AUT - Oral Health major: Bachelor of Health Science
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Oral Health major: Bachelor of Health Science
Oral Health is an exciting and extremely rewarding area of health care in New Zealand. With this major, you will gain the skills and knowledge required in this profession.
Bachelor of Health Science: degree outline
Our oral health degree enables you to be skilled as both a dental therapist and dental hygienist, providing you with a flexible career opportunity. Dental hygienists treat gum diseases in patients of all ages and help people to maintain good oral and general health. Dental therapists independently prescribe and administer oral health care to patients up to 18 years old. This degree provides you both pre-clinical experience in a laboratory and clinical experience in AUT’s dental clinic, community dental clinics and private practices. At least half of your 3 years’ learning is focused on clinical practice.
Want to enrol in a programme: Apply online
Structure
Below is a summary only. For a comprehensive overview of this qualification, please refer to the Academic calendar.
Year 1
You are introduced to basic human sciences and learn about health in New Zealand with an emphasis on communication skills, health promotion in general and the oral health setting specifically. Pre-clinical skills are practised and you will progress on to procedures introduced in the clinic on campus.
Core papers
555101 Lifespan Development and Communication
555201 Human Anatomy and Physiology
555301 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
555401 Health and Environment OR
555339 Maori Health, Development and Environment
555604 Introduction to Oral Health Practice
556104 Health Promotion
556606 Oral Health Promotion
Year 2 papers
You continue to study human sciences with particular emphasis on the oral cavity, and engage in assessment and treatment of patients on and off-site. Health research methods are introduced and you will undertake research and health promotion projects.
556202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
556301 Methods of Research and Enquiry
556607 Oral Health I
556608 Oral Biology and Pathology
556609 Oral Health Assessment
Year 3 papers
You are expected to become competent in dealing with patients’ needs and study health law and ethics. There is a 15-point elective paper that allows you to pursue an area of particular interest.
557221 Health Law and Policy
557224 Professional Practice and Ethics
557609 Oral Health II
557610 Oral Health III
and a relevant elective paper
Te Ara Hauora Māori papers
Students who wish to seek careers with a Māori development perspective should select the following 4 papers as electives or as an alternative course of study.
555339 Maori Health, Development and Environment (instead of 555401 Health and Environment)
527872 Maori Health Promotion
567431 Applied Primary Maori Mental Health
567417 Utilising Supervision in Practice
We will support Te Ara Hauora Māori students to form relationships with Māori health providers, industry stakeholders and communities, and AUT Māori staff and students.
Career opportunities
Graduates will be skilled as both a dental hygienist and as a dental therapist, with the ability to work both in private or public health settings. As an oral health practitioner you can work with children and adolescents under 18 years of age, and with adults within your scope of practice. You may choose to work in a clinical practice, such as a general practice or specialist periodontal practice in schools or hospital clinics, or in the area of health promotion.
Graduates and students of health science
Your other Bachelor of Health Science study options
You can choose to study the degree without a health major:
Or you can choose to major in one of the following specialised areas:Or you can choose one of our clinical degree areas:
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