Approach
The purpose of this exercise was to enable a mapping of NZSCED detailed fields to a set of traditional BA subjects, divided into two groups, Humanities and Social Sciences. From that mapping, it would be possible to analyse trends in arts subjects at NZ universities and to determine the influence of these two large subgroups on the trend in arts enrolments and arts graduate numbers.
Humanities vs Social Science
There is no absolutely clear or universally-accepted separation of these fields between Humanities and Social Sciences. Some of these fields could merit a p[lace in either or both of the groups – depending on the approach taken in the study of the subject.
For instance, History is a Humanities subject, but some historical studies may look at the development of social or economic approaches and may therefore draw on social scientific methods and paradigms. Conversely, human geography may usually be seen as a social science but relationships between place and culture are likely to use humanities approaches.
I consulted UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the agency that coordinates the UK government’s research councils (which award government research grants) and broadly followed the way the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council deal with overlapping subject classifications.
Building the Arts list
I started with the broad field of Society and Culture from NZSCED, removed the narrow fields of Law and Sport and Recreation. To that I added the broad field of Education but without the narrow field Teacher Education. From the broad field of Creative Arts, I added the narrow fields of Communication and Media Studies and Performing Arts (but not Visual Arts and Crafts or Graphic and Design Arts)
The Humanities List
Archaeology
Art History
Audio Visual Studies
Classics
Communication and Media Studies nec, mixed or nfd
Cultural Studies
Curatorial Studies
Dance
Drama and Theatre Studies
English for Speakers of Other Languages
English Language
Foreign Languages
History
Journalism, Communication and Media Studies
Language and Literature nec, mixed or nfd
Librarianship and Information Management
Linguistics
Literature
Multimedia Studies
Music
Nga Mahi a Rehia (Maori Performing Arts)
Performing Arts nec, mixed or nfd
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Te Reo Maori
Tikanga – Maori Customs
Translating and Interpreting
Verbal Communication
Written Communication
The Social Sciences List
Anthropology
Behavioural Science nec, mixed or nfd
Care for People with Disabilities
Children’s Services
Community Client Care
Community, Whanau, Family and Consumer Studies
Counselling
Criminology
Curriculum Studies
Econometrics
Economics
Education nec, mixed or nfd
Education Studies
Human Geography
Human Welfare Studies and Services nec, mixed or nfd
Justice Administration
Justice and Law Enforcement nec, mixed or nfd
Legal Studies
Nannying and Early Childhood Care
Police Studies
Policy Studies
Political Science
Psychology
Security Services
Social Work
Society and Culture nec, mixed or nfd
Sociology
Studies in Human Society nec, mixed or nfd
Support for the Older Person
Welfare Studies
Women’s Studies
Youth Work
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