Master's programme in public health sciences: societal and individual perspectives

Please note that the programme overview differs depending on when you started the programme.

Cohorts starting 2025 or earlier

Registered students will find the programme overview on the Master's programme page in Athena.

Cohorts starting 2026 or later

Below you will find a programme overview with links to courses included in the programme for the programme starting 2026 or later.

Some courses may have special entry requirements. These are specified on the course web pages respectively.

Programme structure - from 2026 (for programme structure 2025 and earlier, please scroll down)

The programme comprises 120 credits, organised into eight subsequent blocks (A-H). It is given by Department of Public Health Sciences, which has a social science profile.

The programme includes four terms of full-time studies. The language of instruction is English.

The first block (A) presents social science perspectives on public health, focusing on the historical n evelopments of the discipline. The block ends with theory of science and a review of different ethodological approaches.

The second block (B) focuses on the distribution of (poor) health in the population with regard to occupational class, education, income, gender, and ethnicity, as well as explanations for how the social world can influence people’s physical and mental health.

The third block (C) includes two courses which focus on qualitative and quantitative methodology. These two courses are based on practical work with different types of data material (e.g. interviews, surveys, and registers) and analytical methods (e.g. thematic analysis, descriptive analysis, and analysis of associations).

The fourth block (D) builds further on the student’s knowledge and skills within theory and methodology by applying a life course approach to health from two perspectives: firstly, how early-life conditions are linked to health outcomes both in the short term and in the long term; secondly, how health, illness and Page 1 of mortality through adulthood and older years can be understood in relation to life conditions during prior stages of life.

The fifth block (E) consists of optional courses. The student is given the opportunity to read a course at the Department of Public Health Sciences, or another department or university. It is also possible to do an internship at an authority, organization or other workplace related to the field of public health.

The sixth block (F) offers the opportunity to take in-depth courses that focus on a) societal perspectives on public health, where the content relates to sociological issues around welfare systems, social and public health policy, and global health, or b) individual perspectives on public health, where the content reflects psychological issues linked to e.g. stress, sleep behaviours, as well as prevention, intervention, and health promotion.

The seventh block (G) focuses on advanced methodology within public health sciences. The student can choose between two courses on either a) quantitative methods (e.g. advanced regression analysis) or b) qualititative methods (e.g. text analysis and literature reviews).

The eighth block (H) consists of the degree project in public health sciences for master's degree.

A seminar series runs through the program, aiming to strengthen students' ability to conduct independent work in accordance with ethical and academic conventions. The seminars offer students the opportunity to identify and reflect on their own knowledge and skills development needs.