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Courses within Health Sciences

Within the field of health sciences, we offer four courses which you will find more information about below.

Please check the individual course descriptions for possible prerequisites and note at which campus/location the course is offered.

 

 

Dignity at the End of Life: Thanalogy, Ethics, and Spiritual Care

What does it mean to die with dignity in modern society? The answer is complex and invites interdisciplinary reflection on the physical, psychological, social, cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of dying — the central focus of thanatology. This intensive two-week summer school at the University of Southern Denmark introduces students to key debates in modern thanatology, with particular attention to palliative care, end-of-life decision-making, euthanasia and assisted dying, as well as questions of spiritual and existential care within modern health systems.
 
Through lectures, case-based seminars, reflective dialogue and interactive workshops, students examine ethical, legal, cultural and religious perspectives on end-of-life care, including how migration, minority experiences, social inequality and professional responsibilities shape understandings of a “good death”. Teaching is delivered by clinicians, psychologists, social scientists and chaplains from across Europe, combining empirical research with philosophical approaches.
 
The course is aimed at advanced Bachelor’s and Master’s students in the health sciences, psychology, theology, religious studies and related fields who wish to strengthen their analytical skills and engage critically with complex end-of-life dilemmas in intercultural clinical and societal contexts.

Course description | Level: Master | Offered in Odense | Offered by: Faculty of Health Science

 

 

Embodied Cognition and Cultural Practices

Cultural practices such as reading fiction, making art, and taking part in a dance performance, contribute fundamentally to human self-reflection, and connect us with our cultural heritage. Rather than supplementary activities, these practices are core to the health and well-being of both individuals and societies. The field of embodied cognitive science studies how our skilful engagement with a material environment shapes human thinking, affectivity, perception and action. Recent years have witnessed a flurry of interest in applying embodied cognition to the skills of craftspeople, artists, architects, writers, dancers and performers, investigating how engaging with these practices might be essential for human flourishing and well-being. The course aims to equip students with knowledge of core concepts in embodied cognitive science, and how these concepts are applied to empirically investigate skills for participating in cultural practices of making art, literature, theatre and performance, music and how these practices might foster well-being and thriving.

Course description | Level: Master | Offered in Odense | Offered by: Faculty of Health Science

 

 

Health and Sports Tech Academy

Health and Sports Tech Academy is an intensive two-week summer school where students from various universities explore value-creating innovation within health and sports technology.
 
The course focuses on both intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship in private, public, and NGO fields. It provides participants with practical knowledge on identifying opportunities, developing products through early prototyping, and securing resources for their ideas.
 
Participants build innovation skills in health promotion, injury prevention, rehabilitation, fitness, sports performance, and technology through user-driven design activities.
 
The course includes trend analysis to identify business opportunities and the development of sustainable solutions in a dynamic environment. Participants can bring their own case or collaborate on cases provided in the course.
 
Key focus areas include:
• Understanding needs in the health and sports sectors
• Utilizing creative techniques for idea generation
• Building prototypes and viable business models to present to a jury
 
The program is relevant to students in health and sports fields - such as physiotherapy, nursing, public health, sports coaching/training, engineering, and business - who aim for impactful careers.
 
The course offers collaboration with the startup hub Sport Lab Copenhagen and engineering capacities from the World Playground Research Institute, guiding participants through the first prototyping phase. Experts from the DRIVEN research centre, focusing on successful behaviour change, will deliver guest talks.


Course description | Level: Master | Offered in Odense | Offered by: Faculty of Health Science

 

 

Organisation and Leadership in Sport and Health Governance

This course is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the organisational and leadership challenges in various institutional contexts, with a particular emphasis on sport and health organisations, including health promotion initiatives across different settings. Students will explore key governance principles and examine leadership across four dimensions: strategy and complexity, operations and development, collaborative engagement, and personal leadership. Throughout the course, human, social, economic, and environmental sustainability is integrated as a core perspective on organisational development and responsibility. 

The course is offered in a hybrid format, meaning that all teaching takes place on campus, while selected guest lecturers may join remotely and present online. Students are expected to complete preparatory learning activities before the start of the summer school to ensure a shared foundation for the in-person teaching. In the course, students will work with real-world cases, ethical and strategic dilemmas, and simulated decision-making processes. Group-based tasks and interactive exercises enable participants to critically analyse organisational challenges and develop governance models and leadership strategies. 

Students from all faculties are encouraged to participate and strengthen their ability to apply cross-disciplinary perspectives to sport and health governance.
Course description | Level: Master | Offered in Odense | Offered by: Faculty of Health Science

 

 

Last Updated 12.05.2026