Paramedicine Major - Bachelor of Health Science
Paramedicine is New Zealand’s most trusted profession, helping the community in times of need. Study the Paramedicine major in the Bachelor of Health Science degree to prepare for this rewarding career.
Paramedics are the backbone of emergency ambulance services run by St John and Wellington Free Ambulance, as well as helicopter rescue services. Paramedics often work independently in remote or difficult environments and have to make critical, often complex decisions. The Paramedicine major prepares you for these challenges.
You learn from staff who are intensive care paramedics, emergency nurses, defence force medics, midwives, medical specialists and emergency management specialists. There’s a focus on practical experience with clinical placements in ambulance services, hospitals, mental health institutions, ski fields, and community or primary health centres.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Health Science.
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As part of your paramedicine degree you complete approx. 900 clinical hours of clinical placement (about a third of the programme). At the successful completion of the paramedicine degree you meet the requirements to apply for the Intermediate Life Support (ILS) Paramedic scope of practice.
Entry to AUT's paramedicine degree is limited and well sought after. Applicants who hold ambulance, nursing or military medicine qualifications are eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning and a part-time study pathway. A full clean drivers licence and a good level of physical fitness is required.
Year 1
Semester 1 courses
You develop an in-depth understanding of general healthcare, learning alongside other health science students.
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication (15 points)
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (15 points)
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication (15 points)
- HEAL507 Health and Environment (15 points) OR MAOH501 Hauora Māori (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (15 points)
- PARA601 Pathology and Pathophysiology (15 points)
- PARA609 Introduction to Paramedic Practice (15 points)
- PARA610 Introduction to Paramedic Theory (15 points)
Year 2
You develop further theory and skills related to paramedicine practice. There’s an emphasis on cardiology and managing patients with altered haemodynamics (resuscitation, defibrillation, 12 Lead ECG, intravenous access and drug therapy).
You also become familiar with pharmacology and research methods for paramedics and complete large amounts of clinical practice. Ambulance operations are also covered.
Courses you study
- HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry (15 points)
- PARA603 Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics (15 points)
- PARA604 Clinical Practice I (15 points)
- PARA605 Clinical Practice II (15 points)
- PHMY701 Pharmacology for Professional Practice (15 points)
- PARA702 Ambulance Operations (15 points)
- PARA706 Cardiology (15 points)
- PARA606 Haemodynamics in the Acute Patient (15 points)
Year 3
You apply your skills from the previous years to develop a safe, integrated clinical paramedicine practice. This includes resuscitation, mental health, primary care and health law. This year focuses on preparing you for employment as a practising paramedic. It also includes a clinical reasoning component.
Courses you study
- HLAW701 Health Law and Policy (15 points)
- PARA707 Intermediate Life Support (15 points)
- PARA705 Paramedic Primary Health Care (15 points)
- PARA708 Paramedic Theory and Management (15 points)
- PARA704 Clinical Risk Management (15 points)
- PARA701 Applied Mental Health And Well-being (15 points)
- PARA709 Clinical Reasoning (15 points)
- PARA703 Integrated Clinical Practice (15 points)
Workplace experience in the Paramedicine major
Throughout your degree you complete approximately 1,000 hours of clinical placement in ambulance services, hospitals, mental health institutions and community or primary health centres. These placements require you to be mobile and work shifts.
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
- Traditional road ambulance work
- Private transfer/patient transfer services
- Events paramedic, working on high-profile public events, marathons, motor sport, extreme sports or concerts
- Superyacht/cruise line paramedic
- Ski-field medic
- Remote mining and gas/industrial paramedic
- Critical care paramedic, involved in all aeromedical retrieval services in New Zealand and Australia
- Extended care paramedic, working in road-based ambulance services and primary healthcare clinics across New Zealand and Australia
- Specialist Emergency Response Team, working alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Coast Guard, Search and Rescue, and the police providing specialist paramedic care, intervention and care close to the heart of an evolving incident
- Urban Search and Rescue, deployed throughout New Zealand and the Pacific in times of natural disaster
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other undergraduate study options
Majors in this degree
- Case Management
- Counselling
- Health Management
- Perioperative Practice
- Psychology
- Public and Environmental Health
- Individual pathway (study the Bachelor of Health Science without a major)
Other health science degrees
Postgraduate study options
- The only New Zealand university degree in paramedicine
- Includes 1,000 hours of clinical placement
- Meets the requirements to apply for the role of paramedic across Australasian, Canadian and UK ambulance services
- Offered at the South Campus
- Two intakes a year: start in Feb or July
- Able to make good judgments
- Mature, caring and calm
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- Able to work well under pressure
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.