Society and Policy
Qualifications
Overview
The Society and Policy major focuses on the relationships between health science, health governance, bioethics, and society. It comprises an interdisciplinary core based on sociology of health, policy issues in health technology, and health delivery at the local, national, and global levels, together with research training in qualitative and quantitative social science research methods.
Graduates of the Society and Policy major will acquire core knowledge and skills relevant to health employment and sector-defined competencies. This includes some of the Aotearoa New Zealand generic public health competencies (PHANZ 2007), and some of the Aotearoa health promotion competencies (Health Promotion Forum 2012), including bioethics competencies that are specific to this major.
They will also have in-depth knowledge in an area of specialisation relating to health policy, health geography, bioethics, and social issues relating to health.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences requires 360 points of courses in total, including compulsory Health Sciences courses (135 points), courses towards your major (90 points), and the remaining courses in Health Sciences or from other degrees at UC.
You can also choose to do a double major in Society and Policy and another major subject in the BHSc. Contact a Student Advisor for help planning your study.
100-level courses
The following compulsory courses are taken by all BHSc students:
- HLTH 101 Introduction to Health Studies
- HLTH 106 Ngā Take, Te Wero: Māori Health Issues and Opportunities
- HLTH 110 Epidemiology
- BIOL 116 Human Biology
Plus this course specific to Society and Policy:
Plus another three 15-point courses at 100-level (or above) from Health Sciences or other degrees.
200-level courses
The following compulsory courses are taken by all BHSc students:
- HLTH 201 Health Promotion
- HLTH 202 Health and Society: Applied research for Aotearoa/New Zealand
- MAOR 270 Te Ao Hauora Tangata: Māori Health Perspectives
Plus these courses specific to Society and Policy:
- HLTH 213 Health Systems and Policy
- PHIL 240 Bioethics: Life, Death, and Medicine
- SOCI 243 Sociology of Health and Medicine
- either POLS 206 Introduction to Public Policy or POLS 216 City Politics and Urban Policy
Plus another 15-point course at 100-level (or above) from Health Sciences or other degrees.
300-level courses
The following compulsory course is taken by all BHSc students:
Plus these courses specific to Society and Policy. Students can select courses which allow them to focus either on the sociology of health or on public health policy.
Plus another two 15-point courses at 200-level (or above) from Health Sciences or other degrees.
This major prepares students for positions in policy analysis, social science research, and the development of public policy. It also prepares them for further research in humanities and the social sciences. Students who graduate from this programme may go on to postgraduate study in Health Sciences.
If students take the Sociology option at 300-level, they may also go on to postgraduate work in Sociology.
Those who don't wish to complete a postgraduate degree may look for jobs in health administration, health policy, and other non-clinical roles within the broad health sector. This major also provides a foundation for graduate clinical degrees.
Examples of career pathways include:
- careers in health-related institutions and agencies
- community development roles in public health units, district health boards, Māori and iwi health/development organisations, NGOs, and local government agencies
- health policy analysts
- postgraduate studies towards a research career in health
- social and health researchers.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Health Sciences.
Contact us
School of Health Sciences | Te Kura Mātai Hauora
Phone +64 3 369 3333
Email education@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
See the School's website for up-to-date location details.
Postal address
College of Education, Health and Human Development | Te Rāngai Ako me te Hauora
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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