Master in Social Science

Knowledge and understanding:

After graduation, the student will have:

• Thorough knowledge of social sciences and the chosen major, and the student will have developed a reflective attitude towards this knowledge.
• Thorough knowledge of scientific theory and research methods, and the student will know how to apply them critically and in terms of their own competence.
• The ability to analyze professional issues from a social science perspective.

Skills:

After graduation, the student will have the ability to:

• Bring forth and discuss ethical issues in social research and in society at large.
• Apply methods of social science and perspectives on practical challenges on specific tasks.
• Keep updated of new and relevant research and apply this on his or her own academic work and in his or her own professional practice.

General competence

After graduation, the student will have the ability to:

• Use his or her skills to interpret single phenomenon in a broader social science context.
• Develop, plan and carry out research in accordance with the academic requirements for scientific methods and content, leading to new social relevant knowledge and understanding.
• Communicate, argue and present his or her knowledge and skills.

Description of the specializations with learning outcomes

Specialization in Social Work with a Comparative Perspective

The specialization in social work provides a thorough understanding of the theoretical basis as well as national and international challenges in the practical work of social work. Social work is a subject that is directed towards understanding how cultural, political, social and economical conditions create problems in people¿s living conditions and way of life as way as improving the individuals, families, groups and local communities life situations. In today¿s societies social problems often arise across local societies and nations. The specialization in social work will therefore focus especially on the combination on local and global perspectives and strategies. Through the study the students shall analyze and critically reflect on central issues in the subject area, applying existing research and plan and carry out an individual research project.

The Social Work specialization will prepare you for interesting job offerings both in the public and the private sector, and also opens your opportunities for employment internationally.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

Upon successful completion of this study programme students should:

• Have advanced knowledge and comparative understanding of the field of social work and specialized knowledge in one specific field.
• Have thorough knowledge of the profession of social work, and its scientific theory and methods.
• Be able to apply knowledge in new areas in the field of social work

Cognitive skills:

Upon successful completion of this study programme students should be able to:

• Reflect critically on questions relevant for social and societal development from the perspective of social science.
• Analyze and understand societies and international processes from comparative perspectives.
• Highlight and discuss normative issues and dilemmas related to social work.
• Interpret and make critical judgments as well as engage in different kinds of research and evaluations.

General skills:
Upon successful completion of this study programme students should be able to:

• Formulate precise analyses in written form
• Develop, plan, and implement a larger piece of written research work in accordance with academic standards, leading to new and relevant knowledge and understanding
• Be able to analyze relevant academic, professional, and ethical issues.

Specialization in International Northern Development

This multidisciplinary programme will provide you with a basic understanding of current issues and perspectives that will illuminate both the circumpolar region itself and its relationship with the international community.

The Circumpolar North is a diverse cultural, social, economic and political region, but still some commonalities such as abundant natural resources, scattered settlements, urbanization, increased outmigration from small communities, a significant international industrial interest and rapid social and environmental change are common to the region as a whole. This programme aims to develop a deeper understanding of the range of drivers that shape development both of communities and people in the High North. It will also provide you with a unique opportunity for international collaboration and cross-case comparisons.

The International Northern Development specialization will prepare you for interesting job offerings both in the public and the private sector, and also opens your opportunities for employment internationally.

The International Northern Development specialization is a collaboration between two universities: University of Nordland situated in Northern Norway, and University of Northern British Colombia (UNBC) in Canada. There will be one mandatory exchange semester at UNBC during the study.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

• Upon successful completion of this study programme students should:
• Have a general knowledge and comparative understanding of communities and peoples of the circumpolar North and the different social, cultural and political systems.
• Have a thorough knowledge of the unique issues in the Circumpolar North.
• Have a general knowledge and understanding of social science methodology, theories and research traditions relevant for this multi- disciplinary field.
• Have specialized knowledge and understanding of a chosen topic researched in the master thesis

Cognitive skills:

Upon successful completion of this study programme students should be able to:

• Reflect critically on questions relevant for social and societal development from the perspective of multidisciplinary social science.
• Analyze and understand societies and international processes from comparative perspectives.
• Highlight and discuss normative issues and dilemmas related to the circumpolar institutions.
• Identify and discuss normative questions and dilemmas in social and political institutions
• Interpret and make critical judgments as well as engage in different kinds of research and evaluations.

General skills:

Upon successful completion of this study programme students should be able to:

• Formulate precise analyses in written form
• Develop, plan, and implement a larger piece of written research work in accordance with academic standards, leading to new and relevant knowledge and understanding

Specialization in West Nordic Studies

The specialization in West Nordic Studies: Governance and sustainable management will provide you with necessary knowledge and skills to participate in local governance and in the management of local resources and development in different social contexts. The Nordic coastal states have abundant natural resources and a scattered population in common. Your challenge will be to understand, analyze, and arrive at solutions that encourage people to maintain and develop more sustainable communities. In this specialization the analytic tool you will be trained to master will set you on a course towards becoming an expert in this geographic area and provide you with a unique opportunity for international collaboration and for comparison of a large variety of states and communities. Your comparative knowledge will thus be an important contribution to formalize the local knowledge already available. Knowledge of culture, social structures and human understanding of their settlements are important cornerstones for making these coastal communities more robust and sustainable in the contemporary world.

This specialization is collaboration between five universities: University of Iceland, University of Akureyri, University of Greenland, University of the Faroe Islands and the University of Nordland. This network between the universities will attend to your needs for theoretical and empirical comparison by mandatory student exchange during the third semester. The specialization also has an introduction course in the beginning of the first semester which is held at the University of Akureyri, Iceland.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

Upon successful completion of this study programme students should:

• Have a general knowledge and understanding of communities and different social and political systems. The students should have knowledge of the processes of organizing, managing and governance in the public sector and be able to use comparisons of different communities to develop sustainable analysis that can have a positive effect upon local community¿s sustainability.
• Have general knowledge and understanding of social science methodology and theories and research traditions in a multi disciplinary field.
• Have specialized knowledge and understanding of a chosen topic researched in the master thesis

Cognitive skills:

Upon successful completion of this study programme students should be able to:

• Reflect critically on questions relevant for the public sector and the field social science
• Analyze and understand comparable features of societies. The student should be able to use their special knowledge of local, national and international understandings to encourage small societies to take part in the political and administrative processes.
• Identify and discuss normative questions and dilemmas in social and political institutions
• Interpret and make critical judgments as well as engage in different kinds of research work

General skills:

Upon successful completion of this study programme students should be able to:

• Formulate precise analyses in written form
• Develop, plan, and implement a larger piece of written research work in accordance with academic standards, leading to new and relevant knowledge and understanding