Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation)

The Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation) is aimed at wellness and rehabilitation practitioners and recent graduates (in fields such as chiropractic, health sciences, massage therapy, medicine, naturopathy, nursing, occupational therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, sport and exercise) who want to undertake an advanced programme of study in order to prepare for further study or to assist with obtaining a more senior position.

You will learn to extend your capability in critical and professional/clinical reasoning for specialist practice, leadership, and management in professional settings.

The areas of focus in this programme are:

• Completing health, wellness, and rehabilitation research
• Health and wellness
• Holistic wellness
• Nutrition for wellness
• Pain management
• Musculoskeletal and Neurological Rehabilitation
• Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health
• Female health and wellness
• Wellness for the older population
• Massage therapy for wellness and rehabilitation

The programme will be delivered through HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible') which combines face-to-face and online learning. This offers you the ability to study from anywhere. Full-time or part-time options are available as well. This course is taught using a mix of online learning, practical experience, classroom teaching and workshops.

Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation) students will undertake a coherent programme of 180 credits approved by the programme manager and will follow one of two pathways.

The first pathway is the Masters of Applied Health Sciences via Research Projects:

Students will need to complete the following courses:

• WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles
• WR810 Research Skills for Professional Practice
• WR901 Research Project

and an approved selection of two courses worth 60 credits from the following list:

• WR804 Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health
• WR805 Musculoskeletal and Neurological Rehabilitation
• WR806 Pain Assessment and Management
• WR807 Special Topics: Nutrition for Wellness

Elective 30 credits at level 8 or above from a relevant postgraduate programme.

The second pathway is the Masters of Applied Health Sciences via Research Thesis:

Students will need to complete the following courses:

• WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles
• WR810 Research Skills for Professional Practice
• WR902 Thesis

and an approved one course from the following list:

• WR804 Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health
• WR805 Musculoskeletal and Neurological Rehabilitation
• WR806 Pain Assessment and Management
• WR807 Special Topics: Nutrition for Wellness

Students will need to complete the following courses:

• WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles
• WR810 Research Skills for Professional Practice
• WR902 Thesis

and an approved one course from the following list:

• WR804 Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health
• WR805 Musculoskeletal and Neurological Rehabilitation
• WR806 Pain Assessment and Management
• WR807 Special Topics: Nutrition for Wellness

Course descriptions:

WR800 Wellness and Rehabilitation Principles

This course enables practitioners to develop knowledge and skills in lifestyle wellness coaching to improve people’s health habits and coach people towards achieving their personal, health and fitness goals. Practitioners will also apply the principles and practices of an interdisciplinary and client-centered approach to wellness and rehabilitation within their clinical or industry setting to enhance lifestyle management and healthy outcomes.

WR804 Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Metabolic Health

The course will explore cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic health and wellness. This course assumes knowledge of the body’s response to normal anatomical/physiological function and directs the student towards a progressive and more critical understanding of altered, complex health states. This will include the multiple interrelationships of physical activity for daily living, exercise physiology and exercise prescription, to complement and inform advanced wellness practice. Students will design and implement quality integrated wellness and rehabilitation programmes for clients with cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic health conditions. Students will reflect on case management as a complete approach to wellness with emphasis on empowerment rather than dependence.

WR805 Musculoskeletal and Neurological Health

The course will explore musculoskeletal and neurologic health and wellness. This course builds on knowledge of the body’s response to physical activity, normal anatomical/ physiological function and directs the student towards a progressive and more critical understanding of altered, complex health states. This will include the multiple interrelationships of physical activity for daily living, exercise physiology and exercise prescription, to complement and inform advanced wellness practice. Students will design and implement quality integrated wellness and rehabilitation programmes for clients with musculoskeletal and neurological health conditions. Students will reflect on case management as a complete approach to wellness with emphasis on empowerment rather than dependence.

WR806 Pain Assessment and Management

This course enables students to develop knowledge about pain assessment and management from an holistic perspective. Students will also apply the principles and practices of an interdisciplinary and client-centered approach to pain management within their clinical or industry setting to enhance lifestyle management and healthy outcomes.

WR807 Special Topics: Nutrition for Wellness

This course is used to explore current issues and make use of the particular expertise of individual staff members, including visitors. Students will critically examine current developments and emerging issues in a specified topic area. The course will investigate current issues of nutrition as therapy for wellness. The emphasis will be on nutrition strategies for specific populations with New Zealand.

WR810 Research Skills for Professional Practice

This course provides an introduction to quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies used in health sciences. Students will develop knowledge of fundamental biostatistical concepts and skills of critiquing and evaluating research within their clinical or industry setting. Students will apply these learnings to the design of a master’s level research project proposal.

WR901 Research Project

The student will develop expertise in conducting applied research that informs professional practice in wellness and rehabilitation.

WR902 Thesis

The student will develop expertise in conducting publishable research about wellness and rehabilitation.