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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc)

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Overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) is designed to enable health professionals to specialise in specific areas of practice at a postgraduate level, studying on a part-time basis. In general, this qualification is intended for health professionals who have completed three years of tertiary study and already have experience in the field.

The Certificate may lead into the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc), or Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) degree.

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Information for new applicants

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) is a postgraduate certificate comprising compulsory papers to the value of 60 points (usually two 30 point papers) from a schedule of "endorsed" options listed below.

You can obtain information about each endorsement by clicking on the links below.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences is taught from three campuses (Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington). Contact details at each campus are listed below. Alternatively, contact postgrad-health-sciences@otago.ac.nz for guidance.

The Certificate may be credited towards the Postgraduate Diploma Health Sciences, though admission to the Diploma will depend upon performance.

Please seek advice from a course adviser prior to submitting your application.

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Contact Details

Dunedin
KC Worden
Postgraduate Advisor
Health Sciences Division Administration
University of Otago, Dunedin
Tel 64 3 479 7421
Email postgrad-health-sciences@otago.ac.nz

Christchurch
Ruth Helms
Manager, Academic Programmes
University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel 64 3 364 0527 or 64 3 364 3664
Email ruth.helms@otago.ac.nz

Wellington
Trevor Williams
Postgraduate Liaison Officer
Postgraduate Office
University of Otago, Wellington
Tel 64 4 385 5543
Email trevor.williams@otago.ac.nz

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Schedule of Endorsed Options

Endorsements marked with an asterisk are available through Distance Learning.

Each endorsement is based at a particular campus indicated below: D = Dunedin, C = Christchurch, W = Wellington.

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Programme Requirements

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders

Papers

  • PSMX 404  Special Topic: Research Methods, Mental Health; and

  • One of
    PSME 416 (this paper is no longer offered),
    PSMX 416  Addiction Applied Therapy,
    PSMX 422  Addiction Treatment,
    PSMX 424  Addiction Pharmacotherapy,
    PSMX 430  Motivating Behaviour Change 1.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Advanced Clinical Nursing

Papers

  • NURX 405  Health Assessment and Advanced Nursing Practice; and

  • NURX 416  Nursing - Applied Pharmacology.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport

Papers

  • AVMX 719  Aeromedical Studies for Nurses and Paramedics; and

  • AVMX 720  Clinical Analysis in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Papers

  • PSME 420  Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and

  • PSME 423  Child and Family Mental Health.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Clinical Rehabilitation

Papers

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Clinical Research

Papers

  • BITX 406  Health Research Ethics; and

  • One of
    AVMX 785  Research Methods
    GENX 821  Research Methods,
    HASX 417  Health Sciences Research Methods,
    HEIX 706  Research Methods for Health Informatics,
    NURX 415  Nursing Research Methods,
    PHCX 506  Research Methods,
    PHTY 510 or PHTX 510  Research Methods,
    or other approved research methods paper(s) to the value of 30 points;

  • HEIX 708  Health Data Management.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy

Papers

  • COBE 401  Cognitive -Behaviour Therapy.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Continence Management

Papers

  • CTMX 401  Pathophysiology of Incontinence; and

  • CTMX 402  Management for Continence.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Family and Systems Therapies

Papers

  • PSMX 436  Principles of Family and Systems Theory; and

  • PSMX 437  Applied Systems Theory.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Forensic Mental Health

Papers

  • PSMX 407  Forensic Psychiatry; and

  • One of
    PSMX 401  Nature, Extent and Assessment of Mental Disorders,
    NURX 403  Mental Health Nursing Practice.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Gerontology

Papers

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Gerontology is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Hazard Assessment and Management

Papers

  • Three of
    HAZX 401  Management of Chemical Hazards,
    HAZX 402  Biosecurity (this paper is no longer offered),
    HAZX 403  Genetically Modified Organisms (this paper is no longer offered),
    HAZX 404  Environmental Risk Assessment and Management
    HAZX 405  Basic Toxicology,
    HAZX 406  Risk Management Law 1,
    HAZX 408  Radiation Hazards,
    HAZX 409  New Organisms: Risk Assessment and Management,
    HAZX 411 (this paper is no longer offered).

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Hazard Assessment and Management is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) in Human Nutrition

Papers

  • NUTX 401  Principles of Human Nutrition; and

  • One of
    NUTX 402  Nutrition and Health Promotion,
    NUTX 404  Nutrition and Chronic Disease,
    NUTX 407  Advanced Sports Nutrition.

Further information regarding the PGCertHealSc endorsed in Human Nutrition is available from the Department of Human Nutrition website.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Mental Health

Papers

  • One of PSME 401 (no longer offered) or PSMX 401 Nature, Extent and Assessment of Mental Disorders, or NURX 403 Mental Health Nursing Practice; and

  • One further 30 point 400-level PSME or PSMX paper excluding PSME 401 or PSMX 401.

 

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) in Mental Health Rehabilitation

Papers

  • REHX 701  Rehabilitation Principles, or REHX 702 (no longer offered); and

  • REHX 708  (this paper is no longer offered).

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Motivating Behaviour Change

Papers

  • PSMX 430  Motivating Behaviour Change 1; and

  • PSMX 431  Motivating Behaviour Change 2.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Musculoskeletal Management

Papers

  • MSMX 704  Introduction to Pain; and

  • MSMX 708  Introduction to Pain Management; and

  • Two of
    MSMX 702  Musculoskeletal Tissues,
    MSMX 703  Musculoskeletal Disorders,
    MSMX 705  Regional Disorders - Spine,
    MSMX 706  Regional Disorders - Limbs,
    MSMX 707  Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation,
    MSMX 710  Recreational and Sports Injuries,
    MSMX 711  Pain Assessment.

For further information, see the subject entry for Musculoskeletal Medicine.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Advanced Mental Health)

Papers

  • NURX 403  Mental Health Nursing Practice; and

  • NURX 404  Advanced Mental Health Nursing Practice.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Advanced Mental Health) is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Gerontology)

Papers

  • NURX 405  Health Assessment and Advanced Nursing Practice; and

  • NURX 426  Nursing - Gerontology.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Gerontology) is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (High Acuity)

Papers

  • NURX 405  Health Assessment and Advanced Nursing Practice; and 

  • NURX 411  Nursing - High Acuity.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (High Acuity) is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Leadership and Management)

Papers

  • NURX 423  Nursing - Leadership and Management 1; and

  • NURX 424  Nursing - Leadership and Management 2.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Leadership and Management) is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Long-term Condition Management)

Papers

  • NURX 427  Long-term Condition Management; and

  • NURX 428  Long-term Condition Management (Advanced).

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Long-term Condition Management) is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Primary Health Care)

Papers

  • NURX 405  Health Assessment and Advanced Nursing Practice; and

  • NURX 413  Primary Health Care Nursing - Rural/Urban.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Primary Health Care) is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Specialty Mental Health)

Papers

  • NURX 403  Mental Health Nursing Practice; and

  • NURX 409  Mental Health Nursing Practicum.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Nursing (Specialty Mental Health) is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Occupational Health

Papers

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Occupational Health is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Pain and Pain Management

Papers

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Perinatal Mental Health

Papers

  • PSMX 432  Introduction to Perinatal Psychiatry; and 

  • PSMX 433  Introduction to Infant Mental Health.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Perinatal Mental Health is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) in Radiation Therapy Advanced Practice

Papers

  • RADX 401  Radiation Therapy Advanced Practice 1; and

  • A further 400-level RADX paper to the value of 30 points.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Reproductive Mental Health

Papers

  • PSMX 438  Reproduction and Loss; and

  • One further approved paper at 400-level or higher to the value of 30 points.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Reproductive Mental Health is available through Distance Learning.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Resuscitation

Papers

  • RESX 701; and

  • RESX 702.

    • Note: These papers are no longer offered.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc) endorsed in Resuscitation is available through Distance Learning.

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Regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc)

  1. Admission to the Programme

    1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).

    2. Every applicant shall
      1. be a graduate or possess an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years' full-time tertiary study;
      2. have experience of or be currently working in the relevant field of health care;
      3. present evidence of ability for advanced level academic study.

  2. Structure of the Programme

    The programme of study shall consist of approved papers, from the schedule of endorsed options, to the value of 60 points.

  3. Duration of the Programme

    1. A candidate for the certificate shall normally follow a programme of study for one semester of full-time study, or the equivalent in part-time study.
    2. A candidate shall complete the requirements for the certificate within two years of admission to the programme.

  4. Variations

    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

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