Community Health (2024)

Community Health is an interdisciplinary programme, which includes papers from the Waikato Management School as well as the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences. The major embraces bi-culturalism and multi-culturalism by conceptualising health in a holistic sense. Moreover, it focuses on key relational and communication skills that are foundational to working with people in the health sector.

Community Health is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance (BHSHP). Community Health may also be included as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Community Health as a single major for the BHSHP, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Community Health, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete CMYHE101, PSYCH101, CMYHE201, CMYHE202, 15 points from PSYCH202 or PUBRL202, and CMYHE301, CMYHE302, SOCPY301, and 15 points from PSYCH302 or PUBRL301.

To complete Community Health as part of a double major for the BHSHP or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Community Health, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete CMYHE101, PSYCH101, CMYHE201, CMYHE202, 15 points from either PSYCH202 or PUBRL202; CMYHE301, CMYHE302 and SOCPY301.

To complete a minor in Community Health, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Community Health major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.

Note: There will be no new enrolments in the Community Health major which has now changed name to Healthy Active Living. Students enrolled in 2023 or previously in the Community Health major should consult the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science for programme advice. Please refer to the Healthy Active Living subject for further information.


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  • Prescriptions for the GradCert(CommHth) and GradDip(CommHth)

    A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Community Health at an advanced level in their first degree. To complete the Graduate Diploma, students must take a total of 120 points including at least 75 points at 300 level or above in Community Health. Programmes of study are planned according to interests and prior academic background and experience, and intending candidates should therefore consult the Programme Director for the Bachelor of Health, Sport & Human Performance.

    For further details, contact the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science.

  • 100 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    HELTH110Understanding Hauora, Health and Wellbeing15.0No occurrences
    This paper examines a social determinants approach to Health. It includes exploration of a range of interactions that influence the health of populations and determinants of health in New Zealand and global contexts.
    PSYCH101Social Psychology, Health and Well-being15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    This paper will introduce major issues in psychology particularly as they relate to health, wellbeing, mental illness, forensic psychology, lifespan development, and social factors in a range of contexts.
  • 200 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    CMYHE201Healthy Lifestyles and Healthy Communities15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    This paper aims to develop understanding of sociological analyses and critiques of health promotion and to develop comprehension of the relationship between practice and the wider cultural, environmental, political, and social contexts in which health promotion occurs.
    CMYHE202Understanding Healthy Bodies: Sociocultural Perspectives15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    This paper develops a sociocultural understanding of healthy bodies.
    PSYCH202Mauri Ora: Social Psychology of Human Flourishing15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    The paper will examine important conceptual frameworks and theory within social psychology and the social sciences generally. Maori perspectives and exemplars will be a significant emphasis within the paper.
    PUBRL202Health Communication15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper explores the construction and evaluation of communication campaigns to address health issues in communities and organisations. The campaigns use communication theory to design persuasive and innovative health campaigns.
  • 300 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    CMYHE301Critical Perspectives of Health15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online)
    In this paper students will critically engage with a range of contemporary health and social issues using a case study approach. This will include gaining a comprehensive understanding of the role of the media, popular culture and interest groups and critiquing contemporary health and social issues.
    CMYHE302Health in the Digital Era15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Online) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper critically examines how the growth of digital technologies have influenced understandings and practices of health. Key themes in this paper address the role of digital media in constructing understandings of healthy and unhealthy lifestyles, the changing nature of the healthcare provider-patient relationship, and the dev...
    PSYCH302Community, Culture and Diversity15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    The focus of this paper is the study of social justice, intersectionality, transformative interventions, and social change strategies that are central to community, indigenous and liberation psychologies. Issues covered include inequalities, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class and (dis)ability. Key considerations are the broader co...
    PUBRL301Stakeholder and Community Engagement15.0No occurrences
    This paper is designed to develop capacity in students to develop and facilitate ethical collaborative communication and relationship engagement activities with a diverse range of stakeholders within communities.
    SOCPY301Health, Wellbeing and Policy15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Online) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper provides a critical introduction to key issues in the formation of health policy at both a national and international level.

2024 Catalogue of Papers information current as of : 22 March 2024 8:11pm

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