EPN-V2

PhD Programme in Social Work and Social Policy Programme description

Programme name, Norwegian
Ph.d.-program i sosialt arbeid og sosialpolitikk
Valid from
2020 FALL
ECTS credits
180 ECTS credits
Duration
6 semesters
Schedule
Here you can find an example schedule for first year students.
Programme history

Introduction

The purpose of the PhD programme in Social Work and Social Policy is to qualify candidates for research, teaching, development work and other work in the field of social work and social policy that demands great academic insight. There is growing demand for people who meet the increased qualification requirements for new knowledge and understanding.

The PhD programme is interdisciplinary in that it is based on contributions from several disciplines within the social sciences and humanities. The programme is characterised by methodological and theoretical pluralism, while at the same time emphasising that individual PhD candidates should have freedom to pursue in-depth studies.

The PhD programme is intended to contribute to the phenomena under investigation being analysed in their historical, social and cultural context, and it also emphasises an international and comparative perspective. This applies both to research into relations between social workers and their clients and to the implementation of social policy programmes. The link between social work and social policy makes it possible to examine how measures and decisions influence people's everyday lives, living conditions and quality of life and health in different phases and ways of life, and how the individual's circumstances must be understood in light of social policy factors. In this perspective, social work and social policy are mutually enriching fields.

The PhD programme consists of an academic training/course component (30 ECTS credits) and a research component (150 ECTS credits).

Nominal length of study

The PhD programme in Social Work and Social Policy is intended to be completed within an effective researcher training period of three years, alternatively four years including mandatory duties (pliktarbeid).

Target group

The target group for the PhD programme consists of people with a background in social work, health sciences, the social sciences or the humanities who wish to achieve research competence in the field of social work and social policy.

Admission requirements

Reference is made to Section 2 of the Regulations Relating to the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at Oslo Metropolitan University (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations relating to the PhD Degree at OsloMet).

To be admitted to the PhD programme, applicants must have completed a master's degree (120 ECTS credits) or an equivalent education in social work, health sciences, social sciences or the humanities.

Applications for admission must contain a plan for the programme. The plan must contain a project description, a plan for the training component, a schedule, a funding plan and a proposal for academic supervisor(s). The final decision on academic supervisors is made by the faculty's doctoral committee. The project description shall describe the topic, research question, theoretical basis and choice of method. The description must set out a time schedule for the different parts of the research work. In the case of comprehensive data collection, financing must be clarified.

Reference is made to the application form available on the faculty's website (ansatt.oslomet.no).

Admission is based on the relevance and quality of the project description, and on funding. The quality of the applicant's master's degree thesis/thesis at second degree level and other written work can also be taken into consideration. Decisions on admission are made by the doctoral committee at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University. Admission is formalised in a contract between the PhD candidate, the academic supervisor and the university college, and, if relevant, also between the university and any external institutions. The contract specifies the parties' mutual rights and obligations. The contract must also state the topic of the thesis, the contract period, the funding plan, matters relating to the academic supervisors, place of work and the training component. Admission is granted subject to funding being approved.

The PhD program is an organized research education, and assigned fellows shall have an office space in the academic community (residence duty) and participate in research groups. Externally funded candidates participate in research groups at their own workplace or in one of the faculty's research groups.

Admission requirements for external applicants to individual courses

The target group for the course are candidates from the PhD programme in Social Work and Social Policy, but it will also be open to PhD students on other programs who wish to study the field in depth

External candidates apply through the Søknadsweb. The following documentation must be enclosed:

1. Confirmation on admission to a PhD program2. Summary of your research proposal (approx.one page) and how this PhD course will be relevant for your research project

Maximum number of participants is 15.

Rejections of applications for admission can be appealed pursuant to the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo Metropolitan University

Learning outcomes

Helsedirektoratet har utarbeidet nasjonale retningslinjer for palliasjon til barn og unge uavhengig av diagnose. Retningslinjene ble publisert 2. mars 2016 og omfatter alle barn fra 0-18 år som har en livstruende eller livsbegrensende sykdom og deres familier. Familie som begrep må forståes i vid forstand, der familien selv definerer hvilke personer som fungerer som støtte- og omsorgspersoner, og som defineres som familie. Palliasjon inkluderer prenatal palliasjon og sorgoppfølging overfor pårørende. Et element i retningslinjen er anbefaling om opprettelse av regionale barnepalliative team, som skal ha ansvar for overordnet palliativ oppfølging av barn med livstruende eller livsforkortende tilstand i sin helseregion. De regionale barnepalliative teamene skal være rådgivende instans for helseregionens barneavdelinger, og bidra til opplæring og kompetanseøkning i sin region. Helsepersonellet som skal være en del av disse teamene trenger selv et kompetanseløft for å kunne fylle denne funksjonen. Helsedirektoratet ønsker at den aktuelle videreutdanningen rettes spesielt mot denne funksjonen, og at målgruppen er sykepleiere.

«Barn og ungdom i Norge med livstruende og livsbegrensende sykdom og deres familie bør tilbys palliativ oppfølging i henhold til WHOs definisjon og utdyping. Barnepalliasjon er en aktiv og helhetlig støtte til barnets og familiens fysiske, psykiske, sosiale og eksistensielle behov, som starter ved diagnosetidspunkt og varer livet ut, med etterfølgende oppfølging for familie. Barnepalliasjon omfatter alle barn fra 0-18 år, men utelukker ikke de som er diagnostisert i barndommen og som lever ut over denne alder.» (Helsedirektoratet, 2016).

Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus har fått oppdraget fra Helsedirektoratet om å gjennomføre en videreutdanning for sykepleiere innen barnepalliasjon.

Læringsutbyttebeskrivelsene i studiets program- og emneplaner er lagt på masternivå.  På generell basis kan kandidater med fullført videreutdanning i barnepalliasjon søke innpasset deler av utdanningen på flere andre masterstudier innen helsefag.

 

Relevans for arbeidsliv

Helsedirektoratet ønsker at det opprettes regionale og lokale barnepalliative team bestående av et tverrfaglig team av helsepersonell og der sykepleiere skal være en sentral aktør i å opprette og drifte disse teamene. De regionale barnepalliative teamene skal innenfor sin helseregion ha ansvar for den overordnede palliativ oppfølgingen av barn med livstruende eller livsforkortende tilstander. De regionale barnepalliative teamene skal være rådgivende instans for helseregionens barneavdelinger og bidra med opplæring og kompetanseheving i sin region. Helsedirektoratet anbefaler i Nasjonal faglig retningslinje for palliasjon til barn og unge uavhengig av diagnose, at hver barne- og ungdomsavdeling etablerer et tverrfaglig barnepalliativt team. Lokale barnepalliative team er således aktuelle arbeidsområder for sykepleiere med videreutdanning i palliasjon til barn. De barnepalliative teamene bør samarbeide med hjemmesykehus (der dette er et tilbud). Videre anbefaler Helsedirektoratet at teamene har ansvar for å spre kunnskap og dele erfaringer om barnepalliasjon med øvrig helsepersonell på eget sykehus og i kommunene.   

Content and structure

Målgruppen for studiet er autoriserte sykepleiere med relevant praksiserfaring rettet mot barn og sykepleiere med videreutdanning innenfor kategorier i opptakskravet.

Teaching and learning methods

The training component

Teaching methods will vary in all courses. They can range from lectures, discussions and verbal or written presentations by candidates to individual feedback.

Most courses will be held as seminars and have a duration of three or four days. Participation is mandatory, and candidates are expected to attend all days of teaching. A minor absence can only be accepted in special cases (up to 20 %), upon application. In the event of absences that are not approved, candidates will lose their right to have their essays assessed.

If there are less than six applicants for an advertised course, the teaching can be given as a guided reading topic.

Upon application, up to 5 credits of the study section may be submitted as teaching or research activities according to the given rules, see under Assessment.

Participation in thesis seminars and midway assessments

Various work-shops and seminars will be organized where relevant research and research education issues are discussed and the fellows will be participants in the Institute's monthly research seminars.

Mid-term seminars are arranged for each candidate. Here the candidate presents her/his dissertation project and receives comments from an opponent. The opponent should not be employed  in the department/ workplace of the candidate's or principal supervisor's department. Supervisors and researchers in the study's research communities are invited to participate. The mid-term seminar is a central arena for the presentation and presentation of the candidate's professionalism and progression level, and represents an important milestone for the candidate.

The program will host an infoseminar about submission and dissertation at least once a year. Although the process of submitting of thesis is published on our web pages, these seminars can aid  in the preparation for completion.

Seminar meetings can be held on "kappe" writing, which can complement corresponding seminars at OsloMet.

The program has annual semiday seminars for its supervisors, both internal and external. The seminars will be able to strengthen supervisor skills for PhD supervisors.

Active research under supervision

The work on the PhD thesis consists of active research under supervision. The program has a guideline for the dissertation, cf. Guidelines for the dissertation in the PhD programs of the Faculty of Social Sciences, which are stated on the program's web site.

The duties of the supervisors are regulated by the Regulations relating to the PhD Degree at OsloMet Section 3. The main supervisor should normally come from the program's department / faculty. If the main supervisor is not from the program's department, a co-supervisor from the department shall be appointed upon admission. The total time the supervisors spends on the candidate is estimated to be 210 hours, including contact with the candidate, preparations, reading, follow-up work etc. The standard distribution between the main supervisor and a co-supervisor is 140 and 70 hours respectively. If there are more co-supervisors, a different distribution will apply. The candidate is entitled to a total of 70 hours of direct supervision during the programme. Upon admission to PhD education at OsloMet, a written employment contract is formalized regarding their duties and rights during the admission period, cf. the PhD Regulations at OsloMet, § 2-6. A progress schedule is drawn up at the first supervision meeting. The candidate and the supervisor shall submit progress reports annually, cf. the PhD Regulations at OsloMet, § 3-3.

Internationalisation

Studiet, som består av 3 obligatoriske emner, gjennomføres på deltid i løpet av to semestre.

Deltidsstudiet er organisert som ukesamlinger, med to samlinger på 3-5 dager per semester. Mellom samlingene forutsettes det at studentene arbeider med fagstoff alene og sammen med medstudenter.

Assessment

The PhD degree in Social Work and Social Policy is awarded (cf. Regulations Relating to the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at Oslo Metropolitan University) on the basis of

  • approved completion of the training component, alternatively other approved academic training or competence
  • an approved trial lecture on a specified topic
  • an approved research thesis and approved public defence of the thesis.

Training component

Candidates must write an essay in each course. As a rule, essays should be 8-10 pages long for 5-credit courses and 12-15 pages long for 10-credit courses. The essay must be handed in within two months after the end of teaching in a course. The teacher responsible for the course will assess the essay. If the essay cannot be approved, a candidate can submit a revised essay once, by a specified deadline.