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Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) endorsed in Musculoskeletal Management

Apply for the Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc)

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Overview

The degree of Master of Health Sciences allows study at postgraduate level across a range of health disciplines and research experience (thesis) in the student's area of specialisation.

Allied health professionals involved in the care, management and rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal and pain problems, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, podiatrists, chiropractors, and osteopaths would find these distance taught papers to be of particular interest.

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Requirements

Every candidate for the degree of MHealSc (Musculoskeletal Management) shall

  1. be a graduate or possess an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years' full-time tertiary study
  2. present evidence of ability for advanced level academic study
  3. be currently working in an area related to musculoskeletal management

Note: Candidates who have not previously enrolled for university study, or who have not achieved grades averaging B or better, will normally be expected initially to enrol for a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences.

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Structure of the Master of Health Sciences (Musculoskeletal Management)

Note: Distance taught

(i) Compulsory papers (45 points)
  • MSME 704 Introduction to Pain (15 points)
  • MSME 707 Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (15 points)
  • MSME 708 Introduction to Pain Management (15 points)
(ii) Approved research methods paper(s) (30 points)
Examples include:
  • PUBH 723 Survey Methods (15 points)
    Taught on campus Christchurch  and
    PUBH 724 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (15 points)
    Taught on campus Christchurch 
  • PUBH 711 Principles of Epidemiology (15 points)
    Taught on campus Christchurch  and
    PUBH 725 Applied Biostatistics 1 : Fundamentals (15 points)
    Distance taught via Dunedin 
  • NURS 415 Nursing Research Methods
    Taught in on-campus blocks in Christchurch (30 points)
  • PSME 406 Research Methods: Mental Health (30 points)
    Taught via on-campus blocks in Christchurch via the Department of Psychological Medicine
  • PHCY 506 Research Methods (30 points)
    Distance taught via School of Pharmacy in Dunedin
  • HASC 417 Health Sciences Research Methods (30 points)
    Distance taught via Wellington
  • AVME 785 Research Methods (30 points) 
    Entirely distance taught via Wellington (online and audio conferences)
(iii) Further approved papers (45 points)
Some recommended distance taught papers are:
  • MSME 702 Musculoskeletal Tissues (15 points)
  • MSME 703 Musculoskeletal Disorders (15 points)
  • MSME 705 Regional Disorders - Spine (15 points)
  • MSME 706 Regional Disorders - Limbs (15 points)
  • MSME 710 Recreational and Sports Injuries (15 points)
  • MSME 711 Pain Assessment (15 points)
  • PAIN 701 Neurobiology of Pain (15 points)
  • PAIN 702 Biomedical Pain Management (15 points)
  • PAIN 703 Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects of Pain (15 points)
  • REHB 701 Rehabilitation Principles (30 points)
  • PHTY 542 Sports Physiotherapy (30 points)
  • SPME 711 Exercise Prescription (30 points)
(iv) Research Pathway (120 points)
  • A thesis (120 points)
(iv) Coursework Pathway (120 points)
  • Further approved papers to the value of 60 points
  • A dissertation (60 points)

Further Information

Administrator Client Services
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine
University of Otago, Christchurch
PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
Tel +64 3 364 0469
Email msmandpainstudies.uoc@otago.ac.nz