EPN-V2

Master’s Program in Behavioral Science - Specialisation in Concepts and Applications Programme description

Programme name, Norwegian
Masterstudium i atferdsvitenskap - spesialisering i begreper og anvendelse
Valid from
2025 FALL
ECTS credits
120 ECTS credits
Duration
4 semesters
Schedule
Here you can find an example schedule for first year students.
Programme history

Introduction

Alle hjelpemidler er tillatt så lenge regler for kildehenvisning følges.

Target group

Gradert skala A - F.

Admission requirements

Det benyttes intern og ekstern sensor til sensurering av besvarelsene. 

Et uttrekk på minst 25 % av besvarelsene sensureres av to sensorer. Karakterene på disse samsensurerte besvarelsene skal danne grunnlag for å fastsette nivå på resten av besvarelsene. 

Learning outcomes

Emnet har 7 studiepoengs overlapp med ARBIB1000 Informasjonssøk og kildekritikk.

Content and structure

Program Structure

The program constitutes a scientifically and pedagogically integrated whole; with compulsory and elective components (all comprising 10 ECTS), in addition to master’s theses of 40 ECTS.

Content of common compulsory courses

These courses provide basic insight and some practical skills in behavior analysis.

The philosophy of science that is fundamental to behavior analysis is introduced and placed in a wider context of philosophy of science. The status of various scientific approaches in modern society is discussed. The courses place the study of human behavior in a natural science tradition and emphasize a selectionist understanding of change processes. Basic ontological and epistemological questions are discussed: unity of knowledge; the relationship between natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities; determining and defining analytical units in research; and methodological approaches suitable for promoting effective action. Behavior analysis – experimental, conceptual and applied – is introduced as a cumulative science of behavior.

Compulsory courses

These courses are compulsory for all students:

  • MALK4100 Science, Behavior, and Society
  • MALK4000-403 Behavior Analysis and Radical Behaviorism
  • MALKA211 Introduction to Behavior Analysis
  • MALKA212 Refinement of Behavior Analytic Terms
  • MALKA213 Laboratory Exercises – Experimental Analysis of Behavior
  • MALKA214 Experimental Design and Functional Analysis

Content of elective courses

In the elective courses, various behaviorally based approaches to initiating, facilitating and managing change processes in individual behavior repertoire, organizations and systems are studied. Behavioral technology comprises everything from basic self-control techniques to sophisticated tools for initiating and managing complex processes in large organizations. Important features in this methodology are operational measures of change and continuous data collection.

Elective courses (a total of 20 ECTS)

Each student chooses two (2) of the following courses:

  • MALKA215 Complex Human Behavior *
  • MALKA217 Early Intervention for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders
  • MALKA218 Ethical Considerations in Applied Behavior Analysis
  • MALKA219 Organizational Behavior Management (OBM)
  • MALKA220 Behavioral Economics
  • MALKA221 Complex Systems and Risk Management (Not offered in 2025)
  • MALKA222 Clinical Behavior Analysis

Elective courses are normally offered every Fall term. Students enrol for courses bydeadlines each semester, and thedepartment reserves the right to cancel courses with insufficient enrolment. Depending on the number of students enrolled, changes may be made in the way the courses are conducted.

Master's theses - 40 ECTS credits

Students write an individual master’s thesis worth 40 ECTS (MALK5920/MALKD5920). The thesis is usually a work in progress during the elective courses, when students participate in research projects with faculty.

By the end of the final course at the latest, the student submits a thesis outline, including a research question, a plan for progress, and a plan for dissemination (see guidelines, Thesis outline). When faculty approves the thesis outline, the student is assigned a supervisor for his thesis work. See the course descriptions for MALK5920/MALKD5920 for a more detailed description of the master’s thesis worth 40 ECTS.

Two compulsory seminars in research ethics cover academic honesty; the work of Regional Ethics Committees; the guidelines of OsloMet on research ethics and research fraud; current publication manuals and APA style manuscript preparation, and the use of electronic reference management tools. The seminars are taken place digitally and are open forstudents from all stages of the program. One seminar is held every semester, and both seminars must be completed before the proposal for the thesis is submitted.

The master’s thesis can be written in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

The program complies with the quality assurance systems required by the university.

Progression Requirements

All coursework requirements must be approved to sit for the final course exam. Coursework requirements must be approved to participate and submit coursework requirements according to the following:

  • MALKA211: MALK4100 or equivalent
  • MALKA212: MALK4100, MALKA211, or equivalent
  • MALKA213: MALK4100, MALKA211, MALKA212, or equivalent
  • MALKA214:MALK4100, MALKA211, or equivalent
  • MALKA215: MALK4100, MALK4000-403, MALKA211, MALKA212, MALKA214, or equivalent
  • MALK/MALKD5920: All courses in the specialisation must be completed with pass grades and the coursework requirements, including seminars in research ethics, must be approved before the candidate may submit the master’s thesis.

Exemption from the provisions of progression requirements may in special cases and upon application by the student, be granted.

Optional course Spans multiple semesters

1st year of study

1. semester

Behavior Analysis and Radical Behaviorism
MALK4000-403 10.0 ECTS
Science, Behavior and Society
MALK4100 10.0 ECTS
Introduction to Behavior Analysis
MALKA211 10.0 ECTS

2. semester

Refinement of Behavior Analytic Terms
MALKA212 10.0 ECTS
Laboratory Exercises — Experimental Analysis of Behavior
MALKA213 10.0 ECTS
Experimental Design and Functional Analysis
MALKA214 10.0 ECTS

2nd year of study

3. semester

Master's Thesis
MALK5920 40.0 ECTS
Complex Human Behavior
MALKA215 10.0 ECTS
Early Intervention for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders
MALKA217 10.0 ECTS
Ethical Considerations in the Application of Behavior Analysis
MALKA218 10.0 ECTS
Organizational Behavior Management (OBM)
MALKA219 10.0 ECTS
Behavioral Economics
MALKA220 10.0 ECTS
Clinical Behavior Analysis
MALKA222 10.0 ECTS

4. semester

Master's Thesis
MALK5920 40.0 ECTS

Teaching and learning methods

Bestått første og andre studieår eller tilsvarende.

Internationalisation

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

The Program for Behavioral Science has teaching and research collaboration projects and agreements with several foreign institutions of higher education. We encourage students to take a part of their master`s degree at one of our collaborating institutions, subject to the approval of the Head of Studies. A prerequisite for approval of the exchange is that the coursework is interchangeable with courses in our master’s program.

The recommended options for international exchange are the 3rd semester.

Courses open to exchange students

The following courses are open to exchange students and will be offered in English in case of participation of international exchange students:

  • MALK4000-403 Behavior Analysis and Radical Behaviorism, 10 ECTS
  • MALKA211 Introduction to Behavior Analysis, 10 ECTS
  • MALKA212 Refinement of Behavior Analytic Terms, 10 ECTS
  • MALKA213 Laboratory Exercises – Experimental Analysis of Behavior,10 ECTS
  • MALKA215 Complex Human Behavior, 10 ECTS
  • MALKA217 Early Intervention for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders, 10 ECTS
  • MALKA218 Ethical Considerations in Applied Behavior Analysis, 10 ECTS
  • MALKA219 Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), 10 ECTS
  • MALKA220 Behavioral Economics, 10 ECTS
  • MALKA222 Clincal Behavior Analysis

Exchange students should have basic competence in behavior analysis.

Courses are taught in English when international students attend the course, otherwise they are mainly taught in Norwegian.

Required reading is primarily in English.

Work requirements

All courses except MALKA212, MALKA213, MALKA214 and MALKA218 have one or more coursework requirements. Each assignment is graded Approved/Not approved. All assignments must be approved before the student can sit for the exam in each course.

Written assignments

The assignments are submitted digitally, and written feedback is delivered in the same electronic platform. When the coursework requirement is delivered according to deadlines in the course schedule the student has the right to receive feedback on the assignment. Assignments not submitted within the set deadline will be considered failed.

A student may submit the same compulsory assignment a maximum of three times. Failed assignments must be reworked before resubmission. If the second submission fails, the student is not eligible for the regular examination. The student is entitled to a third attempt before new/deferred exam.

If one or more assignments are not approved after three attempts, the student must attend the course the next time it is arranged, usually the subsequent year. Application for a fourth and final attempt to complete the assignment to sit for the exam are decided on an individual basis by the study administration in cooperation with the person responsible for the course.

All coursework in writing, including master’s theses, undergoes automatic plagiarism control on submission.

Attendance requirementsWhile there is no attendance required for lectures, this is a demanding program, and steady work is required throughout the courses.

Two research ethics seminars are 100 % attendance required before the thesis outline can be submitted. The seminars are taken place digitally and held annually, one each semester. It is recommended to complete the seminars during the first year of studies.

Assessment

Exams are tailored to the learning outcomes, course content and teaching and learning methods.

Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. All ordinary exams are held in the same term as the corresponding course.

All exams except the master’s thesis are assessed by one examiner, with an external examiner used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. The master’s thesis is evaluated and graded by one internal and one external examiner. The grading scale on all exams is: A (highest) to F (lowest) where A to E are the pass grades, and F is a fail grade.

All courses included in the specialisation are specified on the diploma, as is the titleof the master’s thesis.

Assessments are carried out in accordance with the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges, Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and Guidelines for Appointment and Useof Examiners at OsloMet.

Exams in Master in Behavioral Science – specialisation in Concepts and Applications

MALK4100 Science, Behaviour and Society: Portfolio exam that includes 3 individual written assignments (A-F)

MALK4000-403 Behavior Analysis and Radical Behaviorism: Individual written home examination, 5 hours (A-F)

MALKA211 Introduction to Behavior Analysis: Individual written school examination, 3 hours (A-F)

MALKA212 Refinement of Behavior Analytic Terms: Individual written school examination (combination of essays and multiple choice/digital tests), 2 hours (A-F)

MALKA213 Laboratory Exercises – Experimental Analysis of Behavior Analysis: Individual project examination (A-F)

MALKA214 Experimental Design and Functional Analysis: Individual written school examination (multiple choice test), 3 hours (A-F)

MALKA215 Complex Human Behavior: MALKA215 Complex Human Behavior: Individual written school examination, 3 hours (A-F)

MALKA217 Early Intervention for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Individual written school examination, 3 hours (A-F)

MALKA218 Ethical Considerations in Applied Behavior Analysis: Individual written home examination, 3 hours (A-F)

MALKA219 Organizational Behavior Management (OBM): Individual written home examination, 3 hours (A-F)

MALKA220 Behavioral Economics: Portfolio exam that includes 2 individual written assignments (A-F)

MALKA222 Clinical Behavior Analysis: Individual written home examination, 3 hours (Pass/Fail)

MALK5920/MALKD5920 Master’s Thesis: Master’s thesis, individual (A-F)

Other information

Skriftlig bacheloroppgave i gruppe på normalt to studenter, inntil 7000 ord.

Ny eksamen: Dersom bacheloroppgaven blir vurdert til F (ikke bestått) har studentene anledning til å levere omarbeidet oppgave én gang.