Health Sciences
Qualifications
Overview
Health is an enduring issue for society; it concerns everybody at every stage in life. Health Sciences at UC prepares students to contribute in a meaningful way to the health issues that face our communities.
Health Sciences students have the opportunity to develop a comprehensive overview of health and health care, inclusive of a range of approaches and understandings, and the practical application of knowledge and skills in health settings.
The non-clinical, multidisciplinary Bachelor of Health Sciences degree programme covers important and timely topics such as mental health and wellbeing, sexual health promotion, environmental health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, Māori and indigenous people’s health, health through the life-span, and evidence-based policy and decision making.
Many Health Sciences courses may also be taken as part of a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.
- BHSc graduates are increasing in demand from Te Poari Hauora ō Waitaha | Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB), primary health organisations and other regional and further afield organisations.
- The BHSc includes a wide variety of courses, allowing you to keep your options open and learn about many different areas before embarking on your career.
- UC is ranked first in Aotearoa New Zealand for research in Public Health (Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua | Tertiary Education Commission 2018 PBRF assessment).
- Some BHSc majors offer the opportunity for practical placement and skills development in health-related workplaces.
- It provides a broad foundation for working in the wider health sector, pursuing postgraduate opportunities for a specific health career, or future work as a health and wellbeing researcher.
- Te Kura Mātai Hauora | School of Health Sciences is well equipped for conducting a wide range of research and projects.
- Involved and attentive academic staff will look for ways to help you to achieve your goals.
- Students who complete the Public Health major for the BHSc will be able to meet the generic public health competencies and the health promotion competencies for Aotearoa.
UC offers a Bachelor of Health Sciences, which offers specialisations in different areas of non-clinical health services.
Students from other degrees wanting to include Health Sciences courses in their degree can consult Te Kura Mātai Hauora | School of Health Sciences for advice.
Bachelor of Health Sciences
See the Bachelor of Health Sciences for the compulsory courses in the degree.
As well as core courses in health studies, students also study towards one of the following majors:
- Environmental Health
- Health Education
- Māori and Indigenous Health
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Society and Policy
Many students choose to enrol in a double major, and this can often be completed in the same length of time as a single major. Students commonly combine majors in Public Health and Society and Policy; Health Education and Psychology; and Māori and Indigenous Health and Public Health.
Elective (optional) courses may also be chosen from Health Sciences or other degrees across the University.
Whether it is looking at technological interventions, health education, sociology behind health and illness, the pros and cons of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system, how to build resilience, or public and policy issues, there is broad scope to find an area of health that interests you.
Postgraduate health studies at UC
Postgraduate students in Health Sciences come from a range of backgrounds. Students with an interest in the health sector and a good (and relevant) bachelor's degree, or health professional qualification, may apply for entry to a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma or master's programme. Endorsements are available in Health Behaviour Change, Health and Community, Health Information Management, Environment and Health, Nursing, and Palliative Care.
With the appropriate prerequisites students may take a postgraduate programme of study specialising in Counselling, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Child and Family Psychology, Palliative Care, or Specialist Teaching.
UC also offers a professional practice-based or research master's, and a joint opportunity (through UC and Ara Institute of Canterbury) to gain a Nursing degree alongside a Master of Health Sciences or Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice in just two-and-a-half years.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
Improving the health of populations requires the efforts and contributions of many. Non-clinical roles have a critical role to play, and make up about one third of the total health workforce in Aotearoa.
UC’s undergraduate Health Sciences courses provide an essential foundation for those seeking non-clinical health sector roles. Depending on the major(s) taken, people with an interdisciplinary non-clinical Health Sciences degree have high prospects of employment in such areas as health promotion, environmental health, health psychology, community health, Māori and iwi health, behaviour change, health policy, administration, health education, health technology assessment, and health research.
These courses will also help experienced health professionals to extend their knowledge and skills, and to prepare for new career opportunities.
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
Browse related subjects to Health Sciences
Choose an area that you are interested in and learn how UC's extensive range of study options can let you study what you want to.
Environmental Health
The Environmental Health major provides grounding in the fundamental sciences that underpin an understanding of the environmental risk factors that affect ...
Public Health
The purpose of the major in Public Health is to produce graduates with knowledge and skills in science and health, experience in critical appraisal and ...