Bachelor's Programme in Public Health Work

Study programme code BACFHA

ECTS credits 180

Admission requirements General requirements for admission to universities and colleges in Norway

General description and profile of the programme The programme's objective is to provide candidates with knowledge, skills and attitudes with regard to public health, and to create growth and development within public health work. The programme is based on a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of health and focuses on health-promoting initiatives, physical activity, nutrition and health education. The study programme is based on the Faculty's own definition of public health: -The term public health means working for the prevention of disease and injury, promoting people´s health and improving health services, including conducting research within these areas. As stated in NoU 1998/18, ch. 3.9.4: Public health work is society's total contribution for maintaining, improving and promoting public health. Within this area lies the necessity of strengthening values which give the individual and groups opportunities for responsibility, participation, solidarity, mastering and having control over their own lives and life situations. The study programme is based on health as human capital. Public health is therefore an important foundation for sustainable development. There are many factors that figure into health. Interaction between physical and mental health, environment, nutrition, physical activity and health services, are all components of a whole entity. The programme focuses both on factors that promote health in the individual and on prevention of risk factors that can lead to injuries. Elective subjects: IDR117 Fitness training and Counselling or TLF113 Entrepreneurship in Adventure and Lifestyle or ERN104 Nutrition and Health 2 The specialisation in Public Health Work contains the courses in the 1st, 2nd and 5th semester. The students can choose other variations of Ex-Fac which are more relevant for the focus of their bachelor´s thesis in HEL202. Comprehensive courses are taught in the second year. Students who choose the one-year programme in Nutrition, Food and Culture will have 10 credits overlap, and must choose a second relevant 10-credit course during the third semester.

Learning outcomes After having completed the study programme, the students will have gained an understanding of the significance of health for societal development. They will have acquired a broad and comprehensive level of expertise in order to be able to participate in societal planning and working with public health in various arenas on an individual, group and societal basis. Interaction between individuals and society is emphasised.

Teaching methods Various instructional methods will be used: lectures; group work; seminars; visiting practice and projects/assignments. Language of instruction: Norwegian

Assessment methods Varied assessment methods will be used: written or oral examinations, individual or in groups; reflection notes; at-home examinations and combinations of several assessment methods like portfolio. Some courses may be net-based (e.g. IDR116).

Student exchange Arrangements are made for international exchange. The faculty is internationally engaged through the EU-programmes Nordplus and Erasmus, and elsewhere in Europe and also Australia. Please refer to the faculty´s web-pages and to the International Department for further information.

Requirements for continuing in the study programme In order to start the second and third academic years, at least 40 credits taken the previous academic year must be passed. In order to start the third academic year, all the courses in the first academic year must be passed.

Occupational profiles of graduates and access to further studies Societal development creates complex health-related challenges. This leads to a great need for public health expertise. Because public health is of great significance and will most likely in the future have even greater significance, there will be good career opportunities for candidates possessing expertise in this field. The completed study programme qualifies graduates for work within public health in various arenas: in institutions, schools, as project managers and co-workers in public and private enterprise, in corporate health services, HMS work, educational centres, volunteer organisations, international public health work, etc., and as training and/or diet coaches. The programme qualifies for master studies in Nutrition, Health and Environmental Sciences at Akershus University College. Master studies in Public Health Work are available at several institutions in the Nordic countries. Master studies should be planned at an early stage during the bachelor studies, in order to fulfil the admission requirements through the choice of elective subjects.

Qualification awarded Bachelor's Degree in Public Health Work

Other information ECTS departmental co-ordinator Coordinator Nina C. Øverby (nina.c.overby@uia.no)