Master Programme in Mental Health Care - Part Time Programme description

Mental Health Care is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary Master¿s Programme. The purpose of Mental Health Care is to benefit patients/users, next of kin, the local community and society as a whole. The programme¿s main focus is to promote mental health and the alleviation of mental suffering. The programme will point out and attempt to change the mechanisms that cause mental health problems in individuals, families and society. The programme will also point out and attempt to change processes of stigmatisation and social exclusion of individuals and groups.

The programme takes the view that humans are relationally dependent and sees relationships as very important in relation to care and the alleviation of suffering. The alleviation of suffering is at the core of all caregiving, and in the interaction between the caregiver and the patient/user, both are involved in creating a space wherein the alleviation of suffering can take place. Emphasis is placed on developing interpersonal competence and competence to provide care, where attitudes and actions are founded on research-based knowledge, experience-based knowledge, user knowledge and user participation. Based on a holistic approach, the programme aims to provide knowledge about the individual¿s biological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions as they relate to mental health and mental disorders.

Knowledge and understanding of the human being who, in different phases of life and in different contexts, encounters challenges that can both arrest and promote health and self-expression are central to the programme. The basis and point of departure for all assistance is the belief in humans' unique individuality and integrity, and this is reflected in the programme¿s focus on knowledge and skills relating to the terms relationships and caregiving. A common understanding of the field creates a possibility for interdisciplinary cooperation based on an understanding of humans which values interpersonal relationships, care and respect for the value of human integrity.

The aim is to provide professionals with an opportunity to integrate professional and personal experience from the profession's first degree programmes and advanced programmes and integrate this experience into a theoretical and practical framework of understanding. The programme therefore combines a high theoretical level with a practice-based approach wherein critical and ethical thinking are central.

Further studies and working life

The programme qualifies students for a range of positions within mental health care in various sectors of society.

Candidates who have completed and passed the Master¿s Programme in Mental Health Care can apply for admission to various PhD programmes.

Facts about the study

The Master's Programme in Mental Health Care is an experience-based programme with a scope of 120 credits in accordance with Section 5 of the Regulations concerning Requirements for the Master's Degrees, and is organised as a part-time programme over four years. The first 60 credits correspond to the Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care.

The target group for the master's programme is health care and social workers who wish to specialise at master's level in mental health care.

Applicants who have completed the Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care (60 credits) must apply for admission to the master¿s degree programme in accordance with the ordinary application procedure. These candidates¿ education may be recognised in full or in part.

Admission to the programme is in accordance with the Regulations relating to Admission to Degree Programmes at OsloMet.

The academic basis for admission is:

• A three-year bachelor's degree in health and social care subjects, or other relevant higher education at the same level or equivalent prior learning and work experience
• A minimum two years' relevant work experience following the completion of the education. By relevant work experience is meant direct patient/user-related work.
• Admission to all master¿s degree programmes at OsloMet requires an average grade of C

Candidates who have previously completed an Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care under the national curriculum of 2005, may apply for direct admission to the third year of the programme. The admission requirements for direct admission to the third year of the programme are as follows:

• A three-year bachelor's degree in health and social care subjects, or other relevant higher education at the same level or equivalent prior learning and work experience
• A minimum two years' relevant work experience following the completion of the education. By relevant work experience is meant direct patient/user-related work.
• Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care 60 credits under the national curriculum of 2005.
• Admission to all master¿s degree programmes at OsloMet requires an average grade of C.

Additional points

Additional points are awarded for relevant education over and above the minimum admission requirement. By relevant education is meant all higher education.

Additional points are awarded for relevant work experience over and above the minimum admission requirement. By relevant work experience is meant direct patient/user-related work.

Transcript of police records

Applicants who are admitted to the programme must submit a transcript of police records, cf. the Regulations for admission to higher education Chapter 6.

Upon completion of the Master¿s Degree Programme in Mental Health Care, the candidate is expected to have acquired the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of perspectives, concepts and theories relating to descriptions and understandings of mental health, mental disorders and mental health care
• has advanced knowledge of humans' mental health and mental disorders and about mental health care in the context of history, culture and society
• has advanced knowledge of theories of science and research methodologies in the fields of mental health, mental disorders and mental health care.
• has in-depth knowledge of how the organisation of mental health care might promote and/or inhibit mental health and mental disorders.
• is capable of analysing problems relating to mental health care and research on the basis of the discipline¿s practice, history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society

Skills

The candidate is capable of

• analysing and thinking critically with regards to theories, methods and interpretations relating to mental health, mental disorders and mental health care
• analysing and applying theoretical knowledge about the concepts of relationships and caregiving in the field of mental health care
• acknowledging his/her own and other people¿s knowledge and proficiency in binding cooperation with others
• analysing and applying theoretical knowledge, research-based knowledge and experience-based knowledge in mental health care.
• carrying out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable research ethical standards

Competence

The candidate

• is capable of analysing and reflecting on ethical issues relating to the discipline, profession and research
• is capable of initiating and partaking in discussions about health and socio-political issues, analysis and conclusions in the field of mental health care
• is capable of planning, implementing and evaluating measures for individuals, families, network groups and society that promote knowledge and development in relation to mental health
• has an innovative approach to the programme's issues, organisation and management
• is capable of initiating, planning, implementing and evaluating project and development work

The master’s degree programme is a part-time programme over four years. The first 60 credits make up the advanced programme in mental health care and courses, topics and lectures will therefore be coordinated as far as possible. In addition, the programme offers a research methods course worth 10 credits.

Students who have previously completed the Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care under the national curriculum of 2005

will take the following courses over two years:

• MAPSD4050 or an elective course
• MAPSD4310
• One elective course
• MAPSD5900

Specialisation through elective courses

Students must choose two elective courses amounting to 20 credits, and the programme’s elective courses are offered in the fifth and sixth semester. Elective courses from other master’s programmes at the university can also be taken as electives, and will be mentioned specifically under each academic year.

The elective courses are intended to help the students to acquire special expertise through in-depth study of a specific topic. Students will develop analytical competence and further develop their understanding and assessment skills in their chosen topic.

A list of the courses for the 2019-2020 academic year is provided below:

• MAPSD5400 Family Work in Mental Health Care, 10 credits (Autumn) 
• MAPSD5100 Mental Health Care with Minority Patients, Migration and Exile, 10 credits. /ECTS (Spring).

Elective courses from other master's degree programmes at the university can be taken as electives, as long as they fit into your semester and there are vacant places.Please contact the nearest faculty or department for more information. 

• SFB4000 – Theoretical Approaches to Family: the knowledge base for therapeutic work, 10 credits. (Master’s Degree Programme in Applied Social Sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences) (Autumn)
• SFB5110 – Issues of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 10 credits (Master’s Degree Programme in Applied Social Sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences) (Autumn)
• SFV4400 Social Welfare, Social Work and Human Rights, 10 credits (Master’s Degree Programme in Applied Social Sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences) (Autumn)
• MAREH4100 Cooperation in Treatment and Rehabilitation, 10 credits (Master’s Degree Programme in Rehabilitation, the Department of Physiotherapy) (Spring)

Elective specialised courses in other programmes and at other educational institutions both in Norway and abroad can also be approved on individual application as long as they meet the academic requirements of the master's programme.

Master’s thesis

Preparatory work to the master's thesis, namely the project outline, will take place in the course MAPS4310. The master’s thesis itself is worth 30 credits. The thesis should be based on relevant scientific literature, qualitative and/or quantitative empirical data that elucidate the issue the student(s) has/have developed themselves.

The master's thesis should have a clinical and/or organisational orientation, in which the focus is on mental health and mental health care. The student(s) can be affiliated with internal and external research environments and development projects in the field of mental health.

The work and teaching methods shall facilitate the integration of knowledge, skills and competence and have the greatest possible transfer value to professional practice. Emphasis is therefore placed on using a variety of work methods and alternating between theoretical studies and practical training.

Teaching activities should stimulate active learning and engagement. A good learning outcome is dependent on the students' own effort, cooperation with fellow students and individual work.

Different types of digital technology are used in the programme to stimulate student-active learning and collaboration. Digital learning resources in the form of film clips, podcasts, academic texts, articles and interactive assignments are used in the programme.

The students will receive follow-up throughout the programme in the form of supervision and feedback. In some cases the students will assess each other’s work and provide feedback. Such feedback may be provided in writing, orally or as a combination of both.

More detailed descriptions of the most common work and teaching methods used in the programme are provided below.

LecturesLectures are mainly used to introduce new material and to provide an overview. The students are invited to engage in dialogue and discussion. Lectures are often used together with other teaching methods. Most lectures are held in Norwegian, but might also take place in English.

Study groupsThe students work with assignments under the supervision of the lecturer. Academic discussions and assignments are carried out and solved in cooperation with other students. Group work is intended to support the learning of subject matter and at the same time provide training in cooperation, interaction and communication skills.

SeminarsThe seminars will focus on student-active work methods. During the seminars, students will work on various topics and on developing their own relational competence and their competence to provide care. The seminars are intended to give the students an opportunity to practise presenting topics, develop critical thinking and provide constructive feedback. In some seminars, students will practise their relational skills through e.g. roleplay and exercises.

SupervisionThe students will attend supervision groups. Sessions will focus on sharing and reflecting on their experience from practical training. The students will work on integrating theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The students will work on integrating theoretical knowledge and relating it to the practice of mental health care.

Self-studyStudents are expected to also acquire knowledge through self-study. Students come to this programme with different preconditions for learning, and self-study enables them to prioritise topics and areas they want to focus more on. Self-study also helps to encourage independent activity and reflection.

Clinical training is part of the course MAPSDPRA10 Development and Practice of Interpersonal Competence and constitutes 20 credits. Two different forms of clinical training are part of the course (both forms of clinical training include compulsory groups and seminars with a supervisor from the university):

• The project-oriented training lasts approx. three weeks and will be supervised by a supervisor from the university.

The theme of project-oriented practice is the organisation of mental health services in an improvement perspective. The students work on the topic by carrying out a project where they gather knowledge and experience from a professional in a relevant field of practice.

• The clinical training takes place over eight weeks of 30 hours per week, 240 hours in total, and the student will be supervised by a clinical training supervisor and a supervisor from the university.

The student will develop concrete learning outcomes in collaboration with the clinical training supervisor. The student's learning objectives must be approved by the supervisor. The student shall be given a minimum of one hour's supervision from the clinical training supervisor per week.

The clinical training supervisor is responsible for guiding the student during the clinical training. The clinical training supervisor must have an advanced education within the field. The supervisor from the university is responsible for guiding the student during the project-oriented training and period of clinical training.

The clinical training will normally be carried out in places affiliated with OsloMet ¿ Oslo Metropolitan University through cooperation agreements. The student may apply to complete the clinical training elsewhere. If the application is granted, the students is responsible for covering any expenses relating to this. The clinical training cannot be completed in the students' own workplace, i.e. the student's own unit, ward or similar.

The course MASPDPRA10 concludes with a written assignment where theoretical knowledge is applied to challenges relating to the clinical training or other phenomena relating to the field of mental health care. 

Compulsory attendance at the clinical training.

Attendance in clinical training is compulsory.

• The student must attend at least 90 % of the scheduled time.
• The student will be allowed to make up for absence of between 10 and 20 per cent by agreement with the clinical training supervisor and the supervisor from the university
• If a student's absence exceeds 20%, he/she will fail the clinical training*
• The attendance requirement cannot be deviated from due to illness or for other reasons.

*If illness prevents the student from attending the clinical training so that their absence exceeds the permitted amount, the student is required to present a valid medical certificate for all days of absence in excess of 10% of the scheduled time in order for the absence to be deemed valid. The student's attempt at taking the clinical training will then not count.

If the student terminates a period of clinical training without a valid reason, for instance by leaving the programme, the course will be registered as failed and the student will have used one attempt. Students who fail the clinical training twice will normally have to leave the programme.

Assessment of the clinical trainingDuring the clinical training, students will be given a midway assessment and a final assessment where the student's performance is assessed in relation to the learning outcomes for the clinical training course MAPSDPRA10.

Clinical training is assessed as pass/fail by the clinical training supervisor and the supervisor at the university. 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 clinical training. Number of attempts.

 OsloMet ¿ Oslo Metropolitan University has a considerable number of agreements on teacher and student exchanges with educational institutions in and outside Europe. Some of these institutions are relevant for master¿s students in mental health care. The programme is represented in international networks. In some courses, the students will attend lectures given by foreign guest lecturers.

Internationalisation takes place both through activities on campus in Norway and through periods of study at institutions abroad. Outbound student exchanges will primarily take place during the clinical training in the fourth semester. Inbound student exchanges will be adapted to the elective courses, preferably in the fifth semester.

The programme¿s focus on multicultural and global challenges is a contribution to internationalisation. Literature in the English language and international research is part of the programme¿s syllabus.

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

Required coursework is all types of work and activities that are conditions for being permitted to take the exam. Coursework requirements in this programme are written assignments, oral presentations, compulsory attendance, supervision etc. Required coursework is carried out individually or in groups.

Compulsory attendance

Attendance is compulsory in areas where the student can acquire the same knowledge and skills through self-study. This means that it is compulsory to attend at least 80% of the seminars, study groups and academic supervision groups. For attendance during the clinical training, please refer to the chapter on clinical training.

If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, study group supervisor and person responsible for the course will consider whether it is possible to compensate for absence by meeting alternative requirements, for instance individual oral or written assignments. If it is not possible to compensate for absence, the student loses the right to take the exam and must re-take the course the following year. Whether or not it is possible to compensate for absence depends on the extent of the student's absence and which activities he/she has missed. It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of his/her own attendance.

Coursework requirements are set in order to promote the student's progress and development, and to ensure his/her participation where needed in order to acquire the intended learning outcomes. Coursework requirements are intended to contribute to in-depth knowledge and integration of the various knowledge areas and help the students to reflect on their own interpersonal skills. Coursework requirements are also meant to encourage students to seek out and acquire new knowledge.

Approval of written courswork requirementsThe required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The students have two attempts at the written coursework requirements, with the option of applying to the person responsible for the course for a third attempt. Coursework which is not approved must be improved and approved before the student can take the exam. Coursework that is not approved might cause the student to fall behind in the programme.

The rules concerning cheating in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations and the Guidelines for Handling Cheating/Attempts at Cheating at OsloMet ¿ Oslo Metropolitan University also apply to coursework requirements.

The assessments are carried out in accordance with the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations, and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at the University. For assessment during the clinical training, please refer to the chapter on clinical training.

AssessmentThe grading system in use is pass/fail or a grade scale with letter grades from A to F, where A is the highest grade, E is the poorest pass grade and F is a fail. In connection with group exams, all students in the group are awarded the same grade.

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

Appeals against gradesGrades awarded for written exams can be appealed. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. In connection with a group exam, 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.

The final assessment for each course and the title of the master's thesis will be entered on the master's degree diploma.

External programme supervisorAn external programme supervisor scheme exists for the programme. Over a two-year period, the external programme supervisor will carry out the following supervision of the programme:

• evaluate exam assignments and assessment criteria for grading in each selected course
• assess the connections between the programme description's learning outcome descriptions, teaching arrangements and types of assessment
• give the academic environment feedback and advice that can be used in the ongoing work on quality of education

The external supervisor will write an annual report on their work that will be included in the department's part of the university¿s quality assurance system.

Programme description approved by the Academic Affairs Committee at the Faculty of Health Sciences: 31 May 2017

Last amended by the Vice-Dean on 24 April 2019