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Public Health, Exercise, and Nutrition | Master

Headerbild für Public Health, Exercise and Nutrition mit Gewichte, einen Salat und ein Notizbuch
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Healthy eating and physical activity are core elements of healthy development, in maintaining health and preventing disease, both at the individual and population level. The interdisciplinary, research-oriented master’s degree program in “Public Health, Exercise, and Nutrition” (PEN) provides students with in-depth specialist and methodology knowledge in the fields of health, exercise and nutrition sciences. Students receive interdisciplinary scientific training and are enabled to conduct independent empirical research. This gives them access to subsequent doctoral studies, research activities at universities and non-university institutions, and advisory activities for public authorities and associations.

THE PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
NamePublic Health, Exercise, and Nutrition (PEN)
DegreeMaster of Science
Standard period of study4 semesters
Credit points120
Language of instructionEnglish
Start of study (1st semester)Winter semester
CampusGolm, Am Neuen Palais, Potsdam-Rehbrücke
Fees & ChargesSemester fees and charges: yes
Tuition fees: no

Program Content

Healthy eating and physical activity are key lifestyle factors that impact health across the lifespan. They are the corner stones of healthy development, health maintenance and disease prevention and thus key factors in the prevention of non-communicable, lifestyle-related diseases - both at the individual and population level. Diet and exercise have an impact on body composition, the musculoskeletal system, physical and cognitive performance, mental health, metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. In 2002, the WHO called to take action against the global burden of the leading risk factors - tobacco consumption, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise - in a combined set of actions in health sciences, prevention and treatment.

The Master´s degree program addresses key epidemiological, psychological, behavioral and public health aspects of health and well-being. With its interdisciplinary focus on lifestyle-related, physical and mental illnesses as well as diseases that are becoming particularly relevant for an ageing population, it addresses demographic change and its consequences. Thanks to its research-oriented profile, the Master's degree program can strengthen interprofessional health research, for instance by contributing to the development of new medical care models and the scientific justification and validation of mechanisms that can be used to implement preventive strategies, optimize medical treatment and focus rehabilitation.

Program Objective and Future Career Options

In particular, the master’s degree program qualifies graduates for research activities in the fields of health, exercise and nutrition sciences in university and non-university institutions as well as in various branches of industry. Other possible fields of activity and occupations are upper management tasks in the areas of health promotion, health counseling, and prevention, ranging from the sports sector, consumer organizations, associations, health insurance companies, professional societies or ministries, clinics and rehabilitation facilities to humanitarian aid.

Prerequisites for Admission to the Program

In general, the prerequisite for master’s studies is a first academic degree qualifying for a profession, such as a bachelor’s degree, in a subject that is relevant to the master’s program and with a scope of at least 180 credit points. A subject is considered relevant to the master’s degree program if it fulfills the central subject-specific requirements for the master’s degree program in Public Health, Exercise and Nutrition, e.g. in the area of health, exercise and nutrition science or medicine.

Applicants must provide proof of English language skills that correspond at least to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

You can read more about the subject-specific admission requirements in the respective Admission Regulations.

Program Structure

In the four-semester master’s program, you earn a total of 120 credit points, consisting of the modules listed below and your master’s thesis.

For additional information, please consult the subject-specific degree regulations or the Departmental Advisory Office.

COURSE CONTENT AND CREDIT POINTS

Modules

Credit points

Mandatory modules (Foundations)30 CP
Society and Health: Basics and Methods6 CP
Public Health: Basics and Methods8 CP
Exercise Science: Basics and Methods8 CP
Nutrition Science: Basics and Methods8 CP
Compulsory modules (Specialization)30 CP
Society and Health: Applied Methods and Advanced Analysis6 CP
Public Health: Applied Methods and Advanced Analysis8 CP
Exercise Science: Applied Methods and Advanced Analysis8 CP
Nutrition Science: Applied Methods and Advanced Analysis8 CP
Elective modules
Students must successfully complete two elective modules worth 15 CPs each.
30 CP
Society and Health: Research Internship15 CP
Public Health: Research Internship15 CP
Exercise Science: Research Internship15 CP
Nutrition Science: Research Internship15 CP
Master's thesis30 CP
Total120 CP

Contact

Dr. Andrea Block | Departmental Advising

 

Am Neuen Palais
Building 12, Room 1.26

Advantages at a Glance

The University of Potsdam takes into account the actual living conditions of its students and has introduced the possibility of part-time study for many degree programs. This also applies to the master’s degree program in Public Health, Exercise, and Nutrition.

Application and Enrollment

Have you decided to study the master’s degree program in Public Health, Exercise, and Nutrition at the University of Potsdam? Then you should take the next step and get more information about the current application and enrollment procedures on the application websites.

Contact

Dr. Andrea Block | Departmental Advising

 

Am Neuen Palais
Building 12, Room 1.26

This description is based in part on information from the subject-specific regulations for a master’s degree in Public Health, Excercise, and Nutrition at the Faculty of Health Sciences, a joint faculty of the University of Potsdam, the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg dated December 19, 2023 (AmBek No. 18/24, p. 752).