Health Education
UC Health Sciences students organise and carry out the All Right? Amble through Ōtautahi Christchurch's Botanic gardens, promoting the five pillars of wellbeing.
Qualifications
Overview
The Health Education major prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and understanding to work with individuals and groups in a range of health settings. Students develop extensive facilitation skills and gain confidence in presenting to a range of people.
Experiential learning in a variety of contexts (eg, mental health, sexuality, and nutrition) supports your ability to recognise the factors that influence health and the consequences for wellbeing. You will develop an extensive toolbox of pedagogical strategies that can be used to enhance wellbeing at the personal, interpersonal, and community level.
You will engage in debate and critical reflection on a range of contemporary health issues. Through this, you will develop an in-depth understanding of ethical issues and principles, a respect for the autonomy and choice of both individuals and groups, and cultural competency in collaborative and consultative ways of working.
UC offers a major in Health Education as part of the Bachelor of Health Sciences.
Health Education major
To complete a major in Health Education within the Bachelor of Health Sciences, you will need to take the following courses throughout the degree:
100-level
Plus another two 100-level courses from Health Sciences or other degrees.
200-level
- HLED 221 Models of Health Education
- HLED 222 Sexualities Education
- HLED 223 Physical Activity Promotion
Plus one course at 100-level (or above), and one 200-level course from Health Sciences or other degrees.
300-level
- HLED 321 Health Education in Practice – Internship
- HLED 322 Critical Analysis of Contemporary Health Issues
Plus another two courses at 200-level (or above), and another 30 points at 300-level, from Health Sciences or other degrees.
Health or Physical Education teaching career pathway
Students interested in a career as a secondary school Health Education or Physical Education (P.E.) teacher can follow their Bachelor of Health Sciences degree with the one-year Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning to become qualified as an Aotearoa New Zealand teacher.
Career options for students who major in Health Education include employment in health-related institutions and agencies such as community and public health (in nutrition, sexuality, health promoting schools, and mental health teams), drug and alcohol agencies, Family Planning, Mental Health Foundation, nutrition advisories, and Red Cross.
Students can also apply to complete a further year of study in the Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning to become a qualified primary or secondary school teacher.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Health Sciences.
Contact us
Te Kura Mātai Hauora | School of Health Sciences
Phone +64 3 369 3333
Email education@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
Level 3, Rehua building – see campus maps
Postal address
Te Rāngai Ako me te Hauora | College of Education, Health and Human Development
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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