Study Programme in Oral Health

The programme is delivered full-time and as a unified sequence of courses. The courses included are in the main field of oral health (145 credits), biomedicine (17.5 credits) and odontology (17.5 credits). Studies in the main field are based on oral health as part of general health and well-being, and the significance of oral health for human daily life and social interaction. The courses in the main field describe and explain oral health, the promotion of good oral health and the prevention of the most common oral diseases from various aspects. The main field of oral health is based on knowledge from science and the social and behavioural sciences and serves as a foundation for professional expertise in dental hygiene. This knowledge is based on the situation of the individual, taking into account the responsibility of the individual for oral health and the interaction between the individual and the professional dental care team. Studies in oral health are conducted from the perspectives of both the individual and the general population. At Kristianstad University, students are admitted to a study programme in oral health comprising 180 credits which, compared with the 120 credits required for the Higher Education Diploma in Dental Hygiene, provides more room for theoretical and clinical studies. Students obtain a higher education degree after completing 180 credits of which at least 90 credits provide gradual specialisation in the main field of oral health, including an independent degree project. The programme provides close links between theoretical and clinical studies. The preclinical studies (12.5 credits) are designed to prepare students for the clinical training which mainly takes place at the dental care clinic at Kristianstad University, but also at dental care clinics in the local area. The clinical training is a learning process at a workplace where students develop professional knowledge, skills and abilities based on a scholarly approach. This means that education, professional practice and research are integrated in accordance with Kristianstad University’s model for clinical training. The approach to teaching on the programme is based on students actively and independently discerning and formulating problems, focusing on the students’ ability to take responsibility for their education and personal development. The forms of teaching and assessment aim to strengthen the students’ development and ability to assess knowledge, solve problems, and reflect. Teaching is research-based and aims to promote a scholarly approach. All courses includes elements of ethics, professional approaches, information literacy and scholarly development, and sustainable development is taken into account throughout the programme. Each course has a course syllabus that specifies the intended learning outcomes, course content, required reading and specific admission requirements. Some courses or course components may be taught in English. The assessment of professional skills is made through the national clinical assessment for the higher education diploma in dental hygiene. Courses Year 1 Basic Oral Health, 18 credits Basic Biomedicine, 6.5 credits Health Communication in Oral Health, 5.5 credits Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Health I, 13 credits Odontology and Biomedicine, 10 credits Applied Clinical Oral Health – Adult Patients with Low Treatment Needs, 7 credits Year 2 Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Health II, 8.5 credits Odontology, 5.5 credits Applied Clinical Oral Health – Adult Patients, 8.5 credits Biomedicine and Oral Health with a Focus on Ageing, 7.5 credits Odontology Focusing on Children, 7.5 credits Oral Health Promotion for Individuals, Groups and Society, 7.5 credits Applied Clinical Oral Health – Paediatric Patients, 7.5 credits Scientific Methodology with a Focus on the Degree Project in Oral Health, 7.5 credits Year 3 Applied Clinical Oral Health I, 7.5 credits Prevention and Treatment of Oral Health Focusing on Patients with Special Needs, 15 credits Oral Health Focusing on Scientific Methodology, 7.5 credits Applied Clinical Oral Health II, 8.5 credits Clinical Practice, 6.5 credits Degree Project in Oral Health, 15 credits