The general admission requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent education of a minimum of three years (180 credits).
The basis for admission shall include:
Either: specialization unit of at least 80 credits in the field of social sciences,of which at least 20 credits at advanced level.
Or: integrated study of 2 years duration in social sciences the least.
Examples of relevant subject areas are political science, public administration, comparative politics, economics, social geography, sociology, development studies, economics, administration or law, where public law includedes at least 80 credits.
Other admission requirements:
Social science research method, at least 7.5 credits.
Average grade of C or better is required.
It is not possible to be conditional admitted if lacking social science reasearch method.
Eligibility in accordance with admissionregulations at the University of Agder.
The master's program in political science and management is a two-year study programmem with a social science profile. It provides thorough knowledge of both political and organizational processes, European integration and international relations. The study programme provides the students' ability to independent analyze and combine social science research methods and empirical data.
Students can choose between two elective specializations. The field Organization and management focuses on organizational and managerial structures and processes, managing and leadership challenges, eg in public sector. Examples of key themes are organizational change, the importance of leadership in change processes and challenges related to organizational project management.
The other direction is European integration, which focuses on cooperation processes across European countries, governance, and public administration in international multilevel systems in particular. Topics covered can be European/international public administration, Europe's impact on members and partner countries (such as Norway) and Europe" "role" in international politics. The European Integration Summer School (EISS) also includes some of these electives.
Beeing admitted, students can apply for an internship in a relevant organization/company (ST-422 Internship).
The programme is relevant for students who want to deepen and strengthen their competence in the fielsd of social sciences.
1. sem | ST-400-2 Political Systems and Governance 10 sp | ST-424-1 International public policy and administration: Solving global problems 10 sp | ORG425-1 Topics in organization theory 10 sp | |||||||||
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2. sem | ME-400-1 Research Methodology and Statistics 10 sp | Elective course 2nd semester | ||||||||||
3. sem | ST-423-2 Research Design and Advanced Methods for the Social Sciences 10 sp | ME-502-1 (1/2) Master's Thesis in Political Science and Management 10 sp | Elective course 3rd semester | |||||||||
4. sem | ME-502-1 (2/2) Master's Thesis in Political Science and Management 30 sp |
The master's program in political science and management gives 120 credits, divided into compulsory courses (50 credits) elective courses (30 credits) and a master's thesis (40 credits). It also possible to go on exchange (30 credits).
The master's program in political science and management is 120 credits, divided into compulsory courses (50 credits), elective courses or study abroad (30 credits) and a master's thesis (40 credits). Subjects with an English course title are usually taught in English.
Compulsory topics:
ST-424 International public policy and administration: Solving global problems (10 cr)
ST-400 Political systems and governance (10 cr)
ORG425 Organizational Theory Courses (10 cr)
ME-400 Method and Statistics (10 cr)
ST-423 Research design and specialization in social science method (10 cr)
ME-502 Master's Thesis (40 cr)
Specializations:
Students can choose between two areas of choice:
Organization and management
European integration
These are recommended specializations, and it is possible to choose topics across the electives. In order to have the field of specialization registered separately in the diploma, at least 20 credits within one of the fields of elections are required.
Electives within specializations:
1. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
ORG445 Leadership in Public Organizations (spring semester)
ORG447 Management and Networks (autumn semester)
ORG411 Organizational Change and Change Management (spring semester)
ST-412 Management in the Public Sector (autumn semester) Paused autumn 2023
2. EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
ST-408 The European Union and Domestic Impact (autumn semester)
ST-418 EU External Relations (autumn semester)
ST-419 History, Institutions and Policies of European Integration (summer school)
ST-420 Current Issues in the European Union (summer school)
Other Electives (not included in one of the specializations.):
ST-422 Practice, SV-420 UiA Cocreation-Theory in Practice (autumn 3rd semester), IS-417 Digitalization of public sector and JU-404 Contractlaw
After completing the study program, the candidate must have the following total learning outcomes defined in knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
Candidates
Skills
Candidates
General competence
Candidates
The master's program in political science and management is an ordinary full-time study. The study has varied forms of work methods. This includes lectures, seminars with plenary discussions, group exercises, hand-in assignments (individually or in groups), oral student presentations, supervision and participation in research and development work. Great emphasis is placed on self-effort and the ability to work independently.
The teaching and learning methods will contribute to insight into different academic perspectives on the study of political science and management. Through lectures, students will be introduced to different academic perspectives, theories and methods. In seminars, group exercises and discussions, students receive training in communicating and discussing academic issues. Thesis writing through submission work and presentations gives students training in reflecting on and applying professional perspectives on specific problems, communicating results of their own work and collaborating with others on academic issues. Supervision gives students training in carrying out independent academic work.
Through the work on the master's thesis, students will work in an independent way scientifically and methodically with specific challenges within the subject area. Individual supervision in connection with the master's thesis will contribute to the students being able to carry out an independent and narrowed research project in line with current research ethics norms. Compulsory master's thesis seminar will help to strengthen students 'ability to assess and discuss their own and other students' work in a critical way. Through constructive feedback, the students will stimulate each other to further develop the master's thesis.
Teaching and learning methods appears in the course descriptions.
Assessmentforms in the individual courses are determined in the course description. Examples of different forms of assessment used in the study:
In most courses, there will be compulsory work requirements e.g. written assignments or oral presentations that must be approved in order to be able to take the exam and submit the final master's thesis. Mandatory work requirements appear from the individual course description. Through written work, students are trained to analyze, reflect and argue in relation to various academic theories, designs and methods, and will learn to use sources and references. Oral presentations and discussions provides insight into communicating and discussing academic themes. The work requirements help to support the course's learning outcome, both what the students achieve through working with the assignments and what they actually acquire due to skills and knowledge not tested during the exam itself.
The study program has an international orientation. This means that several courses are offered in English and large parts of the syllabus are in English. The master's program in political science and management will, among other things, contribute to increase students' competence in understanding international conditions and perspectives on the topics covered by the program. Several of the department's employees have an international subject profile and background, and international guest lecturers are often involved in the teaching. In addition, the master's students also have the opportunity to both receive supervision and to write the actual master's thesis in English or Norwegian. During the study program, students will meet international exchange students.
We encourage all students to take a study stay abroad during their studies, and arrangements are made for exchange, both in the second and third semester. If you wish to go on exchange already in the second semester, the application deadline is September 15, for the third semester February 15. Students can also apply for a double degree at the University of Konstanz (limited number of places). Students wishing to take a double master's degree in political science and management at the University of Konstanz can apply for an exchange with Konstanz for two semesters, withgin the deadline is February 15. In this connection, in-depht methodological knowledge could be an advantage. For further information about exchange opportunities, see the website with an overview of where you can go on an exchange for the master's program in political science and management, or contact the study advisor.
120
Full time
Kristiansand
Faculty of Social Sciences