Public and Environmental Health Major - Bachelor of Health Science

Study the Bachelor of Health Science in Public and Environmental Health, and prepare yourself for a career where you can really make a difference.

Considerable change in our society means we need to have flexible, intersectoral and problem-solving approaches to a wide range of health issues and contexts as we move further into the digital age.

Our Public and Environmental Health major is committed to human rights, health equity and social justice, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te whare tapa whā – the four cornerstones of physical, spiritual, mental, and family environments, and to the Sustainable Development Goals, which advocate for intersectoral, holistic actions to enhance human and planetary health.

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This is part of the Bachelor of Health Science.

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The skills you’ll develop include team collaboration, engaging with communities, using digital communications and media, data analysis and visualisation, codesign, advocacy, evaluation and leadership.

These skills will enable you to assist with developing or implementing and evaluating public and environmental health programmes. This includes mental health, violence-free, youth and community development, healthy eating and fitness, industry and lifestyle wellness, environmental sustainability, road safety and injury prevention and tobacco control, alcohol, gambling and evaluation.

Year 1

You develop a general understanding of public and environmental health, learning alongside other health science students.

Courses you study:

Year 2

You develop practical skills and further your understanding of the values and approaches of public and environmental health.

Courses you study:

Plus, 3 elective courses. We recommend the health media and communications course to develop digital skills.

Year 3

The final year prepares you to make the transition to working within the wider sector.

Courses you study:

Plus one elective course.

Workplace experience

At the heart of your final year is the Health Practice Cooperative course, 150 hours of workplace experience in organisations involved in public and environmental health. Recent placements included:

  • Healthy Families: Manukau, Manurewa-Papakura
  • Manurewa Marae: Whare Oranga
  • Counties-Manukau, Auckland and Waitemata District Health Boards
  • Auckland Council
  • Accessible: Environmental Health Management Services
  • Village Collective
  • Datacom
  • The Asian Network Incorporated
  • Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

You may also be able to work on one of several research, teaching and innovation projects.

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.

Workplace experience in AUT programmes

Our graduates work in the public and private sectors; they are self-employed, advising and designing for sustainability, urban development, equity programmes, Māori and Pacific health.

They are team leaders, project designers and analysts, and increasingly they will work in the digital space, helping to create eHealth apps, serious games, and play a crucial role in social innovation and enterprise initiatives.

Public-and-Environmental-Health-Career-Sheet-Feb-2019-Web-1.jpg

Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Public & Environmental Health

Key features
  • Focused on addressing major health and social issues
  • Includes 150 hours of workplace experience related to health promotion
  • Complete a double major with Psychology within 3 years
  • Offered at the South Campus
  • Two intakes a year: start in Feb or July
See yourself as
  • Versatile
  • Resourceful
  • Articulate
  • Creative
  • Committed to the promotion of sustainable health
  • Change agent

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.