Bachelor's Degree Programme in Energy and Environment in buildings Programme description

The programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

Candidates who pass the programme will be awarded the degree Master of Health Sciences (Norwegian: Master i helsevitenskap) in accordance with Section 3 of the Regulations concerning Requirements for the Master's Degrees. A specialisation in one of the following 15 specialisations forms part of the master’s degree programme:

Specialisations for applicants with backgrounds in health or social care:

• Health Sciences
• Empowerment and Health Promotion
• Mental Health Care
• Rehabilitation and Habilitation

Specialisations for applicants who are authorised health personnel in the specified professional fields:

• Nutrition for Health Personnel
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy for Children and Adolescents
• Physiotherapy for the Older Adult
• Physiotherapy for Musculoskeletal Health
• Psychomotor Physiotherapy
• Advanced Nursing Practice
• Public Health Nursing
• Cancer Nursing
• Nursing – Clinical Research and Professional Development

Specialisations for applicants from the professional field of nutrition:

• Public Health Nutrition

The specialisation will also be stated on the diploma alongside the name of the degree: Master of Health Sciences.

The master’s degree programme has a scope of 120 ECTS credits. Some of the specialisations are taken full-time over two years, while others are taken part-time over three or four years.

The programme comprises compulsory common courses, compulsory specialisation courses and elective courses, in addition to the master’s thesis. A more detailed overview of the programme’s structure for each specialisation is given under the section Content and structure.

According to the UN Agenda 2030, a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development is that everyone is able to live healthy lives. The Master’s Degree Programme in Health Sciences is primarily aimed at the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, Good Health and Well-being, while SDGs 4, 5 and 10 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, and achieving gender equality and reducing inequality, are also relevant. The 17 SDGs must be seen as a whole, however, where each goal is seen in conjunction with the others. The purpose of the programme is therefore to educate candidates who are qualified to help to ensure good health and promote quality of life for everyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, education, sexuality and functional ability, while also attempting to address considerations relating to sustainability, including life-long learning.

The students taking the programme can choose a specialisation in health promotion, illness prevention, treatment, palliative care and (re)habilitation work. The programme teaches the students to handle professional problems at the individual, group and system level in close cooperation with other professions, patients, users, next of kin and other services. The candidates should also be able to contribute to safe, effective, holistic and integrated services with good use of resources, and to innovation, improvement work and systematic user involvement.

Relevance to working life

Possible fields of work and careers after completing the programme include:

• research and development in the health sciences
• teaching, development and advisory functions in the guidance, administration and dissemination of knowledge in the health professions
• clinical work that is based on specialised expertise
• health and social care management positions

Relevance to further education

Students taking the Master's Degree Programme in Health Sciences who choose to write a master’s thesis worth 50 ECTS credits can apply for admission to the research programme for health sciences while taking the master’s programme. This is taken in parallel to and as an extension of the master’s programme. The research programme develops researcher expertise over and above that provided during the master’s programme and results in a research work that can later form part of a PhD-level work.

Candidates with a Master's Degree in Health Sciences are qualified to apply for admission to PhD programmes, including the PhD Programme in Health Sciences at OsloMet.

Specialisations

The Master's Degree Programme in Health Sciences has a number of specialisations that candidates can choose. Applicants must choose and apply directly for the specialisation they wish to take when applying for the master’s programme. The specialisations are subject to different admission requirements. However, the students will take a significant part of the programme together with students from the other specialisations, partly through compulsory common courses and partly through elective courses across the specialisations. More information about this is found in the section Content and structure.

MAPFY: Psychomotor Physiotherapy

The Specialisation in Psychomotor Physiotherapy is based on an understanding of the body as both concrete and biomedical, as well as relational and communicative. Norwegian Psychomotor Physiotherapy (NPMP) forms the core of the specialisation. In this approach of physiotherapy, physical problems and symptoms are assessed in relation to the overall muscle tensions and mobility in the body. The goal of the treatment is to give the patient new insights into themselves, their body and physical habits, and in this way help to make changes in the patient’s life that can lead to improvement. The specialisation forms part of the basis for the right to increase fees for psychomotor physiotherapy through the Norwegian Health Economics Administration (Helfo) (helsedirektoratetet.no). The specialisation includes practical training with access to patients who are going to receive psychomotor physiotherapy. The students will perform 200 patient treatments and 72 hours’ of group guidance in their practical training throughout the programme.  

The programme is aimed at applicants who have a natural science background and wish to take further education in an engineering field. Applicants without a natural science background can apply for admission to the OsloMet’s introductory course or three-semester scheme to qualify for the engineering programmes. See OsloMet’s website www.oslomet.no

The programme’s admission requirements include the Higher Education Entrance Qualification/prior learning and work experience and mathematics R1+R2 and Physics 1. An introductory course or qualifications from a technical college under previous regimes are sufficient to meet the qualification requirements. Applicants with qualifications from a technical college pursuant to the Act relating to Tertiary Vocational Education of 2003 only need to take mathematics R1+R2 and Physics 1.

Reference is made to the Regulations concerning Admission to Higher Education:

https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2005-04-01-15?q=forskrift_opptak_høyere_utdanning

Learning outcomes at the programme level for the Master's Degree Programme in Health Sciences

The student’s overall learning outcomes for the Master’s Degree Programme in Health Sciences fully cover the description of master’s degree level (level 7) of the Norwegian Qualifications Framework.

A candidate who has completed his or her qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has advanced knowledge of health-related services and health-promoting work within their field of specialisation
• can analyse academic problems on the basis of the history, traditions, distinctive character and place in society of the health sciences 
• has knowledge of different perceptions of body, health, illness, function and functional impairment 
• has in-depth knowledge of the individual’s right to autonomy and user participation, and of important considerations in the development of equitable health services and health-promoting work
• has insight into the role of interprofessional cooperation in achieving results in health-related services and health-promoting work
• has insight into the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, and an understanding of the connection between health and sustainable development in society
• has thorough knowledge of the theory of science, research methods and ethics of particular relevance to health sciences and the area of specialisation

Skills 

The candidate

• can understand, motivate and cooperate with individuals and next of kin undergoing health-related learning, coping and change processes
• can analyse existing theories, methods and interpretations in the field of health sciences and work independently on practical and theoretical problem-solving
• can adapt health services and health-promoting work to different groups in society
• can contribute to the expedient and correct use of technology to improve the quality of the health services
• can use knowledge of quality improvement and implementation to improve the services
• can analyse and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments 
• can use relevant methods for research and scholarly and/or professional development work in an independent manner
• can carry out an independent, limited research or development project within their specialisation under supervision and in accordance with applicable norms for research ethics

General competence 

The candidate 

• can analyse the relationship between the individual, service and societal levels when designing health-related services and in health-promoting work
• can contribute to innovation and quality improvement that builds on relevant knowledge of nursing gained from research and experience, and knowledge of users
• can work in interprofessional teams in order to more efficiently address complex health challenges
• has an international perspective in their field of specialisation
• can assess their own research design and research method based on a specific research question 
• can disseminate relevant problems, analyses and research results to specialists and the general public in a way that meets research ethics requirements 
• can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes in the health services and in health-promoting work

Specialisation in Psychomotor Physiotherapy

The following additional learning outcomes apply to candidates taking the Specialisation in Psychomotor Physiotherapy:

• has specialised knowledge of psychomotor physiotherapy as a treatment approach and its theoretical and empirical basis
• can apply principles of psychomotor physiotherapy in an independent manner in clinical practice both individually and in groups
• can analyse, discuss and disseminate relevant academic problems and research related to psychomotor physiotherapy

The programme consists of courses that lead up to an exam. Each course is worth at least 10 credits.

The programme comprises the following courses (see the national curriculum):

Common courses (C), 30 credits – basic mathematics, systems perspectives on engineering and an introduction to professional engineering practice and work methods. The common courses are common to all study programmes.

Programme courses (P), 50-70 credits – technical subjects, natural science subjects and social science subjects. Programme courses are common to all programme options in a study programme

Technical specialisation courses (TS), 50-70 credits – courses that provide a clear specialisation in the student’s chosen engineering subject and that are based on programme courses and common courses

Elective courses, 20-30 credits (E) – courses that provide breadth or depth in the professional specialisation.

Elective courses and further education

Elective courses can focus on breadth or depth learning. The elective course EMVE3500 HVAC, worth 20 credits and offered in the fifth semester, focuses on depth learning and is a compulsory part of the programme.

In addition, students must take one elective course worth 10 credits in the fifth semester. See the table below. If a student wants to choose another course or take the elective course in another semester, it must be approved by the programme.

Students who want to qualify for admission to the Master’s Degree Programme in Energy and Environment in Buildings at OsloMet must have at least a C on average and 30 credits in mathematics including statistics and Mathematics 3000 or 4000. These admission requirements apply to most master’s degree programmes in Norway.

5. semester

EMVE3500 HVAC and renewable energy (HVAC) (E) (compulsory)

EMVE3700 Computational Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow

BYVE3605 Hydroelectric Power (**)

DAVE3700 Mathematics 3000 (*)

DAVE3710 Academic English (*)

STKD6610 Technology and Society II (*)

DAVE3705 Mathematics 4000 (***)

(*) Common elective courses for the engineering programmes (**) See the programme description for the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Civil Engineering

(**) See Civil engineering

(***) The course is held in spring, and the students from the Civil Engineering programme are therefore not normally expected to take this. Students in the programme are nevertheless entitled to register for the course, and if the course is completed, it can be approved as an elective course in the degree programme.

See the respective course descriptions for more detailed information about work methods, reading lists, assessment and exam aids. Teaching and supervision are provided as a combination of lectures, calculation and computer exercises, laboratory exercises and projects. Laboratory work and projects are carried out in groups.

Periods of project work are largely based on the students' own efforts, and the amount of project work increases as the programme progresses. More external teaching resources will also be involved during the final three semesters than during the three first semesters. English textbooks are used in several courses. Special compendia will be prepared for some courses. The study programmes also make extensive use of standards and regulations relating to the courses.

Before the programme starts, the person responsible for the course will prepare a teaching plan for the course that will contain detailed information about scheduled exercises and coursework requirements with pertaining deadlines, a progress schedule and a reading list.

Varied and student-active teaching methods are used in the programme. Good learning outcomes are first and foremost dependent on the students’ own efforts. The number of hours of adapted teaching at the university will be relatively low. Own effort means both benefiting from teaching and academic supervision and following this up with independent work in the form of theoretical studies and, if relevant, practical skills training. Normal study progress requires students to make great personal efforts. The most important work and teaching forms used in each course in the programme are described below. The individual course descriptions state which work methods each course employs. Practical training is described in a separate chapter; see below.

Web-based work and teaching methods

Several forms of digital learning resources are used in the programme, such as digital textbooks, digital lectures, video clips, podcasts, tests, learning pathways and assignments. These resources can be used to prepare for teaching sessions, during seminars using the flipped classroom method, and as part of self-study. This form of teaching requires the students to meet prepared for the scheduled teaching sessions. Interaction can also take place digitally, in the form of Skype meetings, webinars etc.

Self-study and student cooperation/group work

Learning requires a high degree of own activity and self-study, including both individual work and cooperation with fellow students. Through activities such as exchanging ideas, presentations, discussions, writing assignments and problem-based assignments, students will be stimulated to learn by communicating knowledge and experience, expressing their own opinions and, together, reflecting on their own attitudes, actions and understanding of the field. Students are encouraged to take initiative to schedule and actively participate in study groups to promote learning.

Lectures

Lectures are primarily used to introduce new subject matter, provide an overview and highlight main elements and links within different topics, and also to communicate relevant issues.

Seminars

Seminars emphasise dialogue and discussion between the subject teacher(s) and students in order to stimulate the student's academic development. Verbal presentations by students and discussions are emphasised. 

In connection with the master's thesis, seminars are held where the master's theses are presented and discussed. The students receive feedback from their fellow students and teachers, which enables them to learn from each other. Research-related issues, methods and academic supervision are among the topics discussed in the seminars. Seminars can also take place on digital collaboration platforms. 

Written assignments and academic supervision

Through written assignments and the master's thesis, students will formulate research questions for assignments and work on them over time, either individually or in cooperation with other students. They will learn theory and develop skills in using and referencing sources, analysis, discussion and written and oral communication. The primary purpose of this is to develop their ability to reflect critically, see elements in context and develop a deeper understanding of a subject.

Developing academic writing skills is a key aspect of all parts of the programme. Supervision is an important component of the work on the master's thesis. The supervision is intended to ensure that the project complies with research ethics principles and help students to formulate the research question and ensure quality in the collection and analysis of data.

Five of the specialisations in the master’s programme have compulsory practical training in order for students to acquire skills needed in their professional practice. These specialisations are:

• Advanced Nursing Practice
• Public Health Nursing
• Cancer Nursing
• Mental Health Care
• Psychomotor Physiotherapy

The field of practice is an essential qualification arena for acquiring action competence in the specialisation. Through practical training, the students further develop their communication and interaction skills and develop an important basis for theoretical analysis and discussion.

Supervision and assessment

Practical training is supervised. Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the university is responsible for the final assessment of the student. Reference is also made to the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University Chapter 8. Supervised practical training. Number of attempts.

Detailed information about practical training

For more detailed information about attendance requirements, scope, the practical training arena and other details related to practical training, see the course descriptions for the specific specialisation.

The examination regulations are specified in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the National Curriculum Regulations for Engineering Education. See OsloMet’s website https://www.oslomet.no/

Oral and practical exams re assessed by two examiners, as these forms of exams cannot be appealed. Formal errors can nonetheless be appealed.

One overall grade is given for the portfolio.

It is only possible to appeal the exam result for the portfolio assessment as a whole. Any information provided about weighting is only considered additional information in relation to the final grade. If parts of the portfolio contain elements such as an oral presentation, practical assignments etc., the exam result cannot be appealed. The rules concerning right of appeal are described in each individual course description.

Exams that are only assessed by internal examiners shall be regularly selected for external assessment.

Assessment

The grades pass/fail or a grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail are used for exam grades.

Prerequisite knowledge and study progress

Prerequisite knowledge over and above the admission requirements is described in the course descriptions.

Even if no specific requirements for prior knowledge are defined, the students should take courses worth at least 50 credits each year to be able to complete the programme within the nominal length of study.

• From the first to the second year of the programme – courses worth 50 credits should be completed
• From the first and second years to the third year of the programme – courses worth 100 credits should be completed

Students must be registered in the third year of study and have completed at least 100 credits from the first and second years of study by 1 October to register for the bachelor’s thesis.

All three-semester courses must be passed.

Programme supervisor scheme

Programme supervision is part of the quality assurance of each individual study programme. A programme supervisor is not an examiner, but someone who supervises the quality of the study programmes. All study programmes at OsloMet shall be supervised by a programme supervisor, but there is leeway to for practise the system in different ways. Reference is made to the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

Rescheduled/resit exams

Students must register for resit/rescheduled exams themselves. Resit/rescheduled exams are normally organised together early in the following semester. Resit exams are for students who have taken the exam and failed. Rescheduled exams are for students who did not take the regular exam. The conditions for taking resit/rescheduled exams are set out in the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

Diplom

The final assessment for each course is indicated on the diploma for the Bachelor’s Degree in Energy and Environment. The title of the bachelor’s thesis will also be included on the diploma.

The increasing globalisation of the labour market makes international experience and knowledge of languages and cultures increasingly important. Internationalisation contributes to raising the quality of education and strengthens the academic community relating to the master’s programme, at the same time as it strengthens the students as global citizens.

The programme has a focus on multicultural and global problems. This approach contributes to an increased understanding and improves the students' ability to work in a professional capacity in a multicultural society. The students gain access to specialist terminology in English through the syllabus, which comprises both textbooks and international research literature.

The staff’s network, research collaboration and cooperation with colleagues in other countries contribute to internationalisation. The programme is represented in international networks.

OsloMet has exchange agreements with educational institutions in Europe and worldwide.

Courses adapted to incoming exchange students

The following courses have been adapted for incoming exchange students:

• MAVIT4050 Theory of Science and Research Methods, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT4060 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT4100 Quality Improvement and Implementation of Evidence-based Practice, 10 ECTS credits
• MAPHN4100 National and Global Nutrition Challenges, 10 ECTS credits
• MAPHN4200 Public Health Nutrition Policies and Interventions, 10 ECTS credits
• MAMUS4100 Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Conditions – Part 1, 10 ECTS credits
• MAFAR4100 Innovation within Healthcare, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT4700 Food, Health and Sustainability, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT4900 Quality of Life, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT5100 Health Communication, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT5200 The Health and Welfare of Migrant Populations, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT5400 Alliance and Shared Decision Making, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT5600 Physical Activity and Exercise in a Life Course Perspective and with a Special Focus on Aging, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT5700 Pain – Multidimensional Assessment and Health Professional Interventions, 10 ECTS credits

The course MAVIT4100 Quality Improvement and Implementation of Evidence-based Practice will always be taught in English. The other courses listed above will be taught in English if international students have registered for them. Otherwise, courses will generally be taught in Norwegian.

Semesters adapted to outbound exchange students

Students who wish to take courses at an educational institution abroad as part of their master’s degree normally go on an exchange in the third semester. Students admitted to a specialisation that as a norm has a master’s thesis worth 50 ECTS credits can apply to instead write a master’s thesis worth 30 ECTS credits. The students are responsible for finding relevant courses at partner institutions and must apply to have them approved in advance. An international coordinator can provide guidance in relation to selecting a course.

Reference is otherwise made to the criteria that apply to student exchanges and the information about stays abroad.