In the first semester, students will gain insight into the physiological function and structure of the healthy human body and the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system. During the second semester, this knowledge is applied in order to understand how disease and disease processes manifest and present and how diseases can be prevented.

During the first year, students will also complete the specialised course “Osteopathy 1 - Lower Extremities and Critical Thinking,” which covers the body regions of the foot, ankle, calf, knee, hip and pelvis. Here, students will acquire knowledge and skills within anatomy, biomechanics, pain conditions, as well as examination and treatment methods for the aforementioned regions. The course will also provide students with an introduction to critical thinking, scientific methods, statistics and epidemiology. These subjects provide students with an introduction to knowledge-based work and help them identify their own learning and expertise needs in order to ensure lifelong learning.

Already in the first semester, students will learn skills training in preparation for the course “Osteopathy 1 - Lower Extremities and Critical Thinking” and the adjacent course “Anatomy”. This teaching will enable students to acquire skills in palpation, examination and treatment of the regions in question.

The second year builds on the knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology acquired during the first year and provides specialisation in examination and treatment methods for the back, neck, shoulders and arms. The course “Osteopathy 2 – Musculoskeletal Disorders and Introduction to Clinical Reasoning” provides students with specialised knowledge of the incidence and severity of musculoskeletal disorders. Students will learn about risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders and the factors that increase the risk of such disorders becoming chronic. During this course, students will receive an introduction to diagnostic processes and diagnostic strategies for clinical reasoning. Students will also learn about different methods for understanding disorders and pain, including the biopsychosocial method. The course “Osteopathy 3 – Lumbar Columna” builds on previous knowledge and provides specialised knowledge of the anatomy and function of the lower back, as well as conditions that affect this region and how patients with lower back issues are examined and treated. Similarly, the courses “Osteopathy 4 – Thorax” and “Osteopathy 5 – Cervical Columna and Upper Extremities” will also provide specialised knowledge within the anatomy, function and conditions of these regions, as well as relevant examination and treatment methods. The aim of these courses is to ensure that students attain the knowledge and skills to examine and treat people experiencing pain and injuries in these regions. The course “Osteopathy 6 – Evidence-based Practice and Clinical Reasoning” will further build on previous courses and students will incorporate the knowledge and skills they have acquired so far on the programme. Students will acquire specialised knowledge of evidence-based practice and will learn to apply this to pain and injuries in the aforementioned regions. The theory relating to evidence-based practice will be placed in the context of theory on clinical reasoning so that students can understand the clinical decision-making process from issue to examination and treatment plan. This knowledge will be applied through practical teaching in which students will work purposefully on various patient cases.

During the third year, students will undertake supervised professional training at Kristiania’s student clinic and will apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the first and second academic year in patient encounters. Students will work in pairs and will be closely supervised by the practice supervisor, who will ensure that theory and practice can be incorporated in a situation that is as close as possible to future working life situations. This ensures that students can acquire new experiences, knowledge and skills in a genuine professional situation. In the course “Clinical Osteopathy in Practice I,” students will acquire knowledge of the abdomen, jaw and head regions in continuation of the region-based topic from the second academic year, as well as skills in examination and treatment methods for these regions. The course “Clinical Osteopathy in Practice 2” provides students with specialised knowledge of the examination and treatment of different patient groups, such as athletes, pregnant women and the elderly. Students will also be taught the theory of science, research methods and statistics and work on a bachelor’s thesis. This provides students with an introduction to research methods and theories, as well as insights into critical evaluations of the field. The bachelor’s thesis is a specialised assignment, in which students will apply their acquired expertise on the theory of science, research methods and statistics to solve a chosen research question.

Study program OST

Bachelor in Osteopathy