Programme description for Bachelor's Programme in Public Health (2026–2029)

On successful completion of the study programme, the students will:

Knowledge

• have knowledge of what systematic, sustainable and knowledge-based public health work entails, including key concepts, legislation and guidelines
• have knowledge of key public health challenges as well as relevant target groups and arenas for public health work
• have broad knowledge of determinants that affect the population's health and quality of life in general, and knowledge of mapping public health in the population
• have knowledge of public health management and public health work as an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral field
• have knowledge of research and development work in public health
• have knowledge of social inequality in health and measures for equalization
• have knowledge of the relationship between the environment, sustainable development, health and quality of life, including the importance of the local environment, and various social conditions

Skills

• be able to use relevant tools, communicate with and guide groups towards behavioral change
• be able to define, plan, implement and evaluate health-promoting and preventive measures and master collaboration and project work within diet, physical activity and mental health
• be able to apply professional knowledge in professional discussions and development work, orally and in writing, as well as be able to apply basic scientific methods and working methods in public health work
• be able to apply key concepts related to public health and follow up guidelines in relevant policy documents to make reasoned choices in practical public health work
• be able to critically reflect, orally and in writing, on their own practice in public health work, and adjust this under supervision

General competence

• have insight into relevant professional and ethical issues in public health, and be able to reflect on their own role in professional supervision and communication
• have the ability to critically reflect on their own professional role and exercise of this in relation to suitability in public health work
• be able to critically assess and keep abreast of research-based knowledge in the field and be able to immerse themselves in relevant public health topics based on available scientific and practical documentation
• be familiar with new thinking and innovation processes in public health work and have insight into the importance of user participation in public health work.

In addition, students should have knowledge, skills and general competence in line with the chosen breadth unit.

The curriculum is based on the national core competence areas for bachelor's programs dealing with public health work (prepared by the Norwegian Network for Education and Research in Health Promotion (https://helsefremmingsnettverket.no/), as well as applicable laws and guidelines such as the Public Health Act from 2011 and relevant white papers.

The following teaching and learning methods are used in the study programme: Lectures, group work, seminars, literature studies, supervision, excursions and work on presentation, project, semester and bachelor's assignments. The teaching and working forms are furthermore practice, seminar groups, work in the computer laboratory, laboratory teaching, practical field-based teaching and dialog-based teaching. Some course are mainly digitally based. Teaching and learning methods may vary with the chosen minor unit and during exchange.

Several courses require participation in compulsory teaching. The semester plan for each course will state which classes and assignments are compulsory. Please also refer to the university's “Guidelines for compulsory teaching”.

Written examinations, home examinations, bachelor's thesis, project work and oral examinations.

See also assessment methods for the elective minor.

It is facilitated for exchange in the third and / or fourth semester at one of the university's many collaborative institutions abroad. A stay at a foreign educational institution provides opportunities to immerse yourself in topics and topics beyond the course offerings at the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences. Stays abroad also provide an additional dimension in the form of encounters with other languages and cultures in an academic context.

The faculty is internationally involved, among others through the programs Nordplus and Erasmus and elsewhere in Europe, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. Please refer to the faculty's website and the International Office for detailed information.

The language of instruction in the programme is Norwegian.

The language of instruction during exchange depends on the chosen place of study.

Students must submit a police certificate upon admission to the programme. A note on the police certificate may result in the applicant being excluded from practical courses in the programme.

In the programme, students are continuously assessed for suitability throughout the programme. This is part of an overall assessment of the student's professional and personal suitability to work with users. It is important that you as a student are aware of and familiarise yourself with this. You can find further information about suitability assessments here: https://www.uia.no/studier/for-studenter/administrer-dine-studier/skikkethetsvurdering.html

All students at UiA are required to have their own portable computer (laptop) for use in teaching and examinations, cf. Regulations on Studies and Examinations at the University of Agder § 12d.