Master of Health Practice specialisation in Addiction Studies - Taught 180

Skip to Main Content

Addiction Studies is a new specialisation under the Master of Health Sciences. It’s designed for students and professionals interested in the conceptualisation, treatment and prevention of addictive behaviours.
This specialisation is designed to equip graduates, health professionals, clinicians and others already working in the addiction field with the skills and knowledge to grow within that area.
This subject includes the biopsychosocial aspects of addictive behaviours, the historical, political, economic and social factors that affect addictive behaviours, evidence based models of intervention for addiction disorders and the development, implementation and evaluation of policy for addictive behaviours.
Students are also given the opportunity to develop practical skills in addiction research.

For more information, please contact:
Dr David Newcombe
Head of Department
Email: d.newcombe@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (0) 9 923 6557

Postgraduate study in Addiction Studies
In this specialisation, you study topics such as:
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Studies
- Theory and Skills in Counselling Practice
- Assessment and Intervention with Addiction
- Coexisting Problems: Theories and Principles
- Biology of Addiction
- Loss, Grief and Bereavement
- Primary Mental Health
Develop your skills and knowledge with an advanced postgraduate qualification for health professionals who are moving into leadership roles in this area.

Graduates of this programme are expected to be in demand from a variety of employers, including Community Alcohol and Drug Services and mental health services delivered through DHBs as well as a number of NGOs that deliver addiction programmes.
Completion of the programme will enable graduates to achieve accreditation with DAPAANZ (Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa – New Zealand).

Complete 180 points comprising:

180 points for Dissertation Option

Dissertation Option

Complete 180 points comprising:

60 points for all Compulsory Courses, and
15 points from Group 1 Elective Courses, and
30 points from Group 2 Elective Courses, and
15 points from Group 3 Elective Courses, and
Either:
60 points for all Dissertation - 1 Semester, or
60 points for all Dissertation - 2 Semesters

Compulsory Courses

Complete 60 points for ALL of the following:

POPLHLTH 737 - Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Studies (15 points)

POPLPRAC 707 - Theory and Skills in Counselling Practice (15 points)

POPLPRAC 708A - Assessment and Intervention with Addiction (15 points)

POPLPRAC 708B - Assessment and Intervention with Addiction (15 points)

Group 1 Elective Courses

Complete exactly 15 points from the following:

POPLHLTH 701 - Research Methods in Health (15 points)

POPLHLTH 704 - Undertaking Qualitative Health Research (15 points)

POPLHLTH 705 - Health Programme Evaluation (15 points)

POPLHLTH 767 - Health Services Research Methods (15 points)

Group 2 Elective Courses

Complete exactly 30 points from the following:

POPLHLTH 738 - Biology of Addiction (15 points)

POPLHLTH 768 - Special Studies in Addiction and Mental Health (15 points)

POPLHLTH 774 - Addictive Consumptions and Public Health (15 points)

POPLPRAC 712 - Project Planning for Lifestyle Change (15 points)

POPLPRAC 765 - Coexisting Problems: Theory and Principles - Level 9 (15 points)

Group 3 Elective Courses

Complete exactly 15 points from the following:

HLTHMGT 721 - Health Management (15 points)

MAORIHTH 701 - Foundations of Māori Health (15 points)

PAEDS 712 - Youth Health Clinical Skills (15 points)

POPLHLTH 722 - Organisation of Health Systems (15 points)

POPLHLTH 738 - Biology of Addiction (15 points)

POPLHLTH 739 - Pacific Health (15 points)

POPLHLTH 766 - Special Topic (15 points)

POPLHLTH 768 - Special Studies in Addiction and Mental Health (15 points)

POPLHLTH 774 - Addictive Consumptions and Public Health (15 points)

POPLPRAC 702 - Adult Mental Health and CBT Skills for Primary Care (15 points)

POPLPRAC 712 - Project Planning for Lifestyle Change (15 points)

POPLPRAC 765 - Coexisting Problems: Theory and Principles - Level 9 (15 points)

Dissertation - 1 Semester

Complete 60 points for ALL of the following:

POPLHLTH 790 - Dissertation - Level 9 (60 points)

Dissertation - 2 Semesters

Complete 60 points for ALL of the following:

POPLHLTH 790A - Dissertation - Level 9 (30 points)

POPLHLTH 790B - Dissertation - Level 9 (30 points)