Personal Interest Courses
South Pacific College of Natural Medicine offers a limited number of Personal Interest courses for those who are interested in learning more about natural medicine. Personal Interest courses may be suitable for those who have not studied for some time, and who may like to study at an advanced level before committing to enrolling in a 3 – 5-year degree programme. We also offer a NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (highly recommended for those who have never studied at tertiary level). Students of Personal Interest courses are in the same classes, and study the same course content, as degree students.
If a student would prefer, they can choose (at the start of their study) to attend classes or access course material online without completing any of the assessments.
If a student has chosen to study with assessments, all Bachelor of Natural Medicine assessments and attendance requirements will apply.
On occasion, our admissions sub-committee may suggest to prospective students that Personal Interest courses may be a better option than applying to enrol in the degree programme. This allows the student an opportunity to experience studying with SPCNM, as outlined above. It also allows academic staff to gauge the student’s academic ability and engagement.
Some students who have taken Personal Interest courses (with assessments), and who have met all entry criteria, have gone on to apply for and/or be accepted into the Bachelor of Natural Medicine.
Enrolment in a Personal Interest course does not guarantee entry into the Bachelor of Natural Medicine. If accepted into the degree programme, students will be eligible for Credit Recognition Transfer for successfully completed Personal Interest courses, if assessment and attendance requirements have been met. (This is part of the application process for the BNatMed.)
The following courses are offered as Personal interest courses, subject to student numbers. Normally, only one course per semester may be taken.
Please note: Personal Interest students are self-funding only, and are not eligible for Studylink or Fees-free assistance.
Semester 1 (February – June)
- Foundations of Research (Level 5) For students hoping to apply for the degree programme, it is recommended that you start with Foundations of Research
- Principles & Philosophy of Natural Medicine (Level 5) NB: For students taking assessments, PPNM requires you to complete fully referenced essays, so students need a background in tertiary study (at Level 4 or higher)
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 (Level 5)
- Herbal Medicine 1 (Level 5)
Semester 2 (July – December)
For previous PI students:
- Herbal Medicine 2 (Level 5) NB: As this course builds on previous concepts you need to complete Herbal Medicine 1 first
For new PI students:
- Anatomy & Physiology 2 (Level 5)
- Foundations of Research (Level 5) NB: If you are studying Personal Interest with assessments (see above), you will be required to take Foundations of Research (or Biochemistry) first
- Biochemistry of Foods (Level 5)
- Rongoā Māori Healing Concepts (Level 6) NB: If you are studying Personal Interest with assessments (see above), you will be required to complete fully referenced essays, so students need a background in tertiary study (at Level 4 or higher)
Each course costs $865.00 (including GST) with an additional $95 one-off fee (including GST) for students who opt to enrol in Personal Interest courses and submit assessments.
Admission Requirements for Personal Interest Courses
Entry to this programme is open to Domestic Students only provided applicants meet requirements in reading and writing as assessed during interview.
Course Descriptions
Semester 1 (February – June)
Anatomy & Physiology 1 (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives:
This course, the first of two in Anatomy and Physiology, is about the structure and function of the human body. After learning the basics of the cell and tissue types, the focus will move to body systems: the integumentary (the skin), muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems, and special senses.
Learning Outcomes
- Explores basic anatomical and directional terminology
- Explains homeostatic principles and processes
- Describes fundamental concepts and principles of cell biology and histology
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the integumentary system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the skeletal system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the muscular system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the nervous system
Principles and Philosophy of Natural Medicine (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
This course will introduce students to the principles, philosophy, practices, and history of natural medicine. The physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of the body, concepts of holistic health, divergent belief systems of healthcare and a range of world views will be explored.
Learning Outcomes
- Explores the principles, philosophy and history of natural medicine
- Explores the theories of holistic health about physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness
- Discusses natural medicine practice in the context of the New Zealand health system
- Examines contentious topics that may impact state of health
- Presents work to appropriate standard and demonstrates academic integrity
Foundations of Research (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
In this course, students will have opportunities to locate, analyse, and interpret information. They will learn how to present information and argue their view in a logical and coherent way and to reference correctly. They will be introduced to research, its constraints and dilemmas and will learn the critical skills needed to become research consumers.
Learning Outcomes
- Develops study skills and academic writing
- Develops skills in information retrieval
- Identifies hierarchies of evidence, constraints and dilemmas of healthcare research and implications for practice
- Analyses research publications
- Explores ethical issues in research
- Presents work to appropriate standard and demonstrates academic integrity
Herbal Medicine 1 (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
In this course students explore the principles and the goals of Herbal Medicine. They will learn the practical skills of plant identification, cultivation, harvesting and manufacturing, as well as studying a range of herbs, their actions, dosage and contraindications, and safe application in clinical practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Understands the principles and goals of herbal medicine to support the body’s healing processes
- Demonstrates a knowledge of how to grow, harvest, process and appropriately store plant material for the manufacture of medicines
- Identifies a range of herbs, their main medicinal actions, contraindications, dosage and safe prescribing
- Explores the energetics and traditional use of herbal medicine
- Demonstrates good safety practices in a range of simple herbal manufacturing processes
- Presents work to appropriate standard and demonstrates academic integrity
Semester 2 (July – December)
Anatomy & Physiology 2 (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
This course, the second of two in Anatomy and Physiology, focuses on the structure and function of the digestive, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, renal, reproductive systems, and human development.
Learning Outcomes
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the digestive system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the endocrine system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the cardiovascular system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the lymphatic and immune systems
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the respiratory system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the urinary system
- Explains the structure, functions and homeostatic mechanisms of the male and female reproductive systems
Herbal Medicine 2 (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
In this course students will continue to learn the practical skills of plant identification, cultivation, harvesting, processing and manufacturing as well as studying a range of herbs, historical use, current research, their actions, dosage and contraindications, and safe application in clinical practice. New Zealand native herbs and their traditional and modern applications will be studied.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrates knowledge of how to grow, harvest, process and appropriately store plant material for the manufacture of medicines
- Identifies a range of herbs, their medicinal actions, their contraindications, dosage and safe prescribing
- Identifies the levels of evidence for the current use of herbal medicine
- Explores the energetics and traditional use of herbal medicine
- Demonstrates good safety practices in a range of simple herbal manufacturing processes
- Presents work to appropriate standard and demonstrates academic integrity
Rongoā Māori Healing Concepts (Level 6, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (either on-campus or on-line). As a level 6 course, students are expected to engage in an additional hour and a half of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
This course explores Māori healing concepts as they were applied pre- and post-colonisation. It reviews contemporary practice and considers the future potential of Rongoā Māori.
Learning Outcomes
- Explores a Māori worldview in relation to Māori healing practices
- Analyses the impact associated with the loss of Māori healing knowledge and experience
- Explores current Māori healing practices in New Zealand
- Presents work to an appropriate standard and demonstrate academic integrity
Biochemistry of Foods (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
In this course students will have an opportunity to learn the structure, function, biological properties, food sources and health benefits of the macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins and lipids and their associated sub-groups. The major biochemical pathways of macronutrients will be explored.
Learning Outcomes
- Develops knowledge and understanding of macronutrients
- Develops an understanding of the relationship of the macronutrients to nutrition
- Describes the biochemical pathways of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids at cellular level in the body
- Presents work to appropriate standard and demonstrates academic integrity
Foundations of Research (Level 5, 15 credits)
Four hours of course work per week (on-campus or on-line). As a level 5 course, for every hour of course time students are expected to engage in an additional hour of self-directed learning. Further time commitment may be needed at times of assessment.
Course Objectives
In this course, students will have opportunities to locate, analyse, and interpret information. They will learn how to present information and argue their view in a logical and coherent way and to reference correctly. They will be introduced to research, its constraints and dilemmas and will learn the critical skills needed to become research consumers.
Learning Outcomes
- Develops study skills and academic writing
- Develops skills in information retrieval
- Identifies hierarchies of evidence, constraints and dilemmas of healthcare research and implications for practice
- Analyses research publications
- Explores ethical issues in research
- Presents work to appropriate standard and demonstrates academic integrity
