Health Management Major - Bachelor of Health Science
Want a career in the business management side of the health sector? Study the Health Management major in the AUT Bachelor of Health Science degree.
Health management is becoming increasingly important. There are more and more Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) offering one-stop-shop services. But these complex health service providers need skilled people looking after the administration and management side.
One patient can have multiple healthcare requirements, and as a health management graduate you ensure all their needs are met. You work with patients and their family/whānau in planning, decision-making and management roles.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Health Science.
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You develop the skills to work within health management at national, local and inter-professional levels. These include foundation knowledge of human health and the health sector, as well as communication, teamwork, advocacy, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
Year 1
Semester 1 courses
- 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)
In the first semester all students study the same four courses (HEAL504, HEAL505, HEAL506 and HEAL507) to help you develop an in-depth understanding of general healthcare, learning alongside other health science students. You can study these four courses at the North Campus, South Campus or online.
Instead of the course HEAL507 Health and Environment you can also study MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment, but do note that this is an on-campus course at the North or South Campus, and you’ll have to attend your classes in person.
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL503 Health Records Management (15 points)
- HPRM501 Health Management & Service Development (15 points)
- MGMT501 Managing & Organising (15 points)
- Plus choose one elective or minor course
Year 2
Semester 1 courses
- HEAL502 Medical Terminology (15 points)
- HEAL606 Long Term Conditions 15 points)
- HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry (15 points)
- HEAL613 Introduction to Health Economics (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL605 Advocacy & Dispute Resolution in Health & Human Services (15 points)
- HRMG601 Human Resource Management (15 points)
- Plus choose two elective or minor courses
Year 3
Semester 1 courses
- EMGT601 Health, Risk and Disaster Resilience1 (15 points)
- HEAL704 Quality in the Health Sector (15 points)
- HLAW701 Health Law and Policy (15 points)
- MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics (15 points)
- HPRM702 Health Practice Cooperative (30 points)
- Plus choose one elective or minor course
1. The course EMGT601 is not offered in 2025. You should enrol in MGMT705 Stress and Resilience at Work instead. If you were planning to take EMGT601 in 2025, you should have received a letter informing you that your course enrolment has been changed to MGMT705.
Include a minor in your degree
We recommend that you include a minor as part of your degree. You can choose from a range of minors across AUT - from education, business and health promotion, to history, New Zealand Sign Language and human resource management. Your minor will be listed on your academic transcript when you graduate. Alternatively, we can help you choose individual elective courses.
Year 1
Semester 1 courses (starting in July)
- HEAL503 Health Records Management (15 points)
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (15 points)
- HEAL507 Health and Environment (15 points) OR MAOH501 Hauora Māori (15 points)
- MGMT501 Managing & Organising (15 points)
In the first year all students study the same four courses (HEAL504, HEAL505, HEAL506 and HEAL507) to help you develop an in-depth understanding of general healthcare, learning alongside other health science students. You can study these four courses at the North Campus, South Campus or online.
Instead of the course HEAL507 Health and Environment you can also study MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment, but do note that this is an on-campus course at the City Campus, and you’ll have to attend your classes in person.
Semester 2 courses (starting in February)
- HEAL502 Medical Terminology (15 points)
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication (15 points)
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication (15 points)
- Plus choose one elective or minor course
Year 2
Semester 1 courses (starting in July)
- HEAL605 Advocacy & Dispute Resolution in Health & Human Services (15 points)
- HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry (15 points)
- HPRM501 Health Management & Service Development (15 points)
- Plus choose one elective or minor course
Semester 2 courses (starting in February)
- EMGT601 Health, Risk and Disaster Resilience1 (15 points)
- HEAL606 Long Term Conditions (15 points)
- HEAL613 Introduction to Health Economics (15 points)
- HRMG601 Human Resource Management (15 points)
Year 3
Semester 1 courses (starting in July)
- HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics (15 points)
- HPRM702 Health Practice Cooperative (30 points)
- Plus choose one elective or minor course
Semester 2 courses (starting in February)
- HEAL704 Quality in the Health Sector (15 points)
- HLAW701 Health Law and Policy (15 points
- MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion (15 points)
- Plus choose one elective or minor course
1. The course EMGT601 is not offered in 2025. You should enrol in MGMT705 Stress and Resilience at Work instead. If you were planning to take EMGT601 in 2025, you should have received a letter informing you that your course enrolment has been changed to MGMT705.
Include a minor in your degree
We recommend that you include a minor as part of your degree. You can choose from a range of minors across AUT - from education, business and health promotion, to history, New Zealand Sign Language and human resource management. Your minor will be listed on your academic transcript when you graduate. Alternatively, we can help you choose individual elective courses.
Workplace experience in the Health Management major
At the heart of your final year is the Health Practice Cooperative course, 150 hours of workplace experience in organisations where you can put into practice the management skills you have learnt. Recent placements have included:
- ACC
- Ember services
- AUT Integrated Health
- South Seas Healthcare Clinic
- Auckland Council
- Southern Cross Group
- Health, Quality and Safety Commission
- Odyssey
- Village Cooperative
- WMDHB
- Whanau Ora
- Health Economics Consulting
- Oceania Healthcare
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
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Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of the Bachelor of Health Science in Health Management are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
District health boards and other Crown agencies, along with private healthcare providers, including:
- Quality coordinator
- Care coordinator
- Clinical records administrator
- Practice coordinator
- People and performance service manager
- Primary health team support
- Patient coordinator
- Medical records administrator
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
- Paramedicine
- 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
- Focuses on the business management side of health
- The only bachelor’s degree in health management by a New Zealand university
- Includes 150 hours of workplace experience in the health sector
- Offered at the South Campus
- Part-time study options available
- Two intakes a year: start in Feb or July
- Passionate about the business of health
- Confident working with a diverse range of people
- A decision-maker and problem-solver
- Good at managing people
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.