Public Health and Policies (DYPO)

HOU > Public Health and Policies (DYPO)

Subject – Purpose

Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Structure

Academic Supervision Committee

Financial Contribution

Contact

Subject of the programme

According to the classic definition given by Edward Winslow in 1920, public health is “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment, control of community infections, education of individuals in principles of personal hygiene, organization of medical and nursing services for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease, and the development of the social machinery to ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate to maintain health.” The World Health Organization defines public health as “the art and science of preventing diseases, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized efforts of society.” Public health concerns the health of the population as a whole, and the purpose of any society is to promote the health and well-being of its population. Today, public health faces challenges such as the impacts of economic crises, widening inequalities, an aging population, the rise of chronic diseases, migration and refugee crises, pandemics, and environmental and climatic changes. The subject of the Master’s program is the analysis of fundamental factors affecting population health, as well as policies aimed at disease prevention, protection, and promotion of population health. It investigates the effects of challenges threatening public health on a global scale, related to the contemporary epidemiological, biological, social, economic, and environmental characteristics of modern societies.

Programme Aim

The purpose of the program is to provide trainees with the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to the effective addressing of issues related to public health and to promote the health and well-being of the population. The aim of the Master’s program is to equip trainees with knowledge and skills related to Public Health tools in order to effectively address the impacts on population health from environmental and climatic changes, population aging, violent population movements, the increase and intensification of poverty, and social exclusion. Additionally, the program aims to provide trainees with the necessary knowledge for the effective implementation of policies for prevention, management, and promotion of the population’s health.

ECTS Credits Programme of Studies

The total number of credits (ECTS) required for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma of Specialisation (M.Sc.) is 120 ECTS.

Characterization of the Postgraduate Program

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Classification according to the UNESCO ISCED-2011 code

Based on the level of study: 7

Classification according to the UNESCO ISCED-2013 code

Based on education sector: 0988 − Inter-disciplinary programmes and qualifications involving health and welfare

0413 Health administration

0913 Health care programmes

0913 Health care of old people

0913 Health care of the disabled

0915 Mental health services

0921 Care of elderly and of disabled adults

0922 Child care and youth services

0923 Social work and counselling

Language of instruction

The teaching language of the programme, as well as of the Master Thesis, is Greek.

Duration of study

The minimum duration of study is two (2) academic years, i.e. four (4) academic semesters.

Quality Policy

Quality Target 2025

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

Understand the concept and role of public health and the contemporary challenges it faces.
Comprehend and recognize how environmental and climatic changes impact population health.
Understand the role of prevention and health promotion.
Design and implement policies for promoting health and citizen well-being.
Understand the role of healthcare systems, particularly Primary Health Care (PHC), in improving population health.
Comprehend the role of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing population health issues.
Address the impacts of pandemics or other emergencies (e.g., natural disasters) threatening population health.
Understand the health issues of vulnerable social groups and contribute to their resolution.

The Post-graduate programme accepts graduates or higher institution diplomas of related disciplines. The programme is offered in Greek.

The knowledge of a foreign language and good computer-Internet skills would be useful for the successful participation in the programme.

Note:

Holders of a degree or diploma of higher education means graduates of Greek Universities or Polytechnics or Higher School of Fine Arts or Higher School of Pedagogical and Technological Education or Higher Technological Educational Institutions (ATEI) or those who hold academically equivalent first cycle degrees from recognized foreign educational institutions with the degrees awarded by the Greek Higher Educational Institutions, in accordance with the provisions of article 304 of Law No. 4957/2022 (Government Gazette 141/21.07.2022, vol.)

Clarification regarding foreign academic institutions

When evaluating an application to a Postgraduate Study Programme, the University will examine whether the candidate’s institution of study is included, or is eligible to be included, in the National Registry of Recognized Foreign Higher Education Institutions, and whether the candidate’s degree is included, or is eligible to be included, in the National Registry of Degree Types Awarded by Recognized Foreign Institutions. If the degree is listed under Article 307 of Law 4957/2022, the Hellenic Open University is required to request a “Certificate of Place of Study”, which must be issued and sent directly by the foreign university. If the certificate confirms that the place of study, or any part of the studies, took place within Greek territory, the degree cannot be recognized—unless the portion of studies completed in Greece was carried out at a public Higher Education Institution or at a recognized foreign educational institution, as defined in point (b) of Article 299 of Law 4957/2022.

The MSc program in “Public Health and Policies” is structured into four (4) academic semesters, comprising thirteen (13) modules – five (5) compulsory and eight (8) elective ones – and a Master’s Dissertation (MD). The minimum duration of the program is four (4) academic semesters. The total number of required European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits for obtaining the Master’s Degree is 120 ECTS.

	1st semester	(30 ECTS)
DYPO50	Introduction to Public Health and Policies	(C¹, 10 ECTS)
DYPO51	Economics of Health Systems	(C, 10 ECTS)
DYPO52	Epidemiology and Public Health Statistics	(C, 10 ECTS)

	2nd semester	(30 ECTS)
DYPO60	Public Health promotion and prevention	(C, 10 ECTS)
DYPO61	Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Primary Health Care	(E², 10 ECTS)
DYPO62	Prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases and cancer in Primary Health Care	(E, 10 ECTS)
DYPO63	Community Nursing	(E, 10 ECTS)
DYPO64	Community Mental Health	(E, 10 ECTS)

	3rd semester	(30 ECTS)
DYPO70	Sociology of Health	(C, 10 ECTS)
DYPO71	Psycho-social approach of vulnerable populations	(E, 10 ECTS)
DYPO72	Public Health Law, Patients’ Rights and Bioethics	(E, 10 ECTS)
DYPO73	E-government and e-health	(E, 10 ECTS)
DYPO74	Health Crises Management	(E, 10 ECTS)

	4th Semester	(30 ECTS)
DYPODE	Master’s Thesis	(C, 30 ΕCTS)

	Total	120 ECTS

Notes:

C¹: Compulsory

Ε²: Elective

Guidelines on Module selection

Students may choose a minimum of one (1) Module per semester and a maximum of three (3) Modules per semester.

The selection of Modules is made according to the following structure. For instance, in the first (1st) semester, if you wish to select one (1) Module, you must compulsorily choose DYPO50. If you desire to select two (2) Modules, you must declare DYPO50 and DYPO51. If you wish to select three (3) Modules, you should select DYPO50, DYPO51, and DYPO52.

In the second (2nd) and third (3rd) semesters, the compulsory Modules, namely DYPO60 and DYPO70, are selected as a priority, followed by the declaration of Elective Modules.

During the Modules declaration process, previous semester Modules must be chosen first, followed by the subsequent semester Modules.

The completion of the Master’s Dissertation (DYPODE) requires the successful completion of nine (9) Modules.

The oral defense of the Master’s Dissertation necessitates the successful completion of all Modules within the program.

The minimum duration of studies in the Master’s program is four (4) academic semesters. To successfully complete the Master’s within four (4) academic semesters, all required Modules provided per semester (30 ECTS) must be completed, along with the Master’s Dissertation (MD).

To obtain the Master’s Degree, the successful completion of nine (9) Modules is compulsory, along with the successful completion and presentation of the Master’s Dissertation.

Academic Supervision Committee:

Chletsos Theologos – Michael, Professor of the University of Piraeus (President of the ASC)

Koukia Evmorfia, Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Anthopoulos Charalampos, Professor of the Hellenic Open University

Diakaki Christina, Associate Professor of the Hellenic Open University

Dasaklis Thomas, Assistant Professor of the Hellenic Open University

Leontopoulou Sophie, Professor of the Hellenic Open University

Coordinators

DYPO50	CHLETSOS	MICHAIL THEOLOGOS	CV
DYPO51	CHLETSOS	MICHAIL THEOLOGOS	CV
DYPO52	GELASTOPOULOU	ELENI	CV
DYPO53
DYPO60	KLEISIARIS	CHRISTOS	CV
DYPO61	BONOU	MARIA-PANAGIOTA	CV
DYPO62	TRAKADA	GEORGIA	CV
DYPO63	PESIRIDIS	THEODOROS	CV
DYPO64	LEONTOPOULOU	SOPHIA	CV
DYPO70	KADDA	ANASTASIA	CV
DYPO71
DYPO72	KYRIAKAKI	EIRINI	CV
DYPO74	ADAMOPOULOS	IOANNIS	CV