Learning outcomes
A Master’s candidate is expected to acquire in-depth and specialized disciplinary competence through their education in a Social Science research environment. The candidates are expected to have comprehensive knowledge of their discipline’s methodology and scientific foundations. The Master’s degree programme prepares a candidate for participation in research projects and for doctoral studies. A Master’s candidate will be able to resolve work-related tasks with high-level skill requirements.
Knowledge outcomes
The basic goal of the programme is to understand the complex economic mechanisms that influence social conditions. You shall get insight into society's disposition of its resources, be it labor, natural resources or capital equipment, and how the economic conditions are influenced by economic policy, technological development and demographic conditions.
Within economics, one investigates the effects of the market and how income is generated and distributed, and – more generally – how the economy functions, domestically and internationally. Economists analyze the possibilities for increasing national wealth, and how the resources can be distributed in an equitable manner.
Building on the your previous education, basic economic theory is a compulsory part of the Master's program. Mathematical analysis is an important part of the subject, and the you must acquire solid skills in mathematical and statistical methods for analyzing economic relationships.
The programme also gives an opportunity for specializing in fields such as petroleum economic, competitions policy, industry structure, financial markets, environment and resource economics, development economics, international trade and globalization.
Skills
The Master’s degree program aims to provide you with high-level methodological, analytical and work-related skills. You will also be able convey and disseminate information to a range of audiences. The following is expected of you as students:
- Methodological skills. You should be able to find and evaluate relevant sources in a critical manner. They should further be able to generate independent assessments and develop projects.
- Analytical skills. At this level, analytic skills include the ability to formulate researchable Social Science research questions in an independent manner as well as the ability to analyze large amounts of information through the application of Social Science methods.
- Dissemination of information. You should be able to present information and ideas in an instructive manner to both researchers and the general public.
- Work-related skills. You should have the ability independently to develop their skill and specialize within their fields. They should be able to participate in and lead projects and contribute to research activities. The candidates should able to carry out analytical and management tasks as well as assume responsibility for such tasks in knowledge intensive environments such as private businesses, the public sector and voluntary organizations.
Academic integrity
Master’s students should be reflectively engaged in their field and aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their own qualifications. You should demonstrate academic integrity in their presentation of research findings, whether their own or those of others, and show respect for the scientific work of others.
Master's thesis
An important part of the program is the master's thesis, where the student shall conduct independent analysis of economic problems. This includes learning how data are collected and how the results shall be presented. The goal is to acquire a scientific attitude towards the work and be able to reassess one's own views when new knowledge emerges.
Target group for the programme
The Department of Economics welcomes highly qualified students with a Bachelor's degree in Economics or equivalent from abroad as well as from Norway.