Mental Health and Addiction – Bachelor of Health Science

Massey’s Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) will help you start or advance a career in the mental health and addictions workforce.

Where you can study

Distance and online

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Not open to international students
Note: Selected entry

Specialise in Mental Health and Addiction for your Bachelor of Health Science at Massey

This qualification provides the knowledge and skills required to work as an addictions practitioner within a range of services in Aotearoa New Zealand, or to work in non-practitioner roles within the mental health and addictions workforce. It integrates the Essential and the Practitioner competencies for addiction specialists required by the Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ). These competencies are embedded within a wider framework of hauora Māori knowledge and social work engagement practice.

The qualification has two pathways:

  • Addiction Practitioner Pathway: For graduates who wish to be eligible to apply for provisional registration with DAPAANZ to work as addictions practitioners. This pathway requires you to complete all of the Mental Health and Addiction major courses. You have to complete the second and third-year placement courses with addiction services, under the supervision of addiction practitioners.
  • Non-Practitioner Pathway: For students who wish to work broadly in the mental health and addiction workforce but do not wish to work as practitioners. You do not have to complete either of the placement courses.

In the mental health and addiction field, you’ll promote and sustain the wellbeing of individuals, whānau, and communities. You’ll work to reduce inequities and to improve the social, cultural, environmental, and political determinants of mental health and addiction.

With Massey’s Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction), you’ll become a reflective and dynamic thinker, capable of demonstrating commitment to equity within a broad hauora wellbeing approach.

You’ll learn:

  • key concepts in mental health and addiction, its determinants and advocacy
  • te reo, tikanga and engagement with Māori
  • social and community helping skills
  • models and predictors of mental health, public health and addiction
  • key concepts in public health.

You’ll gain:

  • the skills to facilitate, lead and advise in order to solve complex challenges
  • an appreciation of the development, history, and context of mental health and addiction in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • skills of meaningful engagement, authentic relationships, and shared decision-making to plan and evaluate interventions to improve population wellbeing.

Study to suit your lifestyle

With distance learning, you can plan your study to suit your lifestyle. Please note that some courses in this major will require you to attend on-campus contact workshops of between 1-3 days during the semester. You can enrol in the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) full or part time.

Further study

Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) graduates can go on to further postgraduate study in the following qualifications:

A Bachelor of Health Science in Mental Health and Addiction is a good fit if you:

  • personally value respect, aroha and hope
  • want to work with others to develop social justice and inclusion
  • care about promoting the mental health and wellbeing of individuals, whānau and communities.

Planning information

If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.

If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school.

Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study. You need to choose these two courses in your first year because they are the pre-requisites for two of your 200-level compulsory major courses: 

Year One

Semester One

  • 231106 Introduction to Public Health
  • 250100 Health Communication
  • 214101 Human Bioscience: Normal Body Function
  • 147102 Whakapiri: Engagement in Mental Health and Addiction Work (prerequisite for Year Two course)

Semester Two

  • 214102 Applied Sciences for Health Professionals
  • 231107 Social Determinants of Health (recommended to be taken in Semester Two only)
  • 150112 Hauora tangata: Foundations of Māori Health
  • 179155 A Foundation of Interpersonal Skills for the Helping Professions (prerequisite for Year Two course)
Year Two

Semester One

  • 250205 Principles and Practice of Human Epidemiology
  • 150235 Whakamārama: Approaches to Māori Mental Health and Addiction
  • 214201 Human Bioscience: Impaired Body Function
  • 150202 Mauri ora: Māori Wellbeing and Vitality

Semester Two

  • 147202 Mental Health Promotion
  • 179210 Social Work Theories and Interventions
  • 179230 Tangata Moana Perspectives and Practices for Transformation
  • 147204 Whakamahi: Introduction to Mental Health and Addiction Placement
Year Three

Semester One

  • 250331 Health of Communities
  • 147305 Whakamana: Change Agency in Mental Health and Addiction
  • 179310 Integrated Practice with Groups and Families
  • 150302 Whānau ora: Principles of Flourishing Whānau

Semester Two

  • 147302 Alcohol, Other Drugs and Addiction
  • 250303 Systems Thinking and Design for Health
  • 250320 Work Integrated Learning in Health Sciences
  • 214212 Research Methods in the Health Sciences.

Meeting requirements for industry membership

If you are seeking to gain accreditation in Mental Health and Addiction you will need to complete the following courses as your Schedule C elective courses:

  • 147204 Whakamahi: Introduction to Mental Health and Addiction Placement, in your second year, and
  • 250320 Work Integrated Learning in Health Sciences, in your final year.

Prior to enrolling in these courses you will be required to undertake a further selected entry process.

Failure to pass 147204 or 250320 on a second attempt will lead to exclusion from the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction). Students can apply to transfer to the non-accredited pathway.

DAPAANZ recognition

Drug and Alcohol Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa–New Zealand (DAPAANZ) is the membership association representing the professional interests of practitioners working in addiction treatment.

The Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) provides the critical knowledge and engagement competencies required for DAPAANZ-accredited support workers working with Māori and non-Māori in the mental health and addiction sector. As a graduate of this qualification you may be eligible to apply for DAPAANZ accreditation as a provisionally-registered mental health and addiction professional.

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Core courses for the Bachelor of Health Science

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Bachelor of Health Science core courses

Mental Health and Addiction courses

Compulsory courses

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 147202 Mental Health Promotion 15 credits

The course covers the rationale and principles of promoting mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally. Attention is given to key concepts and frameworks underpinning this area of practice.

Prerequisites: 147102

View full course details
Course code: 147302 Alcohol, Other Drugs and Addiction 15 credits

A focus on alcohol, other drug use and addiction in Aotearoa New Zealand, emphasising harm reduction and health promotion as intervention tools. Students will develop a critical understanding of the aetiology and epidemiology of drug use and addiction, the co-existence of conditions with addictions, and effective legal, public policy and treatment responses to reducing harm.

View full course details
Course code: 147305 Whakamana: Change Agency in Mental Health and Addiction 15 credits

Principles underpinning mental health and addiction work in Aotearoa New Zealand are applied through the whakapiri, whakamārama, whakamana framework to enable students to become agents of social inclusion, moving their work beyond knowledge to empowerment, action and sustainability. Students integrate and apply collaborative and reflective practice, critical thinking, coordinated responses, and mana-enhancing approaches to work with tangata whai ora, whānau and communities.

Prerequisites: 150235

View full course details
Course code: 150235 Whakamārama: Approaches to Māori Mental Health and Addiction 15 credits

Principles underpinning Māori mental health and addiction work in Aotearoa New Zealand will be applied in the development of a social inclusion approach to mental health and addiction work across the life-course and in a range of settings. A hauora approach is used to focus on engagement, prevention, and early intervention with tangata whai ora, whānau and communities.

Prerequisites: 147102

View full course details
Course code: 150302 Whānau ora: Principles of Flourishing Whānau 15 credits

Approaches for the advancement of Māori health will be reviewed with a particular focus on health promotion, whānau ora and the link between Māori health initiatives and positive Māori development.

Prerequisites: 15 credits from 1502xx (and 45 credits at 200 level)

View full course details
Course code: 179210 A Relational Framework for Social Work Theory and Practice 15 credits

Developing a relational-praxis framework for different theories of social work, models of practice and approaches to engagement, assessment and intervention.

Prerequisites: 179155 and (179110 or 147102)

View full course details
Course code: 179230 Tangata Moana Perspectives and Practices for Transformation 15 credits

Examining Tangata Moana (Pacific/Pasifika) perspectives and how they inform social practice and policy towards transforming individual, family and community outcomes.

View full course details
Course code: 179310 Integrated Social Work Practice - Decolonising Social Work 15 credits

Theories and skills of group dynamics, collaboration, conflict management and culturally appropriate communication. Students develop their facilitation skills for working with people from diverse and culturally different backgrounds.

Prerequisites: 179210

View full course details

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

The Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) offers two pathways:

  • Accredited pathway - graduates will be eligible to apply for provisional-registration with DAPAANZ to work in the sector as an Alcohol and Other Drug Practitioner. This pathway requires you to complete all of the Mental Health and Addiction major courses and you have to complete the 2nd Year and 3rd Year placement courses in our programme with addiction services and under the supervision of addiction practitioners
  • Non-accredited pathway - graduates will work broadly in mental health and addiction but you will not become or work as an addiction practitioner. This pathway requires you to complete the required major courses, but you do not have to complete either of the placement courses.

When applying for the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) you will be required to provide the following additional information:

  • A personal statement*
  • Answer the readiness-for-study questions as part of your online application
  • Signal which pathway (accredited or non-accredited) you seek to pursue.

"Selected entry" is in place if you are seeking to apply for the accredited pathway. You will be required to provide the following information (further details below) in addition to the above:

  • Police and safety checks - complete the request and consent form for police vetting
  • Health status checks - complete the Health and Disability Declaration.

Accredited pathway applicants will also be selected for subsequent entry into the required placement courses in the second year (147204) and third year (250320) of this qualification. Entry requirements for these placement courses will reflect some (or all) of the following:

  • Police and Vulnerable Children Act check
  • Health check
  • Feedback (as requested) from MHA major course coordinators on your suitability
  • Review of your academic achievement in the programme to date
  • An interview with programme staff and a DAPAANZ-registered practitioner
  • As directed by programme staff, you may be required to undertake a fitness-for-addiction-work interview with a mental health specialist.

Please note: Completion of the required placement courses is compulsory for students graduating from the accredited pathway. While programme staff will work with you in the accredited pathway to find a suitable placement, we cannot guarantee placements in this programme.

*Personal statement

A personal statement of 400-500 words outlining your reasons for applying, previous study, and relevant life and work experience (.docx or .pdf file)

Police and safety checks

Many organisations have a policy which requires that their staff agree to a police check to ascertain whether they have any criminal convictions. You are required to undertake a police check before the placement begins. Including:

  • providing details of any convictions or charges pending in Aotearoa New Zealand and/or overseas
  • completing of the vetting service request and consent form for an Aotearoa New Zealand Police check
  • providing a current police certificate from any overseas countries you have lived in for twelve months or more in the last ten years.

Some agencies will also require an additional police check. Prior convictions may not preclude a placement, however it is beneficial that you are forthcoming about previous convictions. Once police vetting reports have been received, you will have the opportunity to clarify any findings. This information will be dealt with in a confidential manner but depending on the nature of the offence, it may need to be disclosed to the host organisation and may affect placement. Where necessary, you may also be required to fulfil the criteria in the Vulnerable Children’s Act.

Health and disability declaration

Please indicate if you have any short or long-term disability (including learning disability), impairment, injury or physical/mental health condition. If you disclose any disability, health or personal information as part of your application, this will be discussed with you at an interview. The information supplied is confidential to the University staff processing your application.

Note that you may also need to provide evidence prior to going on placement, that you meet the immunisations standards of practice for healthcare professionals in New Zealand.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Can't meet the entry requirements?

If you need to do a course before you start your qualification, there may be options for you in Summer School.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Scholarship and award opportunities

Search our scholarships and awards

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

With the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) you will possess the knowledge and transferrable skills to work within a range of mental health settings.

Roles may include:

  • advisors
  • advocates
  • educators
  • health promoters
  • kaimahi
  • whānau ora navigators
  • case managers
  • probation officers
  • public health workers
  • community development workers
  • policy analysts
  • programme coordinators
  • community outreach workers.

You may work within:

  • District Health Boards
  • Primary Health Organisations
  • non-government organisations
  • local and central government
  • iwi social services and Māori health organisations
  • government agencies
  • culturally-specific services
  • the disability sector
  • aged care sector
  • public health units
  • youth services
  • the education sector
  • community organisations.

DAPAANZ recognition

Drug and Alcohol Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa–New Zealand (DAPAANZ) is the membership association representing the professional interests of practitioners working in addiction treatment.

The Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) provides the critical knowledge and engagement competencies required for DAPAANZ-accredited support workers working with Māori and non-Māori in the mental health and addiction sector. As a graduate of this programme you may be eligible to apply for DAPAANZ accreditation.

What our students say

“My placement gave me some clinical experience, but my theoretical learning is what really prepared me to do well. Although I studied online, I enjoyed connecting with peers in my final year, as we supported one another through our placements and into the workforce.”
Ehlana Grigg

Case Manager, Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua

Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction)

Accreditations and rankings

Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia Teaching Excellence Team Award 2023

CAPHIA Team Teaching Excellence Award 2023

Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia (CAPHIA) Teaching Excellence recognises and rewards the contribution of CAPHIA members to quality teaching and learning and inspiring student learning in public health.

Learn more

ShanghaiRanking - public health

Massey University is ranked in the top 400 universities in the world and fourth in New Zealand in the subject area of public health by the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

Learn more

DAPAANZ - Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand

The Addiction Practitioner Pathway in the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) is accredited by the Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ). Graduates are eligible to apply for provisional registration to work in the sector as addiction practitioner.

Learner Success, Retention and Transitions Excellence Award

Massey University teaching excellence awards recognise sustained commitment to teaching and learning.

Learn more

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