Together, we can ensure better health for all
Health systems in the future will see more initiatives in the community.
New health roles will be developed to deliver these initiatives and help individuals negotiate the jigsaw of health services available. Public health approaches will become increasingly important to address the broad health issues facing us in the future.
This career-focused qualification concentrates on the skills required to work with people and communities to promote health and ensure they access and receive the most appropriate care.
Navigate changing global health systems
As our world becomes more interconnected, new challenges are impacting the health and well-being of our communities.
These challenges include:
- Populations and people living for longer, and often with multiple long-term conditions and disabilities
- Limited health resources and greater demand for services
- Environmental and social change and their effects on health
With these challenges comes an increasing need to develop innovative approaches to health care.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) is a three-year degree for those who want to be an integral part of these new healthcare approaches, with the opportunity to major (specialise) in four different areas.
Which major is right for you?
Community Health Care
Work alongside people living in the community to support their health and well-being.
Career pathways
As a Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) graduate, you may work in a variety of roles in the healthcare system. Or use your qualification as a foundation for further study in one of the health professional programmes or at postgraduate level.
Rewarding careers exist in government policy, health promotion, and case management – it’s not just doctors or dentists who make a difference.
| Role | Details |
|---|---|
| Case manager | Work in organisations that fund people’s care or welfare and help people recover after injury. |
| Community health worker | Use specific cultural or community knowledge and strong networks within communities to promote health. |
| Health promoter | Plan, implement, and evaluate activities that promote health and well-being in communities. |
| Primary care co-ordinator | Help people find their way through the care offered by multiple providers in the community. |
| Policy analyst | Develop and implement public health policy, programmes, and regulation. Investigate how resources are allocated to, and used in, different health systems in both the public and private sector. |
| Programme co‑ordinator | Research, plan, implement, and evaluate health programmes and community networking. |
| Rehabilitation co‑ordinator | Analyse and develop rehabilitation plans that suit your client’s aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals. |
| Whānau ora navigator | Develop and implement whānau aspirational plans within a community setting. |
Please note: The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) is different to Health Sciences First Year (HSFY). If you are intending to apply for one of the Health Sciences professional programmes based on your performance in your first year of study, you need to enrol in the Health Sciences First Year course.
Major subject areas
For a Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) degree, you must major in at least one of the following subjects:
Minor subject areas
Selecting a minor subject is not compulsory and there may be other combinations of papers more appropriate to your degree. There are no particular subject requirements for the other papers of your degree, but if you wish you may have another subject specified as a minor subject in your degree by passing the prescribed papers for any of the listed subjects.
Full list of available minor subject areas
Contact details
Contact your local schools’ liaison officer if you're currently at secondary shool.
Or contact the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) team:
Tel +64 3 479 7202
Email bhealsc@otago.ac.nz
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) majoring in Community Health Care
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | EDUC 105 Disability Studies: An Introduction HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PUBH 192 Foundations of Epidemiology or POPH 192 Population Health EDUC 105 can be taken during the second year of study | 18 18 18 18 |
| 200-level | CMHC 201 Human Health Across the Lifespan CMHC 211 Enabling Wellness and Ability I MAOH 201 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Individuals and Whānau PACH 201 Pacific Health: New Zealand and the Pacific Region at least two of | 18 18 18 18 36 |
| 300-level | CMHC 301 Applied Aspects of Human Health CMHC 311 Enabling Wellness and Ability II MAOH 301 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Organisations and Communities PACH 301 Pacific Health: Advanced Applied Knowledge | 18 18 18 18 |
| Plus | 108 further points The following papers are suggested: ANTH 105, BIOC 192, BSNS 113, CELS 191, CHEM 191, MAOR 102, PACI 101, PSYC 111, PSYC 112; ANAT 241, ANAT 242, BITC 201, MAOR 202, MICR 223, PACI 201, PHAL 211, PHSL 251, PSME 201, PSYC 212, PUBH 202; BITC 301, INDS 301, PACI 301, PUBH 311 | 108 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) majoring in Māori Health
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | MAOR 102 Māori Society HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PUBH 192 Foundations of Epidemiology or POPH 192 Population Health MAOR 102 can be taken during the second year of study | 18 18 18 18 |
| 200-level | CMHC 201 Human Health Across the Lifespan MAOH 201 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Individuals and Whānau PUBH 202 Health Promotion PUBH 204 Hauora Māori: Challenges and Opportunities at least two of | 18 18 18 18 36 |
| 300-level | MAOH 301 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Organisations and Communities PUBH 304 Rangahau Hauora Māori - Māori Health Research at least two of | 18 18 36 |
| Plus | 108 further points The following papers are suggested: BSNS 111, EDUC 105, MANT 101, MAOR 112, MAOR 110, SOWK 111; BITC 201, MAOR 212, PACH 201, PUBH 211, SOCI 205; INDS 301, INDS 302, MAOR 311, MAOR 312, PACH 301 | 108 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) majoring in Pacific and Global Health
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PUBH 192 Foundations of Epidemiology or POPH 192 Population Health | 18 18 18 |
| 200-level | PACH 201 Pacific Health: New Zealand and the Pacific Region PUBH 203 Health Policy and Politics PUBH 211 Epidemiology of Global Health Conditions MAOH 201 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Individuals and Whānau at least two of | 18 18 18 18 36 |
| 300-level | PACH 301 Pacific Health: Advanced Applied Knowledge PUBH 303 Public and Global Health: Current Issues at least two of | 18 18 36 |
| Plus | 126 further points The following papers are suggested: ACCT 102, ASIA 101, BSNS 113, CMHC 201, ECON 112, GLBL 101, HIST 107, MANT 101, PACI 103, STAT 115; ECON 201, ENGL 228, MANT 217, MANT 251, SOCI 205, STAT 210; CMHC 301, ECON 306, HIST 337, PACI 301, PACI 310, POLS 303, STAT 310 | 126 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) majoring in Public Health
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PUBH 192 Foundations of Epidemiology or POPH 192 Population Health | 18 18 18 |
| 200-level | PUBH 202 Health Promotion PUBH 204 Hauora Māori: Challenges and Opportunities PUBH 211 Epidemiology of Global Health Conditions at least three of | 18 18 18 54 |
| 300-level | PUBH 303 Public and Global Health: Current Issues PUBH 304 Rangahau Hauora Māori - Māori Health Research or PUBH 311 Public Health Research at least two of | 18 18
36 |
| Plus | 126 further points The following papers are suggested: BSNS 113, EDUC 105, ECON 112, HIST 107, MAOR 102, MAOR 110, PACI 103, PHIL 105, SOWK 111, STAT 115; ECON 201, HIST 223, MAOH 201, MAOR 202, MAOR 204, MFCO 222, POLS 202, PSME 201, STAT 210, SPEX 205, SPEX 206, ECON 306, ENVI 312, HIST 306, INDS 301, POLS 303, STAT 310 | 126 |
| Total | 360 |
Regulations for the degree of Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc)
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Structure of the programme
- Every degree programme shall consist of papers worth not less than 360 points.
- Except as provided for in regulation 1(d), every programme of study for the degree shall satisfy the requirements for at least one of the major subjects listed in the BHealSc Schedule Part 1. No paper above 200-level may count towards more than one major subject requirement.
- The programme may include one or more optional minor subjects which satisfy the minor subject requirements in the BHealSc Schedule Part 2, Arts and Music Schedule A, or Commerce Schedule A, or Science Schedule A, or Applied Science Schedule A. No paper may count for both a major and a minor subject requirement or for more than one minor subject requirement unless that paper is at 100- or 200-level and is specified as compulsory for both requirements.
-
- A student who has withdrawn permanently from study for any of the degrees of Bachelor of Dental Surgery, or Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, or Bachelor of Pharmacy, or Bachelor of Physiotherapy, having passed papers worth at least 360 points towards the programme concerned, may be admitted to the degree without specification of a major subject.
- A student who has withdrawn permanently from study for any of the degrees of Bachelor of Dental Technology, or Bachelor of Oral Health, or Bachelor of Radiation Therapy, having passed papers worth at least 360 points, including 300-level papers worth at least 72 points for the programme concerned, may be admitted to the degree without specification of a major subject.
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Prerequisites, corequisites, and restrictions
Every programme of study shall satisfy the requirements for prerequisites, corequisites and restrictions set out in the Prescriptions (published in the Guide to Enrolment).
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Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
Note: A major subject is not required by candidates with passes in papers for professional programmes in Health Sciences (BDS, BMLSc, MB ChB, BPharm, BPhty, BDentTech, BOH, BRT) who are awarded the degree under regulation 1(d) above.
