Bachelor of Health Science (Psychology) - AUT University

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This three year degree is part of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies.  The BHSc programme is most suited to students who wish to combine mental and physical health from a holistic view.

Psychology students work alongside other health students (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, health promotion) in a number of shared/common papers.

• Two of the core BHSc papers are psychology-related; eight papers are compulsory to the psychology major. Students can choose to take three papers from other disciplines. There is a range of other psychology papers that you can choose from to make the degree.
• AUT’s BHSc can be completed as a double major with applied mental health or health promotion.
• AUT also offers a conjoint degree merging a BHSc and Bachelor of Business (BBus).  This is a good route for those who want to work in business or industrial relations.

Programme Code: AK3680
Level: 7
Points: 360
Duration: Three years full time / Part time option available
Venue: North Shore Campus
Starting date: 3 March 2008 / 21 July 2008
Application deadline: 16 November 2007 / 27 June 2007

AUT encourages early application.
Late applications will be accepted if the programme is not full.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• University Entrance
• Must meet Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act requirements
• Police clearance

Note: Entrance to university does not guarantee admission to a specific programme of study.

SPECIAL ADMISSION

Applicants over 20 years of age who do not hold a university entrance qualification (such as NCEA or CIE) may qualify for university entrance via Special Admission.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for whom English or Māori is not their first language are required to provide proof of an acceptable pass/grade gained in an accepted English language test. 

THE KEY SKILLS YOU WILL ACQUIRE

• Effective communication
• Good writing skills
• IT skills
• Sound people skills
• An understanding of individual and group dynamics
• Analytical skills
• Think critically and solve problems
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity
• Respect the complexity of diversity
• Understand Psychology as applied to work, personal and real-world situations
• Principles of research design

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

With a BHSc, graduates are more likely to work in a mental health or health related area eg. family support worker, social worker or youth worker. 

Prospective employers usually advertise for graduates with a combination of the skills listed above, rather than specifically for psychology graduates. Traditionally, up to 85 per cent of students who are awarded a degree in psychology do not go on to become psychologists, but work in public contact positions in social welfare, customer services, administration and health sectors.

Graduates who wish to work as registered psychologists in New Zealand must complete a programme of postgraduate study in psychology that is approved by the New Zealand Psychologists Board. AUT is seeking board approval for such a pathway through the Bachelor of Health Science (Honours), Master of Health Science and Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology.

FURTHER STUDIES

Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) in Psychology
Graduate Diploma in Child Mental Health
Graduate Diploma in Psychosocial Studies
Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science
Master of Health Practice
Master of Health Science
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
Master of Philosophy
Doctor of Health Science
Doctor of Philosophy

PAPERS

YEAR ONE
555101 Psychology and Lifespan Development
555103 Interpersonal Skills for Health Professional Practice
555321 Human Structure and Function
555338 Health in the Context of Aotearoa/New Zealand OR
555339 Māori Health and Development
556104 Health Promotion OR 527872 Māori Health Promotion
565603 Introduction to Psychology A
565604 Introduction to Psychology B
565605 Introductory Research Methods

YEAR TWO
556301 Intermediate Research
557221 Health Law and Policy
566508 Social Psychology
566605 Personality OR 286103 Individuals and Identities
567420 Abnormal Psychology
567606 Health Psychology OR 287503 Cognitive Psychology
567609 Brain and Behaviour
And ONE elective paper

YEAR THREE
287300 Research Project
557224 Professional Practice and Ethics
557302 Advanced Research
566602 Critical Issues in Psychology
566604 Psychological Assessment
567421 Psychology at Work OR
567610 Approaches to Psychological Intervention OR
287503 Cognitive Psychology
And TWO elective papers

Te Ara Hauora Māori - PAPERS
Students who seek careers with a Māori development perspective should select:
555339 Māori Health and Development (instead of 555338 Health in the Context of Aotearoa/New Zealand): and both
527872 Māori Health Promotion AND
567431 Applied Primary Māori Mental Health as electives or alternative course of study.
Te Ara Hauora Māori students are supported to form relationships with Māori health providers and communities, and AUT Māori staff and students.