Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health)

Year 1

Semester 1

You study a number of papers to prepare for academic study and the field of health sciences.

Semester 1 papers

• HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication
• HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
• HEAL507 Health and Environment OR MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment

Semester 2

You'll learn more about human anatomy and the integral role it plays in oral health therapy practice.

The paper Introduction to Oral Health Practice will be the foundation for your oral health knowledge including prevention and management of dental diseases.

The paper Oral Health Promotion gives you an opportunity to work firsthand with the community, including an education programme that you plan, evaluate, resource and implement.

Semester 2 papers

• HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• ORAH501 Introduction to Oral Health Practice
• ORAH601 Oral Health Promotion

Year 2

You continue to build on your foundation skills in oral health through lectures, tutorials, case study application of knowledge as well as pre-clinical and clinical education.

You'll learn pharmacology, explore health research methods and learn more discipline specific knowledge in oral biology and pathology.

Assessment and treatment of patients in the Akoranga Integrated Health (AIH) and Oral Health Therapy Clinics at AUT and the wider Aotearoa New Zealand community start in Semester 2.

Complete the following papers

• PHMY701 Pharmacology for Professional Practice
• HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry
• ORAH602 Oral Health I
• ORAH603 Oral Biology and Pathology
• ORAH604 Oral Health Assessment

Year 3

You complete your pre-clinical training and start to undertake clinical activities both on and off site. Your clinical environments have been designed to reflect the oral health environments you’re likely to encounter once you graduate.

To ensure ‘work readiness’, you will undertake your oral health papers as well as papers focused on health law and professional practice and ethics. You also complete a 15-point elective paper so you can pursue an area of interest.

Complete the following papers

• HLAW701 Health Law and Policy
• HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics
• ORAH704 Oral Health II
• ORAH705 Oral Health III

You also need to complete a 15-point elective paper.

Workplace experience

Throughout your study you complete over 1,000 hours of clinical learning to prepare you for professional registration. There’s an emphasis on practical experience, including clinical experience at AUT’s on-campus oral health clinic, private practices and DHB clinics.

In your final year, you complete a community placement in New Zealand or internationally.

Te Ara Hauora Māori papers

If you're interested in a career with a Māori development perspective select the following papers as electives or as an alternative course of study

• MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment (instead of HEAL507 Health and Environment)
• MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion
• MAOH702 Applied Primary Māori Mental Health
• HEAL710 Utilising Supervision in Practice

We'll help you form relationships with Māori health providers, industry stakeholders and communities, and AUT Māori staff and students.