Bachelor of Health Science- Public and Environmental Health

Bachelor of Health Science- Public and Environmental Health

Study the Bachelor of Health Science in Public and Environmental Health, and prepare yourself for a career where you can really make a difference.

Considerable change in our society means we need to have flexible, intersectoral and problem-solving approaches to a wide range of health issues and contexts as we move further into the digital age.

Our Public and Environmental Health major is committed to human rights, health equity and social justice, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te whare tapa whā – the four cornerstones of physical, spiritual, mental, and family environments, and to the Sustainable Development Goals, which advocate for intersectoral, holistic actions to enhance human and planetary health.

Modules

Key Features:

• Focused on addressing major health and social issues
• Includes 150 hours of workplace experience related to health promotion
• Complete a double major with Psychology within 3 years
• Offered at the North or South Campus

Year 1

You develop a general understanding of public and environmental health, learning alongside other health science students.
Courses you study:

• HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication (15 points)
• HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (15 points)
• HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication (15 points)
• HEAL507 Health and Environment (15 points) OR MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment (15 points)
• HPRM604 Health Promotion (15 points)
• PSYC503 Introductory Research Methods (15 points)
• PSYC602 Social Psychology (15 points)
• NUTR501 Nutrition, Activity and Health (15 points)

Year 2

You develop practical skills and further your understanding of the values and approaches of public and environmental health.
Courses you study:

• HPRM602 Theories and Models in Public and Environment Health (15 points)
• HPRM601 Fonua Ola Pasifika Health (15 points)
• EPMY501 Epidemiology (15 points)
• HPRM701 Public and Environmental Health Evaluation (15 points)
• HPRM705 Tobacco Control (15 points)

Plus, 3 elective courses. We recommend the health media and communications course to develop digital skills.

Year 3

The final year prepares you to make the transition to working within the wider sector.
Courses you study

• HPRM706 Health Promotion of Communities (15 points)
• MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion (15 points)
• HLAW701 Health Law and Policy (15 points)
• HPRM702 Health Practice Co-operative (30 points) (only offered at the South Campus)
• HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry (15 points)
• HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics (15 points)

Plus one elective course.

Workplace experience
At the heart of your final year is the Health Practice Cooperative course, 150 hours of workplace experience in organisations involved in public and environmental health

Te ara hauora Māori health courses
There’s a growing need for health professionals to work with Māori. That’s why you can include Māori health courses as part of your study and develop the skills to work more effectively with Māori, an essential skill in the diverse health sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Through these courses you gain access to Māori networks and become comfortable working with whānau and Māori communities. We encourage all students to include at least one Māori health course. You don’t need to know te reo to enrol in the Māori health courses.

• MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment (15 points)
• MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion (15 points)
• MAOH702 Applied Primary Māori Mental Health (15 points)
• HEAL710 Utilising Supervision in Practice (15 points)

Career Outcomes

Our graduates work in the public and private sectors; they are self-employed, advising and designing for sustainability, urban development, equity programmes, Māori and Pacific health.

They are team leaders, project designers and analysts, and increasingly they will work in the digital space, helping to create eHealth apps, serious games, and play a crucial role in social innovation and enterprise initiatives.

What will I learn?

This major is committed to human rights, health equity and social justice principles. The skills you acquire will enable you to develop and lead initiatives in mental health, violence-free society, youth and community development, healthy eating and fitness, industry and lifestyle wellness, environmental sustainability and healthy spaces, road safety and injury prevention, tobacco, alcohol and gambling controls.

The skills you’ll develop include team collaboration, engaging with communities, using digital communications and media, data analysis and visualisation, codesign, advocacy, evaluation and leadership.

These skills will enable you to assist with developing or implementing and evaluating public and environmental health programmes. This includes mental health, violence-free, youth and community development, healthy eating and fitness, industry and lifestyle wellness, environmental sustainability, road safety and injury prevention and tobacco control, alcohol, gambling and evaluation.