Bachelor of Arts - New Zealand Sign Language and Deaf Studies Major

Summary

The Bachelor of Arts prepares you for a huge range of careers, and you can build your degree in a way that suits you – study a single or a double major, select from a wide range of minors or add elective papers from another area of study. Throughout your Bachelor of Arts you’ll develop effective communication, critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as the ability to research and present professionally. These skills are key to any professional role.

New Zealand Sign Language is an official language of New Zealand, and an understanding of sign language and Deaf culture is useful for many careers.

The New Zealand Sign Language and Deaf Studies major covers communication strategies in NZSL and the cultural knowledge to work with Deaf clients and colleagues. Sign language skills are in demand in all areas of New Zealand society, including education, health, legal and social service settings, as well as any customer-facing area of work.

Tailor this sign language course to your interests, and combine it with papers or a major from any other area of study, including, but not limited to, education, health promotion, Maori development or event management.

Key features:

• Many opportunities to practise your skills with the Deaf community
• Only major of its kind
• Include papers from different disciplines
• Workplace experience in your final semester

Career opportunities:

Professionals working with Deaf clients, colleagues, students, as well as any customer-facing profession. For example:

• Teachers
• Health professionals
• Health educators
• Event managers
• Hospitality professionals
• Disability service coordinators
• Social workers
• Lawyers
• Any area of work where you might meet Deaf people

Industry organisations that recognise this programme

• Sign Language Interpreting Association of New Zealand
• New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters
• Interpreter booking agencies New Zealand-wide
• Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand
• Kelston Deaf Education Centre
• Van Asch Deaf Education Centre
• Tertiary Education Institutions New Zealand-wide