Master of Health Sciences (Environment and Health)

Summary

UC's Health Sciences qualifications give health professionals, non-clinical members of the health workforce and others interested in the health sector or health issues the opportunity to examine critically a range of significant issues in health sciences, and where relevant to improve their professional practice.

The Master of Health Sciences allows you to put together a postgraduate programme of study across health-related disciplines, such as the functioning of the health system, from the management of health information to health in communities. The increasing focus on prevention and lifestyle change provides enormous potential for a refocusing of health strategies and allied areas such as education, sport and recreation, and local government.

The Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) is a research-inclusive qualification worth 240 points. Students are supervised by some world-leading researchers in the School of Health Sciences.

The MHealSc contains two parts:

• Part I of the Master of Health Sciences degree is equivalent to the one-year full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences qualification
• Part II of the Master of Health Sciences involves the production of an independent thesis, whether it's the production of a thesis only or the completion of a combination of papers and a shorter thesis.

Our environment and how we change our physical or social our environment affect public health and are increasingly becoming important considerations. For example, air, water, and soil pollution, farming practices, unsustainable lifestyle, food production and consumption, changes in climate, poor housing, and abusive or high-risk social environments affect our health and well-being. That environment is a major concern in health and health care is reflected in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Health and Disability Strategy.

A broad range of career opportunities exist for graduates of health sciences in environmental and health disciplines. An increasing number of positions and opportunities are available with the industries, local and central governments, community agencies and organisations, non-governmental organisations, international organisations such as The World Health Organisation, intergovernmental organisations such as IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change), NGOs, and many others.

Further study

UC offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences.

Career opportunities

Many graduates continue to work within their health profession while others work in health-related fields, the social services, or local or central government.

Start date: Monthly by arrangement with supervisor