SSA5910 Master's thesis in Social Work Course description

Passed first year of the programme or equivalent.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge:

The student has knowledge of

• philosophy of science and quantitative research methods
• evidence-based practice
• system and relation perspectives in nursing
• decision-making processes using standardised classification systems: nursing documentation, ICT and eHealth
• development psychology, crisis theory and coping theory, personality psychology, learning, belonging and identity, sociopsychological processes (the individual and community) and how illness affects people's behaviour

• pathological processes, prognoses and treatment forms in the following mental health disorders/challenges:

  • eating disorders
  • substance abuse problems
  • suicide-related problems
  • intellectual disabilities
  • behavioural and emotional disorders in children and young people
• education and learning: guidance, teaching, health information and changes in health behaviour, and nurses' educational role
• demography and epidemiology: national and global health
• clinical examination methods and general first aid in accordance with the ABC principle

Skills:

The student

• is skilled in using clinical examination methods and assessments
• is capable of finding, assessing and referring to relevant research articles in order to elucidate nursing issues, both orally and in writing
• is capable of communicating and applying educational knowledge when providing guidance to patients and next of kin
• is capable of applying health information and knowledge of changes in health behaviour to practical issues
• is capable of reflecting on professional ethics, fair distribution, cooperation and human rights
• is capable of reflecting on the connection between poverty and health both nationally and globally and of describing national challenges in public health work

Competence:

The student is capable of

• sharing opinions about ethical challenges, with particular emphasis on safeguarding patients' autonomy, integrity and dignity
• planning and carrying out tasks related to nurses' educational role
• documenting nursing in a legally and professionally sound manner

Kunnskaper

Studenten har

• avansert kunnskap i et spesialisert felt innenfor fagfeltet sosialt arbeid.
• inngående kunnskap i teorier som er relevante for temaet som behandles i masteroppgaven.
• inngående innsikt i et tema eller fenomen sett fra flere ulike perspektiver.
• inngående kunnskap, og anvendelse av akademiske krav for analyse og skriftlig produksjon.

Ferdigheter

Studenten kan

• avgrense et større tema eller fenomen og gjøre det til gjenstand for forskning.
• velge og ta i bruk en eller flere metoder for å utforske masteroppgavens problemstilling.
• utvikle design for en empirisk undersøkelse.
• analysere et datamateriale ved bruk av teoretiske perspektiver og begreper.
• gjennomføre en systematisk og kritisk analyse, anvende sentrale forskningsprinsipper og gi en klar akademisk framstilling av resultatene.
• vurdere forskningsetiske problemstillinger knyttet til eget prosjekt.

Generell kompetanse

Studenten kan

• lese forskningslitteratur kritisk og reflektert
• vurdere problemstillinger knyttet til fag-, yrkes- og forskningsetikk
• formidle kunnskap og egne forskningsresultater skriftlig og muntlig
• anvende forskningsbaserte kunnskaper og ferdigheter i arbeidet med masteroppgaven

The term paper and the process paper are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25 per cent of the exam papers are assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F.

SYBA2010 and SYBAS2010 overlap 100%.

Det benyttes en gradert skala med fem trinn, fra A til E for bestått og F for ikke bestått.

Det benyttes en intern og en ekstern sensor til sensurering av oppgavene. Veileder kan ikke være sensor. Ved eventuell klage på karakter blir ny kommisjon nedsatt og masteroppgaven får en ny vurdering. Ny muntlig eksamen blir avholdt dersom karakteren endres.