Career opportunities
As a graduate majoring in Pacific and Global Health, you will have a strong holistic and global perspective of health and well-being, with the skills and knowledge necessary to serve the needs of Pacific people and communities in New Zealand and across the Pacific region.
In a time of globalisation, changing societies, and climate change, you will have the knowledge and skills to support Pacific and mainstream solutions to improving health.
Student profile – Rhonda Matagi Tomasi
Rhonda chose to study for a Bachelor of Health Sciences after completing Health Sciences First Year (HSFY).
“I chose Pacific and Global Health as my major because of my Pacific background. Several members of my family, as well as people in my community, have faced health problems and I thought this qualification would help me understand why these issues exist.
“I've really enjoyed being part of the conversations we have in lectures or tutorials about why such health statistics exist and how we can use our skills to meet the needs of the communities we work with.”
Rhonda especially enjoyed the paper focusing on Pacific Health.
“What I learnt in the paper really answered the questions I had about the health status of Pacific people. It complimented what I was studying in other Public Health papers and gave me a different approach to go about bettering the health outcomes of Pacific people and other high-need communities.
“I think that wherever I end up working in the healthcare field, this degree will equip me with a broader understanding of the provision of healthcare services, as well as helping me better interact with the people I work with. I hope to complete a medical degree and this qualification will add so much more to my future career.”
Learn in an immersive environment
“I've really enjoyed being part of the conversations we have in lectures or tutorials about why such health statistics exist and how we can use our skills to meet the needs of the communities we work with.”
— Rhonda Matagi Tomasi
BHealSc Student
- Meet and learn first-hand from community and global health leaders
- Learn by participating in various Pacific cultural practices
- Gain an understanding of holistic approaches to health and well-being
- Gain global strategies and perspectives on health and well-being, and use these to serve Pacific families and communities
- Celebrate and encourage diversity and inclusion in the learning environment
Specifically, you will learn:
- How to effectively engage with Pacific peoples and our communities to develop and create positive solutions within the context of health care and its provision at a population level
- Historical, social, and cultural contexts to Pacific peoples and our health, as well as strategies for developing solutions that have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Pacific peoples
- How to apply Pacific belief systems, values, principles, and ethical approaches related to health
- How health challenges are approached in a global context in a variety of developed and developing countries
- How to develop meaningful and impactful solutions for addressing global health challenges that affect communities in developing countries
Build skills to make a difference
As our world becomes more global and interconnected, new challenges are impacting the health and well-being of our communities.
These challenges include:
- Populations and people living for longer, and often living with multiple long-term conditions and disabilities
- Limited health resources
- Changing physical environments and their effects on health
With these challenges comes an increasing need to develop innovative solutions and approaches to health care.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) majoring in Pacific and Global Health is a three-year degree for those who want to be an integral part of these new approaches.
This career-focused qualification focuses on the skills required to work with patients, populations, and communities to promote health and ensure patients are accessing and receiving the most appropriate care.
Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc)
A three-year degree with four areas of specialisation: Community Health Care, Māori Health, Pacific and Global Health, or Public Health
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A three-year degree that equips you to change the world as you create new products, services and ideas
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Further study opportunities
Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.
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Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 | 18 |
| HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 | 18 | |
| PUBH 192 Foundations of Epidemiology or POPH 192 Population Health | 18 | |
| 200-level | PACH 201 Pacific Health: New Zealand and the Pacific Region | 18 |
| PUBH 203 Health Policy and Politics | 18 | |
| PUBH 211 Epidemiology of Global Health Conditions | 18 | |
| MAOH 201 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Individuals and Whānau | 18 | |
|
At least two of BITC 201 Bioethics and the Life Sciences CMHC 211 Enabling Wellness and Ability I HIST 206 An Introduction to Pacific History PACI 201 Contemporary Pacific Island Issues POLS 213 New Zealand Foreign Policy PUBH 202 Health Promotion | 36 | |
| 300-level | PACH 301 Pacific Health: Advanced Applied Knowledge | 18 |
| PUBH 303 Public and Global Health: Current Issues | 18 | |
|
At least two of ANTH 323 Anthropology of Health BITC 301 Bioethics: Healthcare Issues and Global Perspectives CMHC 311 Enabling Wellness and Ability II MAOH 301 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Organistions and Communities PUBH 311 Public Health Research | 36 | |
| Plus | 126 further points | 126 |
| The following papers are suggested: ACCT 102, ASIA 101, BSNS 113, CMHC 201, ECON 112, GLBL 110, HIST 107 , MANT 101, PACI 103, STAT 115; ECON 201, ENGL 228, MANT 217, MANT 251 , SOCI 205, STAT 210; CMHC 301, ECON 306, HIST 337, PACI 301, PACI 310 , POLS 303, STAT 310 | ||
| Total | 360 |
A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.
Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.
You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | POPH 192 Population Health or PUBH 192 Foundations of Epidemiology | 18 |
| 200-level | PACH 201 Pacific Health: New Zealand and the Pacific Region PUBH 203 Health Policy and Politics PUBH 211 Epidemiology of Global Health Conditions | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | 18 | |
| Total | 90 |
Note: This minor subject is not available to students majoring in Community Health Care.
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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