02 UC/15 MHealSc/1
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Template 3: UC Regulation Changes
Proposal Description
http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/regulations/award/mhealsc_regs.shtml
Purpose of the proposal
To amend the Master of Health Sciences regulations as follows:



To remove HLTH401 as a compulsory course for the Master of Health Sciences
To add a new endorsement in Nursing following on from offering this specialised area of study as an unendorsed pathway option for two years using special topics.
To align regulations with the regulations of proposed 180-point Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice
Justification
It is proposed that HLTH401 is removed as a compulsory course from the MHealSc. The PGDipHealSc and the MHealSc
were set up with a core course of HLTH401: Health and Health Systems. As the qualification has developed and
endorsements have strengthened, the need for HLTH401 as a core course for this qualification no longer exists. The
existence of HLTH401 as a core course has restricted options for candidates wishing to support their endorsement with
other interdisciplinary courses from the Master of Health Sciences Schedule. Removing HLTH401 as a compulsory
requirement will allow students to build more tailored options.
A nursing pathway has been provided for the last two years via five special topic courses and these are now being
proposed as regular courses on the MHealSc schedule. The nursing pathway courses will also be offered in a new
proposal for a 180-point Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice. While it is expected that many students
wishing to gain entry to nursing practice will follow the Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice route, this
proposal ensures there is a clear research pathway for students who wish to pursue a thesis option. The proposed
programme will meet the needs of professionals in the health industry and career changers into the health industry
whose circumstances are suited to pursuing a research masters in conjunction with their entry to nursing practice.
The proposed Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice, as the coursework option for those pursuing a Master of
Health Sciences qualification, has provided the necessity to review the existing regulations for the Master of Health
Sciences. This has been done to ensure alignment between both qualifications, reflected in the entry requirements,
structure of the programme and schedules to the degree.
Prescription for the new endorsement pathway:
Endorsement: Nursing
Students must complete 150 points from the prescribed courses for Nursing: HLTH465 Professional Frameworks for
Nursing Practice, HLTH466 Health Assessment and Physiology and Pharmacology for Clinical Practice, HLTH467 Mental
Health and Addictions, HLTH468 Acute and Long Term Health Care and HLTH463 Whānau and Community Health.
HLTH465 Professional Frameworks for Nursing Practice
This course will enable students to understand the responsibilities of nursing and the inter-professional team, to
communicate professionally and to understand ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks for health care delivery and
practice.
HLTH466 Health Assessment, Physiology and Pharmacology
This course will enable students to gain the health assessment, bioscience and pharmacology knowledge and skills
required to understand disease processes, the rationale for interventions and how drugs affect the body.
HLTH467 Mental Health and Addictions
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This course will enable students to select, critically analyse and apply theoretical frameworks related to mental health
and addiction across the lifespan and their impact on individuals and family / whānau.
HLTH468 Acute and Long Term Health Care
This course will introduce students to health service contexts and the complexity of care across a range of settings. This
is achieved through comprehensive health assessment and the design of care plans leading to considered interventions
underpinned by evidence based practice.
HLTH463 Whānau and Community Health
This course will enable students to design, implement and critically analyse interventions in response to socio-ecological
influences on whānau and community health in a health care context.
Calendar Form
New Qualification Regulations
UC Calendar 2015 Page 293
Replace regulations with these:
The Degree of Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc)
These award regulations should be read in conjunction with General Course and Examination Regulations
1) Degree Programmes
The Master of Health Sciences may be awarded either unendorsed or endorsed in one of the following areas:
i) Environment and Health
ii) Early Intervention
iii) Health Behaviour Change
iv) Health Information Management
v) Men's Health
vi) Nursing*
vii) Palliative Care
* Please note that the Nursing endorsement must be completed in conjunction with the Bachelor of Nursing qualification
through CPIT to meet Nursing Council requirements for registration
2) Entry Requirements
a) Admission to the Master of Health Sciences shall be subject to the approval of the Dean of Education
b) Candidates must have:
i) qualified for a Bachelor’s degree in a health related discipline or an equivalent qualification; or
ii) qualified for a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences or an equivalent qualification; or
iii) have completed a qualifying course of study; or
iv) been admitted under the Regulations for admission ad eundem statum as entitled to enrol for the Degree of
Master of Health Sciences
c) The detail of the course of study followed, as well as the performance in the qualifying course of study will
determine entry to the programme. Candidates will normally be expected to have maintained a B average or
better in the qualifying course of study.
d) Requirements b (i) and c may be waived by the Dean or Nominee for a candidate able to demonstrate extensive
practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.
3) Structure of the Degree
a) Candidates for the Master of Health Sciences shall complete a course of study as follows:
i) A candidate admitted under Regulation 2(b)(i) shall complete:
(1) For candidates completing an endorsement, course of study as prescribed in Schedule A
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02 UC/15 MHealSc/1
(2) For candidates completing without an endorsement:
(a) a thesis equivalent to 120 points (1.0 EFTS); or
(b) a thesis equivalent to 90 points (0.75 EFTS); or
(c) a dissertation equivalent to 60 points (0.50 EFTS); and
(d) coursework to make a total of 240 points (2.0 EFTS).
ii) A candidate admitted under regulation 2(b)(ii) shall complete:
(1) a thesis equivalent to 120 points (1.0 EFTS); or
(2) a thesis equivalent to 90 points (0.75 EFTS) and 30 points (0.25 EFTS) coursework
iii) A minimum of 30 points (0.25 EFTS) research methods
b) With prior approval, relevant and equivalent postgraduate level courses up to the value of 60 points (0.5 EFTS)
may be credited from another school, department, College or from another university or tertiary institute.
c) A candidate with a grade average falling below a B, prior to enrolling in the thesis, may be required to complete
the degree by coursework, or have their points reassigned towards either a Postgraduate Diploma in Health
Sciences or a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences.
d) A candidate whose results are not satisfactory after the first year of study, or equivalent part-time study, may
be required to withdraw from the programme. These points may be reassigned towards either a Postgraduate
Diploma in Health Sciences or a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences.
4) Time limits
a) A candidate admitted under Regulation 2(b)(i) shall complete within four years of full-time study, or equivalent
part-time study, of enrolling in the first course
b) A candidate admitted under regulation 2(b)(ii) shall complete within two years of years of full-time study, or
equivalent part-time study, of enrolling in the first course
c) Thesis must be completed within two years of full-time study, or equivalent part-time study
d) The Dean may extend these maximum in special circumstances.
5) Re-enrolling in Courses
A candidate who fails one course for the Degree of Master of Health Sciences may re-enrol in that course in only
one subsequent year. Candidates may not fail more than one course.
6) Thesis
The following conditions apply to thesis courses:
a) A candidate shall secure approval of the Dean or Nominee for the topic chosen and the proposed course of
investigation
b) A candidate shall not present in a thesis any part which has been previously accepted for another degree or
diploma
c) The thesis shall satisfy the conditions listed in Section L of the General Course and Examination Regulations and
shall be submitted as detailed in those regulations.
7) Award of Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences or a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences
A candidate who fails to complete the requirements for the Master of Health Sciences degree but successfully
meets the requirements of the Postgraduate Diploma in Master of Health Sciences or the Postgraduate Certificate in
Master of Health Sciences may be awarded either of these instead with the permission of the Dean.
Note:
Students of the Nursing endorsement pathway may only exit with an unendorsed PGCertHealSc or PGDipHealSc
8) MHealSc with Honours
There shall be two classes of honours: First Class Honours and Second Class Honours. Second Class Honours shall be
awarded in two divisions: Division 1 and Division 2.
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02 UC/15 MHealSc/1
Notes:
1. First class honours will be awarded for a GPA of 7.00 or higher
2. Second class honours division honours will be awarded for a GPA between 5.5 and 6.9
3. Second class division two honours will be awarded for a GPA between 4.00-5.4
Schedule A for the Endorsement Requirements of Degree of Master of Health Sciences
All candidates must complete:
1.00 EFTS (120 points) from HLTH690 in area of endorsement; or
0.75 EFTS (90 points) from HLTH697 in area of endorsement plus approved courses of at least 0.25 EFTS (30 points).
Candidates admitted under regulation 2(b)(ii) must also complete the following prescribed courses for one
endorsement:
Endorsed Option
Requirements
Early Intervention
0.50 EFTS (60 points) from HLTH420 and HLTH421
0.50 EFTS (60 points) from Master of Health Sciences Schedule
0.625 EFTS (75 points) from HLTH460, PUBH703 and GEOG401
0.375 EFTS (45 points) from Master of Health Sciences Schedule
0.50 EFTS (60 points) from HLTH430, HLTH431
0.50 EFTS (60 points) from Master of Health Sciences Schedule
0.25 EFTS (30 points) from HLTH402
0.25 EFTS (30 points) HLTH410 or GEOG401, HLTH407, HLTH460 or HLTH433 and
HLTH434
0.50 EFTS (60 points) from Master of Health Sciences Schedule
0.25 EFTS (30 points ) from HLTH451
0.25 EFTS (30 points)) from HLTH405 in area of endorsement
0.25 EFTS (60 points) from Master of Health Sciences Schedule
1.25 EFTS (150 points) from HLTH465 Professional Frameworks for Nursing Practice,
HLTH466 Health Assessment, Physiology and Pharmacology for Clinical Practice,
HLTH467 Mental Health and Addictions, HLTH468 Acute and Long Term Health Care
and HLTH463 Whānau and Community Health
* Please note that the Nursing endorsement must be completed in conjunction with
the Bachelor of Nursing qualification through CPIT to meet Nursing Council
requirements for registration
0.25 EFTS (30 points ) from HLTH450
0.50 EFTS (60 points ) from HLTH448 and HLTH449*
HLTH690, or HTLH697 plus approved courses of at least 0.5 EFTS (60 points), or HLTH
695 plus approved courses of at least 0.5 EFTS (60 points)
* A candidate who holds a PGCertHPC from Whitireia Community Polytechnic may
be exempt 0.5 EFTS in replacement of HLTH448 and HLTH449 on application to the
Dean of Education, Health and Human Development.
Environment and
Health
Health Behaviour
Change
Health Information
Management
Men’s Health
Nursing
Palliative Care
Note: Coursework is completed prior to thesis enrolment in either HLTH690 or HLTH697
Schedule B to the Degree of the Master of Health Sciences
For full course information, go to www.canterbury.ac.nz/courses
Note: Not all courses will be offered in any one year
Courses may also be selected from within the following subjects, with the approval of the Head of the School of Health
Sciences: Applied Psychology, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemical and Process Engineering, Child and Family
Psychology, Civil Engineering, Communication Disorders, Education, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Environmental
Sciences, Geography, History, Human Services, Law, Maori, Mathematics and Statistics, Natural Resources Engineering,
Pacific Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Sociology.
Course Code
HLTH 401
Pts
S1
Course Title
Health and Health Systems
4
2016
30
P/C/R/EQ
02 UC/15 MHealSc/1
HLTH 402
HLTH 405
HLTH 406
HLTH 407
HLTH 408
HLTH 409
HLTH 410
HLTH 414
HLTH 420
HLTH 421
HLTH 422
HLTH 430
HLTH 431
HLTH 433
HLTH 434
HLTH 440
HLTH 441
HLTH 448
HLTH 449
HLTH 450
HLTH 451
HLTH 465
HLTH 466
HLTH 467
HLTH 468
HLTH 463
HLTH 464
HLTH 460
HLTH 461
HLTH 462
HLTH 472
HLTH 481
HLTH 482
HLTH 483
HLTH 484
HLTH 690
HLTH 695
HLTH 697
Health Information Management
Special Topic: Independent Study
Special Topic
Bioethics
Special Topic: Independent Study
Health and Culture
Health Leadership and Management
Interprofessional Learning and Collaborative
Practice
Early Intervention and Prevention in Public
Health
Early Intervention Practice
Early Intervention Advanced Practice
Motivating Behaviour Change I
Motivating Behaviour Change II
Bioethics A
Bioethics B
Family Health Assessment
Family Health in Complex Situations
The Foundation of Hospice Palliative Care
Praxis in Hospice Palliative Care
Palliative Care: Advanced Theory and Practice
Men's Health
Professional Frameworks for Nursing Practice
Health Assessment, Physiology and
Pharmacology
Mental Health and Addictions
Acute and Long Term Health Care
Whānau and Community Health
Research Approaches for Health
Critical Appraisal in Health Research
Special Topic
Health Intervention Research Methods
Introduction to Psychometric Theory and
Administration
Counselling and Psychology: Theories and
Skills
Group Work: Process and Practice in
Counselling
Solution Focused Theory and Skills
Contemporary Approaches to Counselling
MHealSc Thesis
Health Sciences Dissertation
Health Sciences Thesis
5
S2
A
TBC
S2
A
S2
TBC
T3
30
30
30
30
15
30
30
30
TBC
30
A
A
S1
S2
T3
T4
TBC
TBC
Term
S1
T3
S2
S2
S1
S2
30
30
30
30
15
15
30
30
30
S2
S1
S2
S1
S1
S2
W
S1
30
30
30
30
30
30
15
15
W
30
S2
15
S1
TBC
A
A
A
15
15
120
60
90
30
30
30
30
30