Decisions and guidelines

SAMFAK 2007/23

Doss 3:1:1

The Master Programme in Social Sciences comprises 120 credits.

Upon completing the programme students will be able to address advanced work assignments in public authorities, in organisations, and in companies. They will serve as qualified analysts and project participants as well as project leaders. A solid theoretical and academic in-depth programme will foster a capacity for analytical and synthetic thinking.

Training in the scientific method is, on the one hand, integrated in the courses and, on the other hand, the main content of certain methods courses. The ability to independently identify, formulate, and solve problems is a central theme of the programme, regardless of discipline. Students' ability to make critical judgements established at earlier levels will be further developed.

GOALS EXPRESS AS EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Upon completing the programme students will

- have acquired an advanced knowledge of the selected subject of specialisation (major field)

- be able to identify and contextualise processes of change on various social levels

- have acquired a very good knowledge of formulating problems, performing a study, and communicating a study, above all in writing but also orally; in other words, be able to carry out their own project work based on solid social scientific analysis.

PROGRESSION IN THE PROGRAMME

All programmes are two-year Master programmes with a clear exit option after one year, with the possibility of taking a one-year Master's degree. Studying at the advanced level represents a clear progression compared with the basic level. The progression in the advanced level consists of either greater subject depth and preparation for research or professional careers and added breadth/thematic specialisation.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree comprising 180 credits, at least 90 credits of which must in one of the subjects included in the collaboration, including an independent project of at least 15 credits or the. Specific eligibility requirements are in place for each respective entry subject.

Layout of the programme

The programme has eight entry subjects. Courses in students' chosen subject at the advanced level are combined with skills courses and elective courses that are taken together with other programme students from differing subject backgrounds. The programme thus enables a broad schooling in social sciences in combination with in-depth study. The curriculum for the specialisations of the Master programme is based on a homogeneous programme structure. The centre of this structure consists of uniform course modules comprising 7.5 credits that are pursued at a half-time rate, two and two in parallel. On the programme there are core courses (in student's main area of study), skill courses (common methodology courses for all students) and elective courses. The students take a least 60 credits of core courses, of which 30 credits consist of the Master's thesis. Skill courses comprise 30 credits and are offered by one of the departments in the Social Science Faculty. The students also take 30 credits of elective courses.

Courses are either obligatory or elective according to each entry subject. Core courses, which are obligatory, are courses in the major field at the advanced level. In some configurations it may be obligatory to select further courses. The one-year Master's degree requires 15 credits of skills courses, and the two-year Master 15+15 credits.

Term 1 starts with studies in a selected subject (major field) in tandem with two skills courses. Term 2 consists of continued studies at the major subject department and two elective courses at another department, and/or a one-year-master degree project. In Term 3 students take two skill courses and two elective courses. Term 4 is devoted to writing a two-year-master degree project.

Instruction

Instruction consists mainly of seminars where students present their own written assignments and written and oral treatments of articles and literature. Obligatory elements are included in most courses.

Degree

The programme leads to a two-year Master's degree (in the respective major field included in the programme) comprising 120 credits, with at least 60 credits in the major field, including an independent degree project comprising at least 30 credits. The programme can be concluded with a one-year Master's degree comprising 60 credits (in the respective major field), with at least 30 credits in the major field, including an independent degree project comprising at least 15 credits.

Other directives

Major fields in the programme are:

Economic History

Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics

Social and Economic Geography

Media and Communication Science

Education

Psychology

Sociology