Education Program

With the bachelor's programme in Health and Society, you deal with health from the social science angle. You will deal with questions such as: why do people exhibit healthy or unhealthy behaviour? What effects do trends such as ageing and loneliness have on healthcare?

The programme delves deeper into the psychology and sociology of social health. You will learn which strings you can pull to get people to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Or which behaviour and climate in the work environment have a positive influence on health.

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From bizarre crash diets to broccoli as the cure for cancer; nutrition in relation to health is a much discussed topic. But do you want to go in depth and discover what science says about the effect of nutrition on health? Investigate how nutrients affect cells, people and society as a whole? Then sink your teeth into the biomedical bachelor's program in Nutrition and Health.

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This BSc minor provides students with an in-depth understanding of multiple social and bio-physical environmental determinants of health, and their interaction at the individual, local and global level. The BSc minor combines expertise from health psychology, social psychology, health promotion, epidemiology and communication. Overall, the BSc minor aims to give students insight into the multiple causes of and solutions for health issues, to understand the interdependence of the causes and teach them how to address problems through health promotion actions, strategic communication and policy.

Students are challenged to analyse and contribute to developing research and action for emerging health issues at the local, national and global level. For this, diverse scientific methods will be used, such as interviewing, observation, qualitative and quantitative data analysis and analysis of current health issues, policies and lifestyle programs.

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Infectious and non-communicable diseases in humans, animals, and plants, are inherent to life on Earth. During human history, much has been achieved in the control of diseases, leading to significant advances in human health and agricultural productivity. However, new diseases continue to emerge and these are major stumbling blocks to prosperity. As such, they are an important determinant of the quality of life and a measure of inequality in the world. Lowering the disease burden should be a worldwide goal, and requires us to further improve our approach towards managing diseases.

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In the Master specialization Health & Society you will study the social and behavioural aspects of health and health promotion. Besides that, you will also look at other factors that affect health. For instance the organisation of the food system and the interaction between individuals and the physical environment.

You become a Health & Society expert by: 1) Being context-sensitive in the domains of science and health promotion, 2) Taking into account the degree to which people have (financial) means for health protection and improvement. This is based on geographical orientation, social justice, and inequalities and inequities between regions, and 3) Embedding health and health promoting activities in social life.

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> SPS Brightspace (for WUR students only)

Data are everywhere: from sensors and trackers to apps measuring the behaviour of people. The use of data science offers new opportunities in the domains of health, nutrition, lifestyle and consumer behaviour. We can use data science to better measure and understand what and how people eat. What food choices do they make? And what is the relation between lifestyle and human health? You will be able to integrate data science knowledge and skills with a sound understanding of nutrition, consumer behaviour and lifestyles, and their effects on human health. After graduation, a data scientist in Food and Health will have a solid knowledge base, as well as excellent connecting skills.

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Tourism is an ever-growing and global phenomenon. As one of the world’s largest economic sectors, its societal and environmental challenges cannot be ignored. During the two-year MSc programme Tourism, Society and Environment you critically examine the growing significance and complexity of tourism. As such you will be able to identify the problems behind tourism, but also to contribute to effective and sustainable solutions in tourism.

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