Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Study Option International Social Welfare and Health Policy Programplan

The master's programme in International social welfare and health policy (MIS) is unique in its combination of social welfare and health policy studies. The MIS programme provides students with the knowledge and skills in social science theories as well as methods to analyse, develop and manage social and health policies at a high level.

• Why do some countries have a higher share of the global burden of diseases than others?
• How can we explain social inequalities in health within a country?
• How are the changing power relations between international, national and local actors influencing the content and effectiveness of social and health policies?
• Why do some countries have smaller socio-economic inequalities than others?
• Why do some countries have higher employment rates among women than others?
• Why are some welfare systems more successful in helping families at risk of poverty than others?
• Why are there systematic and lasting differences in opportunities for persons with disabilities to exercise choice and autonomy between countries?
• How does access to education and family planning influence the employment opportunities of young women today?
• How does cross-national mobility and immigration influence access to social security and health services?
• How can we investigate if social and health policies have the intended effects?

Answers to such questions are essential to ensure sustainable and inclusive societies. The questions are related to the organisation and content of social welfare and health policies.

Social change requires that professionals in the fields of social work, health and welfare continually develop their knowledge and skills. The Master's Degree Programme applies theoretical perspectives to these fields.

An increasingly globalized world requires the development of innovative social welfare and health policies. The two policy fields are interdependent. Both are also characterized by complex governance structures: Social welfare and health policies are shaped in a multi-actor setting involving different combinations of market actors, family, public agencies and non-profit NGOs. Additionally, the social welfare and health policies take place in a multilevel setting. Increasingly the social welfare and health policy depends on the working relations between supranational organisations, such as the UN and EU, national and local entities.

The MIS programme consists of 6 mandatory courses (60 ECTS), 3 elective courses (30 ECTS) and a master's thesis (30 ECTS). Elective courses allow students to pursue topics of special interest that may be relevant for both the master's thesis, as well as for future career possibilities.

All courses are taught in English, and the diploma will be issued in English for all successful candidates. Candidates will be awarded the title Master of Applied Social Sciences, programme option International Social Welfare and Health Policy.

The programme focuses upon general critical analytical skills with an understanding of the importance of gender, ethnicity, generation, and social class, living standards and living conditions. The programme option qualifies a graduate for:

• positions in social and health services that require the knowledge and ability to undertake systematic documentation and evaluation of social and health service programmes, as well as the knowledge of international and comparative studies within health and social welfare.
• positions in government agencies, non-governmental organisations or voluntary organisations engaged in international health and social welfare programmes and developmental assistance
• research positions at lower levels in educational programmes for social or health workers, and social science positions dealing with social and health policy issues
• PhD programmes in the fields of social welfare and health policy

This programme is aimed at students who have a special interest in international efforts to develop social and health policies.

Admission to this programme option is regulated by Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet:

.

Bachelor degrees particularly relevant for the programme option are social work, child care and welfare, political science, sociology, economics, anthropology (or related social sciences), law, medicine, nursing or similar health-related degrees. Other degrees with a focus on social and health issues are also relevant.

Academic requirements to this programme option are as follows:

In accordance with Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet

§ 12(4), applicants are divided into two groups:

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) taken outside of EU/EEA countries. A) 25 % of the places shall be allocated to applicants competing solely on the basis of grade point average. Applicants within this quota, who do not qualify, compete in the next quota. B) Applicants competing on additional points as well as grade point average.

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) from an EU/EEA institution of higher education. A) 25 % of the places shall be allocated to applicants competing solely on the basis of grade point average. Applicants within this quota, who do not qualify, compete in the next quota. B) Applicants competing on additional points as well as grade point average.

Fifty per cent of the places are reserved for applicants in group 1. If there are not enough qualified applicants from group 1 to fill this quota, the unoccupied places will be assigned to applicants in group 2.

If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of places, applicants are ranked mutually in accordance with Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet, § 12.

In accordance with Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet applicants will be ranked on the basis of grade average from their bachelor's degree. Grade averages are calculated by using a point system (for more information refer to admission regulations § 2(5). The basis for the calculation of minimum academic requirements).

Applicants may also receive extra points for work experience gained after completion of a bachelor's degree, and for extra education (admission regulations § 13. Calculation of additional points from the regulations for information regarding this). Only education and work experience within the fields of health and/or social welfare will be considered relevant.

The master programme aims for a diverse group of students from many countries. Given the limited number of places, normally no more than three students from each country will be assigned, with the exception of students from Norway.

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

Knowledge

Upon completion of the degree the candidate has

• advanced knowledge of research designs relevant to the investigate a particular research question
• the ability to relate specific research questions to specific research methods
• a high level of understanding of and ability to apply and evaluate basic theoretical and methodological frameworks in order to examine, explain and understand social and health phenomena
• a broad understanding of global social and health problems, including current situations, trends, and challenges
• in-depth knowledge of the fields of social and health care systems: their organisation, delivery, and financing
• insight into cultural differences in social and health concepts and terminology

Skills

Upon completion of the degree the candidate is able to

• analyse explicit and implicit knowledge in the fields of health policy and social welfare
• conduct a systematic and critical analysis of a problem, apply core research principles and give a clear academic presentation of the results
• identify dimensions and challenges in the current global health and welfare situation
• critically assess the advantages and disadvantages of various social and health policy approaches
• evaluate relevant research in terms of methodological quality and appropriateness
• implement a range of data and literary sources for analysis

General competence

Upon completion of the degree the candidate has acquired

• a high degree of intercultural competence, and increased understanding of international trends that affect health and social welfare
• advanced knowledge of perspectives on social and health inequalities at a high academic level. The candidate is able to evaluate the impact of social and health policies, including how policies can contribute to (re)production or change in social inequalities
• a high level of ethical reflection when assessing the development of social and health policies, as well as a broad and in-depth knowledge of ethical dilemmas in research

Masterstudium i sosialfag, studieretning barnevern er primært et tilbud til de som har oppnådd bachelorgrad eller fullført treårig grunnutdanning i barnevern, sosialt arbeid, eller tilsvarende utdanning.

Opptakskravet er fullført og bestått bachelorgrad eller fullført treårig grunnutdanning i barnevern, sosialt arbeid, eller tilsvarende utdanning.

Det vises til Forskrift om opptak til studier ved OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet. Minstekrav for opptak er gjennomsnittskarakteren C eller bedre, 2,7 eller bedre, eller vurderingen Bestått.

Søkere inndeles i to grupper:

Gruppe 1: 50 prosent av studieplassene er forbeholdt søkere som kun konkurrerer på grunnlag av karakterpoeng. Søkere som ikke når opp i gruppe 1, konkurrerer videre i gruppe 2.

Gruppe 2: Det gis tilleggspoeng for dokumentert utdanning og praksis i tillegg til karakterpoeng for utdanning som inngår i opptaksgrunnlaget. Inntil 20 prosent av studieplassene kan tildeles søkere som ikke kan poengberegnes.

Tilleggspoeng

Det gis 1 tilleggspoeng for søkere med grunnutdanning i barnevern og sosialt arbeid.

Det gis tilleggspoeng (maksimalt 1 poeng) for relevant praksis. Praksis må være opparbeidet etter endt grunnutdanning. Relevant praksis er erfaring fra helse-, sosial- og utdanningsfeltet.

Det gis tilleggspoeng (maksimalt 1 poeng) for relevant utdanning utover opptaksgrunnlaget. Relevant utdanning er emner fra sosialfaglige, samfunnsvitenskapelige, utdanningsvitenskapelige, og helsevitenskapelige fag.

Regler for oppnåelse av flere studieretninger/grader innen samme studieprogram

Kandidater som har gjennomført en studieretning og oppnådd en grad innenfor studieprogrammet kan søke om nytt opptak til en ny studieretning innen masterprogrammet i sosialfag. Man må da ta 60 nye studiepoeng i den nye studieretningen, inkludert ny masteroppgave, jf. Forskrift om godskriving og fritak av høyere utdanning § 3, og Forskrift om studier og eksamen ved OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet § 2-9.2.

Overgangsordninger

Studenter som har fått opptak til studieretningene barnevern og sosialt arbeid kan søke om overgang mellom studieretningene, men det kan bare søkes fra heltid til heltid og deltid til deltid. Studenter som ønsker overgang fra heltid til deltid, eller som ønsker overgang til studieretning familiebehandling, må søke om nytt opptak. Dersom nytt opptak/overføring innvilges, godskrives emner som allerede er gjennomført og bestått dersom de kan innpasses i den nye studieretningen. Masteroppgaven må oppfylle de faglige kravene innenfor studieretningen man skal ta grad i.

Etter å ha fullført studiet har kandidaten følgende kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell

kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Kandidaten har

• avansert kunnskap om og forståelse av samfunnsvitenskapelige teorier som er relevante for barnevernets virksomhetsområde
• inngående innsikt i ulike analytiske perspektiver på praksis, institusjoner og sosialpolitiske intervensjoner
• kan anvende sosialfaglig kunnskap på nye områder innenfor fagområdet
• kan analysere faglige problemstillinger med utgangspunkt i fagområdets historie, tradisjoner, egenart og plass i samfunnet

Ferdigheter

Kandidaten kan

• analysere barnevernfaglige fenomen og barnevernets praksis i lys av relevante samfunnsvitenskapelige teorier, begrep og forståelsesgrunnlag.
• kritisk analysere og reflektere over barnevernets komplekse mandat og funksjon i samfunnet
• anvende ulike data- og litteraturkilder for analyse
• delta i forskning og utviklingsarbeid knyttet til barnevernets fagfelt og/eller ulike brukergrupper, samt barnevernets betingelser og samfunnsmessige funksjoner
• gjennomføre en systematisk og kritisk analyse av en problemstilling, anvende sentrale forskningsprinsipper og gi en klar akademisk framstilling av resultatene
• vurdere metodiske fremgangsmåter for utforskning av fagfeltet

  Generell kompetanse

 Kandidaten har

• fordypet kunnskap om vitenskapens muligheter og begrensninger for barnevernsfeltet med en bevissthet om etiske aspekter ved forskning og fagutvikling i barnevern

 Kandidaten kan

• lese forskningslitteratur kritisk og reflektert
• vurdere problemstillinger knyttet til fag-, yrkes- og forskningsetikk
• formidle kunnskap og egne forskningsresultater skriftlig og muntlig
• anvende forskningsbasert kunnskap på områder knyttet til barnevernfaglig arbeid
• vurdere kritisk iverksettelser av sosialpolitiske tiltak som berører barn og familier

Studentene blir presentert for varierte arbeidsformer og arbeidskrav. Gjentagende skriftlig arbeid skal trene reflektert, argumenterende og ryddig framstilling. Muntlige framlegg og diskusjoner skal oppøve studentene i dialogiske og drøftende ferdigheter. Studieretningen fremmer ikke minst faglig selvstendighet gjennom egenstudium og gjennomføring av et større vitenskapelig arbeid.

Større skriftlige oppgaver som semesteroppgave og hjemmeeksamen skal benytte APA-stil ved kildehenvisninger.

Studentene anbefales sterkt å danne litteraturkollokvier.

Each course concludes with a final examination which takes the form of either a written examination, a written home assignment, a semester paper plus oral examination, or a portifolio plus oral examination. Students may use a spelling dictionary, as well as a bilingual dictionary during written school examinations. All examinations are graded by an internal examiner. In most cases this will be the course lecturer. In addition, an external examiner will evaluate at least 20 per cent of examinations, which will form the basis for the internal examiners grading. Examinations that risk being given a failing grade will be evaluated by both examiners.

Students that are not satisfied with their grades have the right to submit an appeal, whereupon examinations will be re-evaluated by two new examiners (one internal and the other external). Note that when appealing, students risk receiving a lower grade than the grade awarded for the initial examination.

The Master's Thesis will be evaluated by both an internal and an external examiner. Neither examiner will be involved in the supervision of the Master's thesis in question.

Students at the Institute for Social Work must use the APA style when citing sources and referencing.

A grading scale from A to F will normally be used in assessment. A grade of pass ranges from A to E, while F is a fail. In some courses students will receive a grade of either pass or fail. In this case, pass will be equivalent to grade C or better. See the description of each course for further information on the use of the grading system

The following documents regulate examinations at OsloMet:

the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges

the Directive for Curricula Regulations from the Ministry of Education and Research

Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

It is the responsibility of students to familiarise themselves with these rules and regulations. Information regarding some of these responsibilities will be disseminated to students during Introduction Week, as well as during lectures, and on the e-learning platform Canvas

The link to the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges can be found here: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/kilde/kd/reg/2006/0031/ddd/pdfv/273037-loven_higher_education_act_norway_010405.pdf 

The link to Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo Metropolitan University can be found at: http://www.oslomet.no