Master's Programme in Public Health Science

Students are admitted once a year with the study commencing in the fall semester. Requirements for admission include possession of a Bachelor's Degree (180 credits) or equivalent in public health work, authorised social education, nursing, physical education and sport, or nutrition. Applicants with other education at college or university level may upon special consideration be accepted as students. Examples of such education are candidates with degree in medicine or candidates with bachelor's degree in social work, child welfare education, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dental hygienist.

Admission is given according to the University of Agder's regulations for admission to studies and according to regulations for admission to the master programme in Public Heath Science
(https://www.uia.no/studietilbud/hvordan-soeke-opptak/opptaksforskrifter-og-utfyllende-regler-for-opptak-til-masterprogram/lover-regler-og-forskrifter/utfyllende-regler-for-opptak-til-folkehelsevitenskap-masterprogram).

Public health science is the scientific discipline that generates and systematizes knowledge about the population's health and the factors that influence this. Health-promoting and preventative work are two main focuses in the study programme. It is also within the field of public health science to suggest measures to preserve and improve the population's health as well as equalizing social differences.

Public health work is the community's overall effort to maintain, improve and promote the population's health by strengthening factors that contribute to better health and weakening factors that entail health risks.

The master's programme has two main focuses within public health science. One is the structural public health work which deals with regulation signals in public health policies where the organization and implementation of measures to preserve and improve the population's health on a structural level is central. The second focus is public health challenges related to the areas of nutrition in society, physical activity, mental health and intoxication. In this context, emphasis is placed on epidemiology, how to map and systematise knowledge about the population's health, what influences this and how to carry out health-promoting work in these areas.

The master's programme in public health science constitutes part of the rise in competence within the public health work area both nationally and locally. It is meant to increase theoretical and research based knowledge in the field of public health sciences, and create a foundation for research and teaching within an interdisciplinary field. The students are given qualifications in critical analysis, reflection, and a research-based approach to public health. Ethics within public health work is included in the various parts of the programme.

The programme consists of several courses which are meant to give an insight into both qualitative and quantitative research tradition and methods, with special relevance to improvement work related to research, development, and quality within public health work. The master's thesis is a central part of the programme and constitutes an independent, scientific piece of work within a chosen area in public health. The different parts of the study programme are tied together in the master's thesis.

The first semester of the programme gives an introduction to scientific theory and methodology with special focus on public health science and its development, and how the basic guidelines of scientific theory have influenced studies in public health science. The students focus on structural conditions for the systematic public health work where national guidelines and framework conditions in the work to improve the population's health are central. Topics such as how we can even out social differences and social sustainability are also included in the first semester.

In the second semester, research knowledge is reinforced with a common course in scientific methods, design and dissemination of scientific knowledge. In addition, students must choose between an in-depth study of qualitative methods or quantitative methods. This semester also offers the course Public health nutrition, Physical Activity, Mental Health and Substance Abuse from a Public Health Perspective. The course deals with, among other things, how we can map, develop and implement public health measures, as well as evaluate the measures at different levels and within different groups in society. Students who have been admitted to the master's programme enter into a supervision agreement on the master's thesis with the faculty. In this semester, students can exchange to one of the faculty's partner institutions.

The third and fourth semester will be dedicated to writing the master´s thesis. Supervision is an essential component in the work on the master's thesis. It ensures the necessary knowledge for the students and entails a necessary quality assurance when collecting and processing data, and that this takes place within research ethics guidelines. Supervision of a minimum of 10 hours is therefore a compulsory part of the master's thesis.

A candidate who has completed the master's program in public health science at the University of Agder is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge within health-promoting and preventative work and can contribute to preserving and improving the population's health as well as leveling out social inequalities in health
• has in-depth knowledge of influencing factors, including factors that promote health and prevent disease
• has advanced knowledge of societal, socio-economic, psychosocial, and physical local environmental factors, as well as living conditions challenges and sustainability
• has advanced knowledge of the profession’s history, traditions, ethics, uniqueness and place in society as well as the structural and systematic public health work nationally and internationally
• can analyze professional issues and apply knowledge about public health challenges in the community related to being active, promoting mental health and nutrition in a health-promoting perspective
• has in-depth knowledge of scientific theory and methods in public health science

Skills

The candidate

• can apply strategies and methods to promote interdisciplinary collaboration
• can analyze and relate critically to various sources of information and scientific literature and use these to structure and formulate academic reasoning
• can identify and problematize ethical issues in public health work
• can use analysis tools and evaluate public health measures based on theories, models and empirical data in public health science
• can use relevant methods for research and professional development work in public health science in an independent manner
• can plan and carry out independent research and development work in public health sciences under supervision and in line with current research ethics norms in collaboration with relevant actors
• can apply their knowledge to identify and assess the relevance of health-promoting and preventive measures for different parts of the population, both locally, regionally and nationally, in an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral perspective

General competence

The candidate

• can analyze relevant issues within professional and research ethics within the field of public health
• can apply his/her knowledge and skills in public health science in new areas to carry out advanced work tasks and lead independent projects
• can convey extensive independent work related to the master's thesis in professional forums and master the public health field's forms of expression
• can communicate academic issues, masters teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration
• can contribute to new thinking and innovation within public health work

Public health challenges are international phenomena, and must be viewed in a global context. Several descriptions of learning outcomes are therefore linked to international perspectives on public health, and parts of the curriculum in the various courses therefore have an international focus and are written in English. In addition, there are several international guest lecturers in the various courses. 'Internationalization at home" is therefore an important part of the study programme.

The language of instruction is Norwegian, but some of the method courses are taught in English.

There is an opportunity for international exchange in the 2nd semester of the study. The faculty has good international partners, among other things through the programs Nordplus and Erasmus +. Reference is also made to the faculty's website and the International Office of Education for detailed information.

All first-year courses must be passed in order to have the master's thesis submitted.
Please see progression requirements in the course descriptions.

A written master project plan must be submitted during the second semester. The master's thesis cannot be started until the project plan is approved. The project plan must be in accordance with guidelines for the master's degree.

The study programme qualifies for public health work in the public and private sectors and in voluntary organizations. The opportunities the candidates have in the labour market may vary depending on which bachelor's degree they have from before. Many jobs are in the public sector, and it will be relevant to work in municipalities, county municipalities or at a state level. More specifically, this can be:

• positions within preventative and health-promoting work that require high professional competence in public health sciences such as public health adviser or public health coordinator in municipality or county municipality, project manager positions related to public health projects, supervisor positions in NAV, job centers, voluntary organizations and wellness centers.
• positions within research, professional development and management such as in government agencies (eg. the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the County Governor).
• scientific or administrative positions at universities and colleges.

The programme may qualify for admission to the doctoral programme at the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences at UiA, or at other higher education institutions.

The study programme leads to the title 'Master i folkehelsevitenskap' (Master of Science in Public Health Science)

Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences

Programme coordinator Nina C. Øverby (nina.c.overby@uia.no)