Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Nursing; Clinical Research and Professional Development 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 and Addiction
• 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.

MAKLI: Nursing – Clinical Research and Professional Development

The Specialisation in Nursing – Clinical Research and Professional Development focuses on scientific thinking and research methods. The students will analyse key areas of nursing research and the consequences of different views of knowledge, where emphasis is placed on understanding the nurse’s ethical and theoretical basis for practical action. Knowledge development and research on nursing can be related to patient groups, next of kin and health personnel at the individual and system level. Clinical research is seen from a broad perspective that includes innovation and development work and an understanding of people’s need for health care in different contexts. Scientific nursing research must address and be up-to-date in relation to the increasingly large group of patients who, due to age, impairment, cultural, ethnic or religious reasons, do not receive satisfactory help from the health services. The specialisation will help students to develop academic autonomy, critical awareness and political engagement related to nursing. In close cooperation with the clinical field, the student should be able to improve and develop the knowledge base in the field of practice.

Praktisk-pedagogisk utdanning i design, kunst og håndverk (PPUDKH) har noen felles emner med praktisk-pedagogisk utdanning i drama- og teaterkommunikasjon (PPUDTK). Det er anbefalt å ha gjennomført og bestått pedagogikk 1 før studenten starter på pedagogikk 2. Det er anbefalt å ha gjennomført og bestått fagdidaktikk i design, kunst og håndverk 1 før studenten starter på fagdidaktikk i design, kunst og håndverk 2.

Studiet forutsetter en selvstendig og systematisk arbeidsform og aktiv deltakelse i felles aktiviteter. Obligatoriske kurs og oppgaver er lagt inn i studiet som arbeidskrav. Det gis undervisning innenfor sentrale deler av studiet. Det forutsettes at studentene arbeider aktivt med fagstoffet på egen hånd og også setter seg inn i temaer og fagstoff som ikke blir direkte belyst gjennom undervisningen. Den enkelte student er selv ansvarlig for å ha tilgang til egnede rom- og verkstedsfasiliteter for det estetisk skapende arbeidet. Det legges vekt på at studentene skal utvikle faglige kunnskaper og ferdigheter gjennom samarbeid, og det er derfor krav om stor grad av obligatorisk tilstedeværelse i undervisning og aktiviteter. Ved prosjektbasert undervisning og studier i grupper kan samarbeidet foregå både på interne og eksterne arenaer.

Studentens eksisterende kunnskap innen design, kunst og håndverk står sentralt og er utgangspunkt for en større fordypningsoppgave/FoU-oppgave som gjennomføres under fagdidaktikk i design, kunst og håndverk 2. Fordypningsoppgaven skal gi innsikt i vitenskapelig forståelse og arbeidsmåte. Fordypningsoppgaven legger grunnlag for refleksjoner rundt praktisk-estetisk arbeid og undervisning.

Arbeidsformer:

• forelesninger, seminarer og individuelt studium
• faglige innføringer og demonstrasjoner
• individuelt arbeid, gruppearbeid og prosjektarbeid

• ekskursjoner
• varierte presentasjoner og dokumentasjonsformer

Deltidsstudentene vil få deltidstilpasset undervisning, men der det er mulig følger deltidsstudentene de samme forelesningene som heltidsstudentene. Deltidsstudiet er basert på individuelt og gruppebasert arbeid og veiledning via internett gjennom bruk av asynkron og synkron kommunikasjon, som kombineres med inntil 3 campussamlinger pr. semester. Både praktiske og teoretiske studieformer vektlegges.

Pedagogisk praksis gjennomføres hovedsakelig i grupper, men det kan også legges til rette for individuelle løsninger. Praksis kan avvikles lokalt, under forutsetning av egnede praksissteder og kvalifiserte praksislærere. Praksis tilrettelegges for gjennomføring på deltid. Under praksis må studenter likevel tilpasse seg praksislæreres undervisningsdager. Veiledning og øvrig samarbeid mellom høgskole, praksislærer og student gjennomføres via videokonferanse.

Den enkelte student er selv ansvarlig for å skaffe og vedlikeholde tilfredsstillende nettoppkopling (bredbånd), maskinvare (PC, headset og webkamera) og programvare. En oppdatert liste over tekniske minstekrav sendes ut i god tid før studiestart. Høgskolen kan gi support angående kommunikasjonsprogramvaren. Dette er et supplement til annen teknisk support fra bredbåndsleverandører etc. Dette må den enkelte student organisere selv.

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 Nursing – Clinical Research and Professional Development

The following additional learning outcomes apply to candidates taking the Specialisation in Nursing – Clinical Research and Professional Development:

• has advanced knowledge of research and professional development in nursing and can assess and discuss methodological approaches to questions related to the nursing field
• has advanced knowledge of a chosen area of specialisation in nursing
• can analyse clinical issues as a basis for research and professional development in nursing
• can develop patient care in accordance with research and by engaging in professional development

Studiet er internasjonalt orientert og tar i bruk internasjonal forskning og faglitteratur. Noe av pensumlitteraturen er på engelsk. Noe av undervisningen kan også forekomme på engelsk. Det kan være aktuelt med gjesteforelesere, fra utenlandske institusjoner.

Det er knyttet obligatoriske arbeidskrav til hvert emne i utdanningsløpet. Arbeidskrav for hvert emne må være godkjent før studenten kan fremstille seg til eksamen i det aktuelle emnet. De obligatoriske arbeidskravene bidrar til å sikre at kandidaten når et tilfredsstillende læringsutbytte og vil prøve kandidatens evne til å behandle, reflektere og drøfte over teori og praksis.

Arbeidskrav kan være:

• skriftlige oppgaver

• deltagelse på seminarer
• muntlige presentasjoner
• eller mer praktiske og praksisnære oppgaver som utforming av undervisningsopplegg innenfor fag.

Arbeidskravene løses individuelt eller i gruppe. Arbeidskrav skal være innfridd innen fastsatte frister. Arbeidskrav vurderes til godkjent/ikke godkjent. Ved ikke godkjent har kandidaten anledning til å omarbeide arbeidskravet og levere til ny godkjenning ytterligere to gang.

Det forutsettes at kandidaten deltar aktivt i både undervisning, seminar og veiledning. Det er derfor krav om minimum 80% oppmøte på obligatorisk undervisning, seminar og veiledning. Dette skal sikre at studentene får delta aktivt i faglige refleksjoner og samarbeide om fagstoff knyttet til de ulike læringsutbyttene. Studenter som samlet har mer enn 20 prosent fravær fra obligatorisk deltagelse i et emne, får ikke anledning til å avlegge eksamen. Studenter som står i fare for å overskride fraværskvoten, får skriftlig melding om dette.

Gyldig fravær dokumentert ved for eksempel legeerklæring, fritar ikke for innfrielse av arbeidskrav. Studenter som på grunn av sykdom eller annen dokumentert gyldig årsak ikke innfrir arbeidskrav innen fristen, bør så langt det er mulig, kunne få et nytt forsøk før eksamen. Dette må avtales i hvert enkelt tilfelle med den aktuelle faglærer. Hvis det ikke er mulig å gjennomføre et nytt forsøk på grunn av fagets/emnets egenart, må studenten påregne å ta arbeidskravet ved neste mulige tidspunkt. Dette kan medføre forsinkelser i studieprogresjon.

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:

• MAFAR4100 Innovation within Healthcare, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT4700 Food, Health and Sustainability, 10 ECTS credits
• MAVIT5100 Health Communication, 10 ECTS credits
• MAPSY4400 Mental Health of Migrants and Minorities, 10 ECTS credits

The 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.

Kvalitetssikring

Hensikten med kvalitetssikringssystemet for OsloMet er å styrke studentenes læringsutbytte og utvikling ved å heve kvaliteten i alle ledd. OsloMet ønsker å samarbeide med studentene, og deres deltakelse i kvalitetssikringsarbeidet er avgjørende. Noen overordnede mål for kvalitetssikringssystemet er:

• å sikre at utdanningsvirksomheten inkludert praksis, lærings- og studiemiljøet holder høy kvalitet
• å sikre utdanningenes relevans til yrkesfeltet
• å sikre en stadig bedre kvalitetsutvikling

For studenter innebærer dette blant annet studentevalueringer:

• emneevalueringer
• årlige studentundersøkelser felles for OsloMet

Mer informasjon om kvalitetssikringssystemet, se her: http://www.hioa.no/Om-HiOA/System-for-kvalitet-og-kvalitetsutvikling-for-utdanning-og-laeringsmiljoe-ved-HiOA

Tilsynssensorordning

Tilsynssensorordningen er en del av kvalitetssikringen av det enkelte studium. En tilsynssensor er ikke en eksamenssensor, men en som har tilsyn med kvaliteten i studiene. Alle studier ved OsloMet skal være under tilsyn av tilsynssensor, men det er rom for ulike måter å praktisere ordningen på. Viser til retningslinjer for oppnevning og bruk av sensorer ved OsloMet, se her: https://student.oslomet.no/retningslinjer-sensorer

Different forms of assessment are used on the programme that are adapted to the learning outcomes of the various courses. The forms of assessment used are intended to support learning and document the students’ level of competence in relation to the expected learning outcomes. All examinations taken that are part of the specialisation will appear on the diploma, as well as the title of the student’s master’s thesis. Students who take additional elective courses in excess of 120 credits get these on their transcript, and must choose which elective courses are to be included on the diploma. In general, the following forms of assessment are used in the programme:

Supervised individual examination

Taken at the university’s examination premises over a set number of hours.

Home examination

Taken over a set period of time at the end of the course, normally with a set question/assignment text unless otherwise stated in the course description.

Project examination

Taken over the whole or large parts of the course, normally with a topic decided by the students themselves unless otherwise stated in the course description.

Oral examination

Can take place individually or in groups. It can either be an independent form of assessment or used to adjust the grade awarded for another examination.

Practical examination

The assessment of specific practical skills either at the university or in the field of practice.

Assessment of practical training

Supervised practical training, assessed in accordance with the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

The assessment of examinations and practical training is carried out in accordance with the applicable rules set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of examiners at OsloMet.

The forms of assessment and criteria are described in each course description. All examinations taken and the title of the master’s thesis will be stated on the diploma.

Examinations

All courses conclude with an examination. The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course, and the degree to which the student has achieved the stipulated learning outcomes is assessed. In theoretical courses, the grades used are pass/fail or letter grades from A to F, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade. The grade F means that the student has failed the examination. The grades pass/fail are used for the assessment of practical training.

Resit and rescheduled examinations are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary examination unless otherwise specified in the course description. In special cases, resit and rescheduled examinations in courses with group examinations may be held as individual examinations.

For examinations where a percentage of the examination papers are selected for assessment by an external examiner, the external examiner's assessment should benefit all the students.

The grade awarded for a written examination can be appealed, cf. Section 10-11 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical examinations. In connection with group examinations, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidate(s) who submitted the appeal. The other students will keep their original grade.

External programme supervisor

An external programme supervisor scheme is in place for the programme as required by the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet. The external supervisor will write an annual report on their work that will be included in the faculty’s area of the university’s quality assurance system.

Suitability assessment

The suitability assessment is a continuous overall assessment that takes place throughout the study programme. A student must be suitable for professional practice in order to receive diploma/certificate for the study programme.

If it appears that a student may pose a potential danger to the lives, physical and mental health, rights or safety of patients, clients and users during practical training or in future professional practice, it should be asked whether the student is suitable for the profession. University staff, personnel in practical training establishment, as well as students can submit a notification of doubt. The students concerned should be informed as soon as possible if such a notification of doubt has been sent. They should receive guidance and advice on how they can improve or be advised to withdraw from the programme.

https://student.oslomet.no/en/suitability-assessment

Suitability assessment is used in specialisation in Public Health Nursing, specialisation in Cancer Nursing and in Interdisciplinary Specialisation in Mental Health and Addiction.

Programme description considered by the Academic Affairs Committee at the Faculty of Health Sciences on 12 February 2020 and finally approved by the vice-dean on 27. January 2025.

Adopted by the University Board 9 september 2020

Faculty of Health Sciences

The programme description applies to all students at the specialisation in Nursing; Clinical Research and Professional Development

There will not be admitted students to the specialization in Nursing; Clinical Research and Professional Development for the academic year 2025/2026.