Programme description for Master's Programme in Public Health Science (2026–2028)

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 society 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 professional reasoning
• can identify and problematize ethical issues in public health work
• is able to use analytical tools and evaluate public health measures on the basis of theories, models and empirical evidence within public health sciencence
• is able to 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 science under supervision and in line with applicable research ethics standards in collaboration with relevant stakeholders
• 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
• is able to apply their knowledge and skills in public health science to new areas in order to carry out advanced tasks and lead independent projects
• is able to communicate extensive independent work related to the master's thesis in professional forums and master the public health field's forms of expression
• can communicate about academic issues, masters teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration
• can contribute to new thinking and innovation within public health work

The general admission requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent education of at least three years' duration (180 credits). The admission criteria must include a bachelor's degree in health and social sciences, social sciences or natural sciences relevant to public health.Examples of qualifying programs are: nutrition, sports science, public health work, nursing, social work, sociology, political science, child welfare, bioengineering, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, anthropology, dental hygienist, health informatics, teacher training, kindergarten teacher training, radiography, medicine, paramedicine, odontology, psychology, development studies or social planning.

Applicants with another relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent college or university education at the same level of education may, after individual assessment, be admitted as students.

If the specialization unit is part of a qualifying education, a minimum of 20 credits must be at level 2.

A weighted average grade of C or better is required. The average grade is calculated on the basis of the entire degree.

Admission is otherwise in accordance with the regulations on admission to studies and courses at the University of Agder https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2021-11-24-3370?q=uia

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 society'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 program in public health science emphasizes two thematic areas within public health science. One is the structural public health work that deals with the management signals in public health policy, where the organization and implementation of measures to maintain and improve the health of the population at a structural level is central. The second is public health challenges related to the fields of community nutrition, physical activity, mental health and substance abuse. In this context, emphasis is placed on epidemiology, how to map and systematize knowledge about the population's health, what affects it and how to carry out health promotion work in these areas.

The Master's program in Public Health Science will contribute to increasing competence in public health work both nationally and locally. The program will increase theoretical and research-based knowledge in the field of public health and lay the foundation for research and teaching in an interdisciplinary field. Through the program, students will acquire competence in critical analysis, reflection and research-based approach to public health. Ethics in public health work is included in the various parts of the program.

The program consists of several courses that will provide insight into both qualitative and quantitative research traditions and methods with particular relevance to research, development and quality improvement work in public health. The master's thesis is a central part of the program and is carried out as an independent scientific work within a chosen subject area in public health. The different parts of the program are linked together in the master's thesis.

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 program. The faculty has good international partners, among other things through the programs Nordplus and Erasmus +. Please refer to the faculty's website and the International Office for 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.

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

Students at UiA are expected to have laptops for use in learning and at examinations, cp. the Examination Regulations for the University of Agder section 12d.