Minors in the Bachelor of Health

A minor is an optional additional area of focus for a degree. Most Bachelor of Health subjects are available as minors.

A minor is made up of a collection of courses in a particular subject. The workload for a minor is lighter than for a major—fewer courses to do, fewer points required. This makes a minor a good way to build a second or third area of focus or concentration into your degree. Find out more about how minors work.

All majors in the Bachelor of Health can be also be taken as a minor in any degree.

You might also be able to study majors from other Victoria University of Wellington undergraduate degrees as a minor in your Bachelor of Health.

Generally, minors are made up of at least 60 points from the relevant subject area at 200 level or above. At least 15 of those points must be at 300 level and not counted towards a major or another minor.

Subjects in the Bachelor of Health have special requirements and course options as minors. Explore these minors below.

Health Informatics

Health informatics is transforming the healthcare industry. It's much more than keeping up with technology—it’s about using technology tools and data to provide a more affordable, flexible health system, and better health outcomes for our communities.

You’ll explore how the acquisition, storage, and use of health data plays a critical role in improving the quality of care and reducing costs.

Requirements

Complete four courses:

Health Policy and Innovation

Study the factors that influence the health of diverse populations over their life spans. Understand how health is measured and how you can use this knowledge to create lasting improvements for the health and wellbeing of communities.

Learn about New Zealand's health system, develop skills in critical thinking, and explore different research methods when assessing health issues, risk factors, and potential preventive measures.

Requirements

Complete four of the following courses, including at least one at 300-level:

Health Promotion

Play an important role in the community and become an advocate for better health. Learn how to plan and develop ways to help people improve and manage health, using critical thinking and evidence-based research to find out what measures will have the greatest impact.

Requirements

Complete four of the following courses, including at least one 300-level course:

Health Psychology

Study the connection between thoughts and actions and how these factors interact with the physical systems of our body. Gain an insight into human behaviour and the underlying attitudes that put health at risk.

You’ll study theories of health behaviour, including health-enhancing activities such as exercise, risky behaviour like smoking, and rehabilitation and learn how to develop strategies to influence others to change.

Requirements

Complete the following courses:

Complete two courses from the following:

Physical Activity and Hauora

Physical activity is an important part of the health sector ecosystem in Aotearoa New Zealand. Explore the factors that enable equity in physical activity participation and look at approaches to the inclusive promotion of physical activity across all population groups.

Develop skills in planning effective initiatives for addressing individual, whānau, cultural, and societal influences on physical activity participation, hauora, and wellbeing.

The minor in Physical Activity and Hauora is being offered in 2025 subject to regulatory approval.

Requirements

Complete four courses:

  • PAAH 201
  • PAAH 202
  • PAAH 303
  • One further course from the Bachelor of Health major requirements.