Studieprogram

A candidate who has completed the education is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge:

Has a detailed knowledge of determinants in public health, including factors that promote health and prevent disease. Emphasis is placed on social, cultural, societal and socio-economic factors as well as on physical characteristics and environmental factors.

Has a detailed knowledge of public health related philosophy of scientific and methodologies, including epidemiological and geographical information systems.

Skills:

Can apply their knowledge to identify, assess the relevance of, and advocate for health promotion and prevention interventions, both locally and nationally, for different population groups, and in a multidisciplinary and cross-sectorial perspective

With theory, models and empirical data as a base, apply analytical tools and conduct evaluations in practical public health work in partnership with relevant stakeholders.

Can analyse and think critically about information sources and scientific literature at the dissemination of the subject area.

Can plan and conduct research and development projects in health promotion under the guidance and in coordination with the concerned parties.

Can identify and pose different ethical issues in public health.
Can engage in creative processes and innovation.

Competence:

Can show independence in implementing practical and theoretical problem solving processes.

Shall be able to apply their professional knowledge and skills on new areas to perform advanced tasks and independent research projects.

Shall be able to communicate scientific issues, master teamwork and collaboration across disciplines.

Shall be able to implement major independent work and communicate these in academic forums.

The master program consists of common courses the first year while the students specialize at the end of the first year and in the second year. The students have a common core of 50 ECTS that consist of the following: FHV315 Philosophy of science and Research methods (15 credits). The subjects will have a profile related to social and health sciences and give an introduction to both qualitative and quantitative research methods. It is not granted exemption from these courses on the basis of Examen Philosophicum and/or Examen Facultatatum. FHV330 Public health science (15 credits) aims to give the students fundamentals of public health science. Common modules in the master program will be introduced: national and local frames for public health work, social inclusion and physical activity, social unequally in health, the human being in relation the physical, social and cultural environment, and tools in public health work and processing skills. FHV320 Epidemiology and geographical Information systems (15 credits) provides an introduction to epidemiological issues and methods. Geographical information systems (GIS) area tools for spatial evaluation of factors that might restrict or promote health. FHV353 Projet planning course.

In addition to the common compulsory courses listed above, at least 25 credits are to be selected from the following list:

FMI312 Environmental exposures and human health (10 ECTS)

This course provides an introduction to the relationship between the major biological, chemical and physical environmental factors and human health both on a local and global perspective. Possible effects of contaminants in air and water, exposure to harmful environmental factors in the workplace, pollutions in food and industrial emissions will be discussed.

FMI313 The human and the environment (10 ECTS)

This course provides an introduction to physical and psychosocial factors relevant for health promotion and prevention locally and centrally. Physical factors include transport and communication problems, water supply, sewerage and sanitation. The course also presents the relevant frameworks, guidelines and appropriate analyzing tools.

FHV300: Occupational science ¿ Health promoting experiences and activity (10 ECTS)

This course provides an introduction to the activity phenomena, based on theories from occupational science, and activities related to health and quality of life. The course includes factors affecting activity, whether cultural, social, physical, at a structural or individual level.

FHV310 Occupational science ¿ Intervention competence (10 ECTS)

The course develops competence in planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions based on health promoting activity. This includes project work based on real projects on assignment by local organizations.

APL240 Environment and planning, part 1 (5 ECTS)

The course provides an introduction to planning as a central tool in public health work. This includes both the planning system and the framework for planning, including various levels of government, stakeholders and processes. There will be an emphasis on the importance of land use and through specific examples of planning processes issues related to health, recreation, landscape, biodiversity, and climate change will be discussed.

APL241 Environment and planning part 2 (5 ECTS)

This course is a continuation of APL240. The student should be able to participate in academic discussions related to the content of this course. The student will also write an essay on a topic of choice, related to the field of environment and planning. The student will develop skills in different writing genres within public planning.

AOS330 Organization theory (5 ECTS)

After completing the course the students will have acquired understanding of the development of organization theories and its division into three main categories of perspectives on organizations. They should be able to apply several theoretical perspectives on key organizational issues and assess the limitations of each perspective. Students will be better prepared to take other courses within the master's program in business administration.

AOS331 Management and HRM (10 ECTS)

The aim of the course is to provide insight into studies of modern organisations and leadership. It gives a broad theoretical overview of the field, with a specific purpose of applying theory as a tool for analysis and understanding. Further, a learning objective is to train the students in defining, analysing and discussing central problems related to the management and leadership in organisations.

FHV340 Patient safety and infection control (10 ECTS)

This course provides an introduction to patient safety and infection control, including the evolution of patient safety and the nature and scale of harm to patients. The emphasis is on understanding how things go wrong and how to improve healthcare processes and systems. It uses theories about safety by design and how this can prevent injuries and healthcare-associated infections. How people actively create safety as they work, is also an important theme. In addition to introduction to theories and knowledge of patient safety work, the course provides an introduction to infection control in health care institutions, and will emphasize how this can be seen in the context of a general patient safety thinking. Infection epidemiology and how to register patient injuries and healthcare-associated infections will be included.

Any combination of these topics is allowed. Note, however, that the course FHV310 has FHV300 as a required prerequisite and that APL241 has APl240 as required prerequisite. MSLV4400 is offered by HiOA.

Examples of subject combinations - The following combinations of courses are recommended:

Environment and health:

Environmental Exposures and Human Health - FMI312 (10 ECTS)

The Human and the Environment - FMI313 (10 ECTS)

Organization theory - AOS330 (5 ECTS)

Health promoting experiences and activities:

Occupational Science - Health Promoting Activity - FHV300 (10 ECTS)

Occupational Science - Expertise in Interventions - FHV310 (10 ECTS)

Environment and Planning, Part 1 - APL240 (5 ECTS)

Please notify that with this combination, the students are advised to choose the course FHV370 Occupational science ¿ local and global perspectives (exchange course) as 10 of the 15 freely chosen ECTS.

Health and planning:

Environment and Planning, Part 1 - APL240 (5 ECTS)

Environment and Planning, Part 2 - APL241 (5 ECTS)

Organization theory - AOS330 (5 ECTS)

Management and HRM - AOS331 (10 ECTS)

Or

Environment and Planning, Part 1 - APL240 (5 ECTS)

Environment and Planning, Part 2 - APL241 (5 ECTS)

And one of the following courses: FMI312, FMI313, FHV300

Please mark that if the student choses the latter combination, the he or she will have to spend five out of the 15 freely chosen ECTS. This means that the student may only chose 10 ECTS from outside their grade.

Patient safety and infection control:
The Human and the Environment - FMI313 (10 ECTS)

Patient safety and infection control ¿ FHV340 (10 ECTS)

Either Organization theory ¿ AOS330 (5 ECTS) or

Environment and planning, Part 1 ¿ APL240 (5 ECTS)

The master thesis project of 30 credits is supported by a 5 credits subject (FHV353) on developing a project plan for the thesis. Both FHV353 and the master thesis are mandatory.

Totally 15 credits are optional. Up to 10 of these 15 credits may be at the 100-level. Students can choose from the following courses at the 100-level: APL102, JUS100, HFE100 and STAT100. The 15 optional credits may otherwise be chosen among 200- and 300¿level courses at NMBU, HiOA or another institution.

Part-time students can choose from two possible ways to complete their degree. Either start with Philosophy of science and Research methods (MAFOLK4100 and MAFOLK4000), or start with Public health science (FHV330).