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Course plan for

Bachelor's Programme in Public Health

Admission requirements

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

General description and profile of the programme

The bachelor's programme in public health work consists of a two-year integrated programme in public health work and a one-year minor. The programme provides a broad introduction to public health concepts and values, public health challenges, health communication, practice in public health work, living habits and health behaviour as well as planning and project work. Other topics include community nutrition, scientific methodology and physical activity and health. The programme is based on a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of health and focuses on the fact that the foundation for good health is primarily laid outside the health service. After completing the programme, students should have broad knowledge of how health is distributed in the population and which factors help to facilitate good health behaviour in society. Furthermore, the students will have insight into systematic public health work related to planning and project work. The students will have competence in various measures to promote physical activity, a healthy diet and good mental health at group and arena level, as well as knowledge of related factors at individual and societal level. The students will have acquired competence in communication and motivation to change health behaviour, and experience with public health work through practical studies.

Programme Structure
1. sem HEL100-2 Public Health - Definitions and Ethical Principles 10 sp ERN137-1 Introduction to community-oriented nutrition work 10 sp HEL102-2 Public health challenges 10 sp
2. sem HEL103-1 Planning and Project Work 10 sp IDR116-1 Foundations of Physical Education 10 sp HEL104-1 Health Communication 10 sp
3. sem Minor starts autumn 2025
4. sem
5. sem ME-200-1 Introduction to Scientific Method and Statistics 10 sp HEL203-1 Public Health work in practice 10 sp IDR206-1 Physical Activity and Health 10 sp
6. sem HEL206-1 Levevaner og helseatferd på individ-, gruppe- og befolkningsnivå 15 sp HEL207-1 Bachelor's Thesis in Public Health Work 15 sp
Second year of study: Other minors than those listed above may be approved by the faculty upon application. Students can also apply to go on exchange for either one or both semesters at one of the faculty's partner institutions abroad.

Learning outcomes

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

Knowledge

  • have knowledge of what a systematic and knowledge-based public health work entails
  • have knowledge of public health challenges in a historical and societal perspective in general and in relation to different target groups in particular
  • have broad knowledge of factors that affect public health in general and lifestyle in particular
  • have knowledge of different arenas for public health work
  • have knowledge of public health work as a professional and cross-sectoral field
  • have knowledge of how the principles of public health in general, and people's lifestyle in particular, are laid politically
  • have knowledge of research and development work within public health work

Skills

  • be able to guide others to change behavior through motivation and experience of coping
  • be able to define, plan and implement health-promoting projects through emphasis on diet, physical activity and mental health, individually and as a participant in a group
  • be able to use different tools in the work on a health-promoting lifestyle among individuals and groups
  • be able to apply professional knowledge in professional discussions and development work
  • be able to apply central concepts related to public health and follow up guidelines in public documents to make justified choices in practical public health work, and thus promote the population's health at the individual and group level

General competence

  • have insight into professional and ethical issues in public health
  • be able to reflect on their own role in professional guidance and communication
  • be able to update on research-based knowledge within the field
  • be familiar with innovation and innovation processes in public health work
  • have knowledge, skills and general competence in line with the chosen minor subject

The curriculum is based on the national core competence areas for the bachelor's programme which deals with public health work, and the applicable laws and guidelines as relevant white papers from "Stortinget".

Teaching and learning methods

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 further practice, seminar groups, work in computer laboratory, laboratory teaching, practical field-based teaching and dialogue-based teaching. Some topics are mainly digitally based. Forms of teaching and learning may vary with the chosen minor and during exchange.

Compulsory attendance requirement in several of the courses. The semester plan in the respective courses will indicate which hours and assignments are required. Otherwise, it is referred to the university's "Guidelines for compulsory education".

Assessment methods

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

See also assessment methods for the elective minor.

Internationalization

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. Abroad travel also provides an additional dimension in the form of meetings with other languages ​​and cultures in a professional 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. Reference is also made to the faculty's website and the International Education 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.

Requirements for continuing in the study programme

The entire first year of the study programme must be passed in order to continue to the third year.

Occupational profiles of graduates and access to further studies

The programme will qualify for work with public health, prevention and health promotion within the public, voluntary and private sectors. These may be positions in various professional sectors at local and regional levels in the public sector. Depending on the minor chosen, the bachelor's degree may qualify for positions for example in the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration, health promotion work, sports and outdoor life organizations, and starting your own business. The programme qualifies for admission to a master's degree in public health science at the University of Agder, other master's degrees at the University of Agder given certain academic combinations and master's degrees at other colleges and universities.

Qualification awarded

Bachelor i folkehelsearbeid (Bachelor of Science in Public Health Work)

Student evaluations

Study programme evaluation is conducted annually in the programme committee in accordance with the Quality System, section 4.2. Before the meeting of the study programme committee, the student representative may obtain suggestions and ideas from fellow students.

Fees

For minors that include nutritional topics with practical cooking, dietary allowance must be expected. Students must also wear appropriate work clothes in relation to hygienic requirements during practical cooking.

Choose year:

Credits

180

Scope

Full time

Campus

Kristiansand 

Faculty

Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences