Introduction to Spatial Data Science

Spatial Data Science deals with the processing, manipulation, analysis and visualization of spatial data in a variety of forms. Spatial data are those which contain geographical coordinates enabling them to be used for spatial analysis and mapping and include, for example, images from remote sensing, coordinates collected using navigation technologies, or census information by area, among many others. Spatial data are fundamental to many geographical analyses and spatial data science draws strongly from key geographical concepts - such as Tobler’s classic 1970 law: "everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things". This course provides a practical introduction to concepts and methods in data science for the analysis of spatial data. By completing the course, you will gain an understanding of the key concepts in spatial data and their collection, how to represent the environment and the world in spatial data, and the ability to apply basic spatial analysis techniques to geographic data using open source platforms such as R, QGIS, and Python. You will develop skills such as importing, manipulating, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data particularly using algorithms in R and Python. You will also develop an awareness of the current limitations and implications of geographic technology, its future development and data stewardship (particularly bi-cultural aspects of stewardship).

15 points

Statistics 1

An introduction to the ideas, techniques and applications of statistics and probability.

15 points

STAT111, STAT112, DIGI103, DATA101

Epidemiology

This course introduces students to the measurement of health and disease in populations. Students will learn about defining and measuring health and disease. The course will cover quantitative methods to assess health and disease, including introductory epidemiology and biostatistics.

15 points

Any 60 points at 100 level from any subject.

HLTH110

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the tools for gathering, managing, analysing and presenting spatial information in an intuitive and graphical way. This course provides students with an introduction to the fundamental concepts, principles and techniques of GIS.

15 points

45 points at 100-level or above, from any degree schedule.

DIGI205 and GISC422

Health Systems and Policy

This course introduces students to the history and organisation of health services and public health, with particular relevance to New Zealand. Students will develop an understanding of the structure and function of the New Zealand health system, including the provision, planning, and funding of health services.

15 points

Any 60 points at 100 level in any subject.

Health Planning, Implementation and Evaluation

This course introduces students to the importance of planning and evaluation in the health sector. Students will become familiar with planning and evaluation tools and approaches commonly used in public health, and will learn how to ensure that plans meet current health sector needs and priorities, including how the cultural context affects the planning and delivery of public health interventions.

15 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from Health Science (HLTH or HLED).

Health, Wellbeing and Environment

Human health and wellbeing are profoundly shaped by the environments in which we live. This course examines the influence of the physical, built and social aspects of the environment on health and wellbeing. In addition to gaining increased understanding of health-environment interactions, students will develop skills in tracking environmental exposures and in presenting research findings in both written and oral formats.

15 points

30 points of Geography at 200 level; or 30 points from Science, Arts or Health Sciences, including GEOG205.

GEOG322