PhD Programme in Behavior Analysis Programme description

Behavior analysis as a discipline covers experimental, applied and conceptual behavior analysis, with varied and interesting research questions in all three areas. Experimental, applied and conceptual behavior analysis are distinct but closely interrelated fields. Behavior analysis is an academic scientific discipline with the advantage of built-in practical usefulness. It is of high societal importance to have a demonstrably effective technology for promoting behavioral change.

At the Ph.D. level, candidates are expected to demonstrate advanced knowledge of all the main fields of behavior analysis. These are central topics: ethical considerations; definition and characteristics of behavior analysis; principles, processes and concepts; behavioral assessment; experimental evaluation of interventions; measurement of behavior; displaying and interpreting behavioral data; selecting intervention outcomes and strategies; behavior change procedures; systems support.

Candidates must demonstrate that they can design, implement and manage a research project with the necessary conceptual rigor and experimental control, and discuss ethical, practical and social implications of their own research and that of others. They must write and otherwise communicate their findings and reflections in a scientific way, and enter into scientific discussions observing the ethics and etiquette governing such exchanges. Given the essentially inductive nature of behavior analysis, doctoral level work is expected to add to the existing body of knowledge, and ideally to generate new questions.

The target group is everyone who wants to take a bachelor's degree in radiography and who are interested in health technology, people and research, both for professional practice as a radiographer and as a starting point for further studies.

The admission requirements are the Higher Education Entrance Qualification or an assessment of prior learning and work experience.

Applicants must submit a transcript of police records in connection with admission to the programme, cf. the Regulations concerning Admission to Higher Education.

The use of clothing that covers the face is incompatible with taking the programme's theoretical and practical training courses. During the practical training, the students must comply with the clothing regulations in force at all times at the relevant practical training establishment.

Requirements for admission based on prior learning and work experience

• The applicant must be over 25 years of age
• The applicant can not have general study competence
• The applicant must document a minimum of five year full-time professional experience within the health or social sector or equivalent, where the applicant has worked with patients, students or clients.
• Course requirements
  • Norwegian 393 hours
  • English 140 hours
  • Mathematics 224 hours

Learning outcomes have been defined for the radiographer education in the following areas:

• Anatomy, physiology, pathology and pharmacology (1)
• Physics and imaging (2)
• Patient care, communication and ethics (3)
• Radiation protection (4)
• Digitalisation and e-health (5)
• Research, development and innovation (6)
• Health policy and society (7)

The topics are closely intertwined in the teaching and form the basis for the skills required to practise the profession. Students will develop knowledge, skills and general competence that enable them to follow up and influence the development of the discipline and society’s requirements of radiography services.

The first year of the programme emphasises basic subjects, with a focus on basic modalities such as conventional radiography, and six weeks of practical training. The common course Public Health and Health Management is also part of the first year.

The second year of the programme focuses on pharmacology and more advanced diagnostic imaging examinations and forms of treatment. This year also provides an introduction to evidence-based practice. The year concludes with a long period of external practical training, lasting for 12 weeks.

The third year of the programme contains courses that deal with the radiographer profession, external practical training (12 weeks), in-depths study of CT and work on the bachelor's thesis. The final common course, Technology and Society, is taught during the final semester and provides an introduction to life and work in a digitalised world.

Common courses and teaching activities

The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Radiography has the following common course and common teaching activities: RAB1050 Public Health and Health Management, 5 credits. RAB1050, focus is on the health services’ organisation, health legislation and health administration, as well as preventive and health promoting work.

The structure of the programme

The programme is divided into 13 compulsory courses and incorporates both practical and theoretical teaching at the university and external practical training. Each year of the programme has a scope of 60 credits.

The courses are based on each other to facilitate progress with increasing requirements for knowledge and understanding of radiography. The practical training courses are a key part of the radiographer education. The practical training gives students experience of planning, carrying out and evaluating radiography, both in terms of theoretical and practical knowledge. All the courses conclude with a final assessment. The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students’ own activity and exams.

Study progress

The following progress requirements apply to the programme:

• In the first year of the program, students must have passed RAB1100 and RAB1200 in order to start RAB1350.
• Students must have passed the first year of the programme before they can start the second year.
• In the second year of the programme, students must have passed RAB2010 in order to start RABPRA2.
• Students must have passed the second year of the programme before they can start the third year.

The programme emphasises cooperation with the field of practice and patients as an important arena for learning. The practical training is compulsory, and must have a scope of at least 30 weeks (45 credits). The practical training is organised in such a way that the students will encounter users from all age groups and have the opportunity to take part in interprofessional cooperation. During the practical training, students are to apply their theoretical knowledge, acquire practical skills and develop good ethical attitudes in actual patient situations to achieve the learning outcomes for each period.

Most of the institutions that make up the external practical training arenas for this programme are located in Oslo and Eastern Norway. The students must therefore expect to commute during one or more of their periods of practical training. Students are assigned to diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy units. It is emphasised that the students should become familiar with the profession early on and that they will have practical training in all three years of the programme.

• First year of the programme, course RAB1350 Basic Radiographic Theory and Skills, 6 weeks of practical training in conventional radiography (including 3 weeks of external practice)
• Second year of the programme, course, RABPRA2 Clinical Placement – Radiation Therapy, 12 weeks of practical training in CT, MRI, radiation therapy and conventional radiography
• Third year of the programme, course RABPRA3 Clinical Placement, 12 weeks of practical training in CT, MRI and conventional radiography

Depending on the place of practice, students may be offered a variety of modalities, such as ultrasound, nuclear medicine, pediatric radiography, mammography and intervention.

Students must comply with the clothing regulations in force at the practical training establishment. Special requirements for tests or vaccination may apply at individual establishments.

A 90 % attendance requirement applies to the practical training. Students who exceed the maximum permitted absence will fail the practical training period and are deemed to have used one of their attempts. For more information about practical training, see the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

Requirements for supervision and assessment of students apply to the practical training. The assessment is based on the student's achievement of the learning outcomes for the practical training period and suitability assessments on a continuous bases in line with the university's assessment system. This means that a supervisor from the field of practice, referred to as a practical training supervisor, will follow up the student in cooperation with a contact lecturer from the university. The midway and final assessments are made by the practical training supervisor in cooperation with the contact lecturer.

Required coursework is all forms of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for a student to be assessed/permitted to take the exam or complete practical training. Required coursework is assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description.

The purpose of the coursework requirements is to:

• promote progress and academic development
• encourage students to seek out and acquire new knowledge
• facilitate cooperation and communication on radiography issues

The programme has coursework requirements in the form of compulsory attendance, oral presentations, written assignments and tests. The coursework requirements are set to help students to develop their competence in accordance with one or more of the expected learning outcomes of the course. Required coursework is carried out individually or in groups.

Compulsory attendance

Attendance is compulsory for all parts of the programme where the students cannot achieve the learning outcomes on their own. Participation is necessary in order to ensure that patient assessment and treatment are based on both theory and thorough supervised skills training on fellow students.

The minimum attendance requirement for the practical training period is 90 %. A minimum attendance requirement in scheduled group work, project work and seminars are 80 %. Other activities may also be subject to compulsory attendance requirements. Detailed provisions on compulsory attendance are included in the course descriptions.

If a student exceeds the maximum limit for absence, the lecturer will consider whether it is possible to compensate for the absence by meeting alternative requirements, for example individual oral or written assignments. 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. Absence from compulsory teaching activities that cannot be compensated for may lead to delayed progress in the programme.

Written assignments and compulsory activities

Several courses have written assignments, oral presentations and practical tests as required coursework. Written work that is not approved must be reworked before re-submission. Oral presentations and practical tests that are not approved will normally have to be retaken. If re-submitted written work or a retaken presentation/test is not approved, the student cannot take the ordinary exam/assessment.

The student is entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If a piece of required coursework is not approved, this may lead to delayed progress in the programme. More detailed requirements for written work, oral presentations and tests, deadlines etc. are set out in the teaching plan for the course in question.

Approved by the Academic Affairs Committee at the Faculty of Health Sciences on 6 November 2019

Most recent amendments adopted by the Vice/dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences on 27 November 2024

The programme description applies to students starting the programme in 2024 Autumn Full-time

Examinations are regulated by the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges, Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo Metropolitan University, Supplementary Provisions to Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo Metropolitan University and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.d.) at Oslo Metropolitan University.

Quality Assurance

The University educates professionals who in their studies have acquired skills, knowledge and attitudes which are important for their personal development and at the same time are relevant for the society and the professional area of which they will be part. The quality assurance system at OsloMet has the following functions:

• to ensure high quality teaching and learning
• to create a positive study and learning environment for the students
• to ensure that students complete their studies with good results and within the normal length of the study.
• to ensure a continuous quality improvement of the education the university offers
• to ensure that students will achieve the qualifications that are needed in the labour market for competent practitioners
• to ensure that demands and expectations from higher authorities are met.

Study programss are also evaluated in discussions and dialogue meetings between students, practice supervisors and teaching staff, as well as in written evaluations from students. At the end of every academic year an evaluation is carried out by means of a questionnaire based on

the defined aims of the study program. These evaluations may add valuable information for further developments of the program.

Principles for the quality management system.

Systems designed to document quality in the Ph.D. program ensure both the quality of the teaching, and the actual learning outcomes for the students.

Quality systems comprise:

• the scientific profile of the program
• the thematic and pedagogical coherence of the program
• study quality and learning outcomes
• procedures for tracking study progression and academic standing
• procedures for supervision and tutoring - including supervision contracts
• plans documenting the totality of the learning environment, including but not limited to core faculty with permanent positions at OsloMet, management procedures and chains of command, information systems and access, plans for the professional and scientific development of faculty, laboratory facilities and access, office space and lecture rooms.