Study plan - Organization and Leadership, Master

The Master in Organization and Leadership is a social science program based in organization studies. The student chooses specialization in health- and welfare leadership or educational leadership.

During the program the students will acquire both general and sector specific knowledge about organizations and leadership, and the student will learn to analyze problems tied to among other things organization, profession, management, coordination and innovation within the educational or health and welfare sectors.

After completing the program, the candidate will have advanced knowledge about leadership and about leadership within the modern-day frameworks of public policy, rules and regulations, and budgetary priorities.

The candidate will be able to step into leadership positions and especially independent positions within public administration within the educational sector or the health and welfare sector.

The program is a part-time master’s program, to be completed in four years.

The lectures are offered only in Norwegian.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

After completing the program, the candidate has:

• a solid foundation in organization theory for understanding changing and complex challenges as they present themselves in society, public policy, and public administration
• thorough knowledge about how international and national political governance influences the institutions within which the candidate works
• advanced knowledge about how changes in the public sector are implemented through reforms, and how this creates special constraints for the execution of leadership

Skills

After completing the program, the candidate can:

• complete a research- or development project, under supervision, in line with ethical guidelines pertaining to the fields of social science, the humanities, and law.
• Assess and utilize different forms of scientific sources and databases on an advanced level
• analyze existing theories, methods, and interpretations within the academic discipline
• Work independently with relevant methods for research-based knowledge production tied to problems within the educational sector or the health and welfare sector

General competence

After completing the program, the candidate can:

• apply knowledge and skills in advanced task completion and project work
• disseminate extensive scientific work
• communicate with both the public and peers about problems within the sector using a scientific knowledge base
• contribute to new thinking and innovation

The program qualifies the candidate for the following positions and tasks:

• Leadership positions within the field of the specialization (health- and welfare sector or educational sector).
• Administrative positions within the sectors, e.g., public positions that demand knowledge about administrative work with cases tied to institutions within the field, and/or public control, supervisory, and administrative responsibilities for such institutions
• Independent positions such as project management, analysis, planning, development and the like

Content

The Master in Organization and Leadership is completed as a part-time study over eight semesters. The program has two specializations: health- and welfare leadership and educational leadership. While some courses are specific to the specialization, other courses are common to both specializations.

The courses lead up to and will provide a basis for the completion of the master's thesis the last two semesters of the program. It is emphasized that the students should be able to apply theoretical perspectives and terms to discuss empirical problems related to the educational sector or health and welfare sector.

Teaching

The program is built around seminars with lectures and group work. During the seminars, students will meet varied and problem-based forms of work like case discussions, exercises, and paper presentations with discussions of one's own and other's projects.

In-between the seminars the students will work with course syllabi and assignments. Canvas will be used actively as a learning and communication platform.

The program presents high demands for independent reading of syllabi, responsibility for one's own learning between seminars, and an active approach to the problems the students are being presented with.

Some seminars may be conducted virtually.

Assessment

The forms of assessment vary between the different courses. These are more closely described in the individual course descriptions.

Internationalization

Student exchange during the program may be accommodated. Contact Master's program coordinator for information about current opportunities for exchange.