History department

History is one of the fastest-growing disciplines at AUT, with an expanding range of courses across a variety of topics. We offer world-class teaching, and study options that are exciting and rewarding. We are also New Zealand’s leading university in online history learning.

Study history

You can study history as part of an AUT bachelor's degree, certificate or diploma.

• A History major in the Bachelor of Arts
• A major or minor in other AUT bachelor's degrees
• A subject in the Certificate in Arts
• A subject in the Diploma in Arts

History courses

You can also study individual history courses. Many of these are delivered online.

With the introduction of the compulsory New Zealand history curriculum, our history courses offer great professional development for existing teachers or anyone studying teaching who wants to work in this area.

Level 5 courses

• EDUC554 Past and Present Perspectives of Aotearoa
• HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand History
• HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
• HIST504 Gender and Development in Asia and the Pacific since WWII

Level 6 courses

• HIST691 Tā Moko: Marked Histories and Identities
• HIST690 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi
• HIST692 Our People, Our Stories: Contemporary New Zealand Oral Histories
• HIST694 Auckland in the Twentieth Century

Level 7 courses

• HIST709 Gender and Culture
• HIST701 Nostalgia and Utopianism in New Zealand History
• HIST707 He Wānanga mō Te Reo Māori: History of the Māori Language
• HIST710 Special Topic in History
• HIST711 Historical Methods

Our most popular courses

The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and LegacyOnline course

A survey of the Holocaust, from its historic origins in European anti-Semitism, through to its implementation during the period of the Third Reich.

Learn the preconditions of the Holocaust in Europe, its subsequent implementation and scale, and recent historiographical issues relating to its enduring significance.

A survey of the Holocaust, from its historic origins in European anti-Semitism, through to its implementation during the period of the Third Reich.

Learn the preconditions of the Holocaust in Europe, its subsequent implementation and scale, and recent historiographical issues relating to its enduring significance.

HIST690 Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of WaitangiOnline course

Explore the critical issues relevant to the Tiriti O Waitangi, from the origins of the agreement, the meaning of its texts, its subsequent breaches, and recent attempts at resolving Treaty grievances.

A particular focus will be the analysis and interpretation of the way in which the Treaty can be applied to contemporary social, political and economic initiatives.

Explore the critical issues relevant to the Tiriti O Waitangi, from the origins of the agreement, the meaning of its texts, its subsequent breaches, and recent attempts at resolving Treaty grievances.

A particular focus will be the analysis and interpretation of the way in which the Treaty can be applied to contemporary social, political and economic initiatives.

HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand HistoryOnline course

Develop awareness and general knowledge of New Zealand’s history, and analyse the concepts of nation and national identity over time to inform a deeper understanding of ko wai tātou: who we are.

Learn the key historical method of historiography: the study of the many different interpretations of history in the present and across time.

Develop awareness and general knowledge of New Zealand’s history, and analyse the concepts of nation and national identity over time to inform a deeper understanding of ko wai tātou: who we are.

Learn the key historical method of historiography: the study of the many different interpretations of history in the present and across time.