Course details

Summary

The Environmental Health major provides grounding in the fundamental sciences that underpin an understanding of the environmental risk factors that affect health and well-being and the methods used to assess them. This grounding encompasses:

• the geographical distribution of disease
• exposure to key risk factors and methods used to minimise exposure
• the context of government legislation aimed at creating and maintaining healthy environments.

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) is a three-year non-clinical degree designed to address gaps in the health workforce by producing graduates with multidisciplinary skills and an understanding of important national health issues.

New Zealand's health and disability sector is characterized by a diverse workforce made up of many occupations. This diversity is essential to be able to provide the range of services required to meet population health outcomes.

Qualification structure and duration

The BHSc requires a total of 360 points made up of:

• at least 135 points from compulsory courses
• at least 90 points from one subject major
• the remaining points may be taken from within Health Sciences or any other degree offered at UC.

Note: at least 225 of the total points must be above 100-level and at least 90 points must be for courses at 300-level.

Double majors

Many students choose to enrol in a double major and this can often be completed in the same length of time as a single major. Students commonly combine majors in Public Health and Society and Policy; Health Education and Psychology; and Maori and Indigenous Health and Public Health. Elective courses may be chosen from Health Sciences or other degrees across the University.

Further study

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the degree, there are a wide range of postgraduate study options at UC including:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences
• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences
• Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science
• Master of Arts or Master of Science in Child and Family Psychology
• Master of Counselling
• Master of Health Sciences
• Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice
• Doctor of Philosophy

Career opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in Environmental Health will potentially find employment as environmental health officers, laboratory roles in health laboratories, in local and national environmental health roles, or progress to postgraduate research in environmental health science.

Entry criteria

Admission to UC with University Entrance, or equivalent, is required to enrol for a Bachelor's degree. Applicants must have completed New Zealand University Entrance through NCEA; or Cambridge International Examinations (CIE); or International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or any other equivalent overseas qualification.

Recommended preparation

For some majors, a background in biology, chemistry and statistics can be beneficial. If you would like to brush up on your knowledge in these areas, Headstart preparatory and summer catch-up courses are available.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.