediators of thinking, learning and development?
• how can teachers best meet the learning needs of a diversity of learners?
• what factors help ensure educational success?
• how do we support development of positive behaviours for learning?
• how do we reduce learning difficulties?
• how do we best support learners with disabilities?

Educational psychology looks at what supports and hinders learning. It informs policy and practice in education systems. Massey’s BA (Educational Psychology) will equip you with transferable skills. These include research, analysis, communication and problem-solving.

This qualification can be a strong foundation for postgraduate qualifications in teaching, psychology and educational psychology.

Your qualification options

Please note that the Bachelor of Arts (Educational Psychology) does not qualify you to be a teacher in New Zealand. If you want to become a teacher, you will also need to take a postgraduate teaching qualification. If you want to become a psychologist in the Education scope of practice, you will need to pursue postgraduate study in educational and developmental psychology.