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 is regulated by Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet.

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent degree) in social work, childcare and welfare, political science, sociology, economics, anthropology, law, medicine or nursing. Other degrees with a focus on social and health issues may also be considered.

Applicants will be ranked on the basis of grade average from their bachelor's degree.

Fifty percent of the places are reserved for applicants who are citizens in countries outside EU/EEA.

The master's 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 graduate 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 graduate 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 graduate 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 graduate 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

In addition to the mandatory courses, each student is required to select three courses from the electives available in this programme option (total of 30 ECTS). Students in need of advice regarding these courses can ask the programme coordinator, course lecturers, or the administrator.

As an alternative to the elective courses provided in this programme description, students may select courses from other programme options within the Master's Programme at the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. In addition, students may choose among courses offered at master's level at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), or institutions of higher learning in Norway outside of OsloMet, or one of our partner universities outside of Norway. Students can choose up to 30 ECTS from outside OsloMet. Norwegian-speaking students can also choose elective courses offered in Norwegian. All external courses must be approved by the programme coordinator in advance.

The master's thesis is an independent dissertation consisting of 30 study credits. Students ought to begin reflecting upon a research topic and methods for the thesis in the first semester. In the second semester, students will prepare a research proposal for the thesis. Students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors as early as possible. On the basis of the research topics chosen, students will be assigned a supervisor.

The programme Practical Pedagogy for Tertiary Vocational Education 1 will confer basic teaching competence for work in tertiary vocational education. The students will learn to plan, execute, document and assess learning work for students in tertiary vocational education. They will learn to use research-based knowledge and try a variety of teaching activities in their workplace. The students are expected to develop a critical and reflective attitude to their own practice in tertiary vocational education, and an awareness of their role in the double practice field.

The programme is adapted to the varied and profession-oriented fields of tertiary vocational education. The programme therefore focuses on using the students’ experience in their learning work.

Practical Pedagogy for Tertiary Vocational Education 1 is an English-language commissioned programme conducted in collaboration with Noroff – School of Technology and Digital Media.

The target group for the programme is vocational teachers affiliated to Noroff – School of Technology and Digital Media.

General admission requirements

Qualified applicants must document that they have achieved the Higher Education Entrance Qualification or equivalent prior learning and work experience.

The following requirements must be met in order to qualify to apply for admission on the basis of prior learning and work experience:

1. The applicant must be at least 25 years of age in the year of admission and cannot have achieved the Higher Education Entrance Qualification. Applicants must document one of the following:

• craft certificate or equivalent and at least two years’ relevant work experience, or

  • at least five years’ relevant work experience. Up to two of these five years can be replaced by relevant unpaid work, education, organisation work experience or similar.

2. Applicants must have adequate proficiency in English to be capable of completing the programme. This must be documented with, as a minimum, the subject English (140 hours per year) from a vocational upper secondary school programme or equivalent, passed with the grade 2 or better. Applicants whose first language is not a Nordic language must document that they meet the requirement for English language proficiency at a level corresponding to the Higher Education Entrance Qualification.

Relevant part-time work of varying scope and length can be converted into full-time in accordance with the applicable rules.

Special admission requirements

The applicant must be affiliated to Noroff – School of Technology and Digital Media through an employment relationship and work on educational development, learning work or counselling work for adults. This should be documented by an employer reference.

Learning outcomes are described in the course description.