The School of Social and Cultural Studies brings together the teaching, research and scholarship strengths of Criminology, Cultural Anthropology, Religious Studies, Social Policy and Sociology.
You’ll study the current analyses of how societies and cultures are formed, how they are governed, how they break down and how we might envisage new and viable future social and cultural systems.
Our researchers
How Less is More: Buddhist Insights for Living Better with Less
Lina asks how Buddhist ascetic practice – deliberately withholding, choosing less – can intensify pleasure, and what lessons this might hold for modern life.
Telling the Old Story of Facial Recognition
Rebekah's PhD explores the history of facial recognition, and the related state-corporate categorisation and commodification of Māori faces in criminal justice.
Invertebrate Justice
Russil's current research focuses on understanding our moral obligations to invertebrates and how we can best bring about a just multi-species society.
Inspector for the Office of the Inspectorate at the Department of Corrections
Since graduating with a degree in Criminology, I have also worked at the Court of Appeal, the National Intelligence Centre (New Zealand Police) and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
Read more about Kymberley JackFrom Sociology Graduate to Graduate Policy Analyst.
"Sociology offers a good foundation for policy work and the skills I developed are transferable. Policy work is meaningful and a great transition from university to the workforce" says Bex Kidson
Read more about Bex
Sociology graduate a staff member at Spark
Having a degree in Sociology showed my employer that I could grasp complex concepts, meet deadlines and articulate myself clearly with logic and reasoned argument.
Read more about Hamish