Health Behaviour in a Sustainable World, 7.5 credits

Passed results of the Study Programme in Psychology semesters 1-3 including 90 credits and at least 15 credits from semester 4.

After completing the course, the student should be able to

• show knowledge and understanding of factors at the community level that may influence health in individuals and groups and opportunities to to make healthy and sustainable life choices
• analyse and discuss psychological mechanisms that may prevent or promote economic, social and ecological sustainability
• apply models and concepts from behavioural science in order to explain how external factors influence health-related behaviours of individuals and groups
• define and account for some general features of how people process information and make decisions
• know and discuss a number of psychological mechanisms that influence the interaction between individuals, as well as between groups
• analyse and discuss current societal issues based on psychological theories and models
• demonstrate the ability to use psychological theories and concepts to reflect on one's own opinions and values

The course covers knowledge from cognitive psychology, social psychology, evolutionary psychology and psychology of learning, and addresses the following topics: health promotion, perception and attention, decision-making, behavioural change, group mechanisms, social influence, and prosocial behavior.

The course is based on student-activating educational models, and comprises both individual studies and joint learning in small groups (so called "interteaching"). The course focus more on student activity in the form of seminars than on traditional lectures. Lectures on a certain subject are given after the students have worked independently with the material during a seminar, and the following lecture focus specifically on the material the students find difficult. Some teaching take place interactively, via the course website/ internet platform.

Compulsory elements such as group-work and seminars, are included in the course. The course includes approximately one physical meeting per week, in addition to independent student activities via the course web and individual studies of the course material.

The course is examined according to the following:

In project groups

• written report and oral presentation of project

Individually

• written reflection task

Grading scale: Pass (G)/ Fail (U)
To pass the course, the grade Pass is required on all examination assignments.

Absence from compulsory course elements
The examiner decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up for. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered. 

Limitation in the number of examinations
Students who do not pass a regular examination are entitled to re-sit the examination on five more occasions. If the student has failed a total of six examinations/ tests, no additional examination is given. Each occasion the student participates in the same test counts as an examination.

Possibility of exception from the course syllabus' regulations on examination
If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus' regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and attitudes may not be changed, removed or reduced.

The transition rules follow KI's local guidelines.

Course evaluation takes place according to KI's local guidelines. Results and possible measures are returned to the students via course web.

The course may be given in English.