AUT - Podiatry major: Bachelor of Health Science
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Podiatry major: Bachelor of Health Science
Podiatry 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
Overview
Podiatry is a specialised field, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the lower leg. Through this qualification you gain the skills and understanding to work as a podiatrist in both private and hospital practices. This major includes clinical placements in hospitals, primary health organisations, private practices and AUT’s on-campus podiatry clinic (which is open to the public). These placement opportunities enable you to experience all aspects of a podiatrist’s caseload. Surgical placements involve students practising and performing minor surgical procedures in AUT’s purpose built surgical theatre. Podiatrists work with a range of people and issues. Sports podiatry involves working with the novice to the professional athlete to prevent, manage and rehabilitate sports-related injuries. Pediatrics involves managing biomechanical anomalies in infancy through to adolescence. Older adult podiatry involves the promotion of health and management of chronic disease that affects the lower leg. The total clinical hours expected for registration as a podiatrist is 1,000 hours, which is spread across your 3 years of study. Following successful completion of the degree you are eligible to register under the general scope as a podiatrist in New Zealand and overseas. AUT University is the only university in New Zealand to offer a podiatry degree.
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 will study core or compulsory papers from across the degree.
546004 Lower Limb Anatomy and Kinesiology
546110 Clinical Biomechanics I
546116 Podiatry Clinical Practice I
555101 Lifespan Development and Communication
555201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
555301 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
555401 Health and Environment OR 555339 Māori Health, Development and Enquiry
556301 Methods of Research and Enquiry
Year 2
You begin to focus on clinical podiatry techniques, and under supervision begin to treat patients at the AUT podiatry clinic. There is an emphasis on the wide range of clinical and academic areas within podiatry including pathology, microbiology and pharmacology.
527188 Pharmacology for Professional Practice
546805 Te Mate Huka: Podiatric Management of Diabetes in Aotearoa
546801 Clinical Biomechanics II
546802 Podiatric Microbiology
546803 Clinical Skills in Podiatry
547803 Podiatry Clinical Practice II
Year 3
In the final year you form independent clinical decision-making skills as you develop into an independent practitioner. Clinical placements provide you with the opportunity to explore chronic podiatric medical conditions, lower limb musculoskeletal conditions and podiatric surgery. The year concludes with an extended placement in private practice, the public sector and AUT’s clinical facility, exposing you to a wide range of interprofessional clinical environments.
547811 Podiatric Surgery
547816 Podiatry Clinical Practice III
547813 Podiatric Medicine
547814 Chronic Disease Management in Podiatry
547815 Podiatric Medical Imaging
557221 Health Law and Policy
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 Māori Health, Development and Environment (instead of 555401 Health and Environment)
527872 Māori Health Promotion
567431 Applied Primary Māori 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
There is a shortage of podiatrists in New Zealand, so many career opportunities are available in clinical and community settings. Podiatrists are registered by the Podiatrists Board of New Zealand. Podiatrists practise privately or in public health, and in specialised areas. Qualified New Zealand podiatrists are able to practise in Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Video: Podiatry surgical training
Video: Podiatry was the right choice
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:
Other courses you may be interested in
Bachelor of Business & Bachelor of Health Science (psychology) conjoint degree
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Health Science
Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management