Health, Environment and Society – Bachelor Program in Public Health Sciences
180 ECTS credits
Study programme
Are you passionate about improving peoples health?
The Public Health Science program at Karlstad University provides you with tools to work for an improved and more equal health in the community. The focus is particularly on the importance of living conditions, lifestyles, the environment, and social structures.The program will give you a broad theoretic background, including epidemiology, anatomy, and project management. You will also get hands-on experience in a professional work setting.
The Public Health Science program at Karlstad University provides you with tools to work for an improved and more equal health in the community. The focus is particularly on the importance of living conditions, lifestyles, the environment, and social structures.The program will give you a broad theoretic background, including epidemiology, anatomy, and project management. You will also get hands-on experience in a professional work setting.
Education level:
Basic level
Prerequisites
General entry requirements + Mathematics 2a/2b/2c and Civics 1b/1a1/1a2 or equivalent. Optional courses may have other requirements.
Tuition fees
- Total fee: 450,000 SEK
- Per semester / First payment: 75,000 SEK
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are an exchange student or a citizen of a country within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.
While studying
Education
The degree programme consists of three years of studies. Courses are full-time with the possible exception of some optional courses. The mode of study is distance learning. There will be one mandatory on-campus meeting every semester.Students of the Health, Environment and Society programme will recieve a Degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Public Health Science. The programme is an interdisciplinary first-cycle study programme that yields broad, multifaceted knowledge about public health work. This allows the batchelor graduate to promote health and preventative actions on different levels of society.
Examination
Examination forms vary between courses and include written and oral assignments. As a rule, the examination components are written reports, group assignments, project work, and active participation in seminars.Professional Contact
The study programme is characterised by instruction with a foundation in practice, systematically in partnership with external organisations both regionally and nationally through lectures, seminars, assignments, and practical placement (VFU).Course of study
| Semester 1 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Public Health Science (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methods (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Health Promotion I (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 2 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Living habits - physiology and health (Optional) | 15 |
| Health Promotion II (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Project management and evaluation in public health work (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 3 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Health, environment and sustainable development (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Epidemiology and public health work (Obligatory) | 15 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 4 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Scientific research methods in Public Health Sciences - literature study (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Optional course (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Organisation, political governance and public health work (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Optional course (Optional) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 5 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| The importance of the environment for health and development (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Optional course (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Global Health (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Domestic violence in a public health perspective (Optional) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 6 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Public Health Science: Degree Project (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Currently under development (Optional) | 15 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
Elective course: Students are free to choose among certain alternative courses, often depending on their choice of specialisation.
Optional course: Students are free to choose any course offered at Karlstad University or at other universities. Courses listed are examples of recommended or frequently chosen courses for a specific programme.
Läsårs- och programvärderingar
Start semester Autumn 2021
Start semester Autumn 2022
Future prospects
Employment Market
A public health practitioner work to improve public health. There is a recognised need in society for people with interdisciplinary and cross-sectional understanding of public health issues and their management. A degree in public health science qualifies you to work with project management, reviewing and developing health-promoting and preventative action.A public health practitioner can work for a municipality, a region, the government, in the private sector, or for NGOs. Graduates may find themseves in professional roles such as public health coordinator, public health strategist, business developer, or public health planner.