Study plan - Master in Business Administration and Economics

This Master in Business Adminisitration and Economics provides you with a comprehensive program which makes candidates well prepared for all types of work within the private or public sector . The degree gives the right to the “siviløkonom” tittle, which is in high demand amongst potential employers and many candidates are working as top or middle managers. To comply with the requirements for the title “siviløkonom” the masterprogram is built with a common minor component in Innovation (30 credits) and a specific major component from three different academic disciplines. In Bergen the program offers a major in management, in Haugesund a major in regional economy and in Sogndal a major in marketing. The choice of profile for each campus is based on core expertise within the academic staff developed through research and teaching over the years. For further details see the study plan.

To achieve the “siviløkonom” title the candidate needs a fulfilled bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Students from other academic traditions, like the other bachelor's programmes in Sogndal, such as Tourism Management, Real Estate Management and more, will not qualify for the title “siviløkonom” yet are qualified for the Master of Science in Business.It is important to be aware that it is your bachelor’s degree at the time of admission that determines whether you are entitled to use the siviløkonom title.The Master in Business Administation and Economics program builds a solid and relevant bridge between the existing bachelor education in our 8 business related bachelor programs at the faculty of economics and social sciences and the PhD education in Responsible Innovation and regional development (RESINNREG). Candidates graduating from the this masterprogramme are qualified to apply for PHD programs.

Admission

To achieve the “siviløkonom” title in addition to the Master in Business Administration and Economics the student needs a fulfilled bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Students from other academic traditions, like the other bachelor's programmes in Sogndal, such as Tourism Management, Real Estate Management and more, will not qualify for the title “siviløkonom” yet are qualified for the Master in Business Administration and Economics.t is important to be aware that it is your bachelor’s degree at the time of admission that determines whether you are entitled to use the “siviløkonom” title.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate:

1. Has advanced knowledge of important theories and concepts within marketing and

innovation, in Regional economics and Innovation, or in management and innovation and how these also can give

practical implications

2. can apply knowledge to new areas within marketing and innovation, regional

economics and Innovation, or management and innovation and utilize relevant methods within these academic fields.

3. has a thorough knowledge of theories and research methods in the field of

marketing and innovation, regional economics and Innovation, or management and innovation.

4. can analyse academic problems related to marketing and innovation, regional

economics and Innovation, or management and innovation on the basis of history, tradition, distinctive characters and the place in the academic society.

5. Has advanced knowledge about principles for business ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) for markets and regulations

Skills

The candidate:

1. Can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to

structure and formulate scholarly arguments within marketing and innovation, regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation.

2. Can analyse existing theories, methods, make practical interpretations, and work independently in marketing and innovation, in regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation.

3. Can use relevant methods for research and scholarly development in marketing and

innovation, regional economics and Innovation, or management and innovation in an independent manner.

4. Can carry out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable norms for research ethics within the field of marketing and innovation, regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation.

5. Use sustainable corporate responsibility (SCR) skills in doing jobs as part of a management team.

General competence

The candidate:

1. Can analyze relevant academic, professional and research ethical problems related to marketing and innovation, regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation.

2. Can apply her/his knowledge and skills in new areas in order to carry out advanced assignments and projects within marketing and innovation, or regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation.

3. Can communicate extensive independent work and masters' language and

terminology in the academic fields of marketing and innovation, regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation.

4. Can communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions related to marketing and innovation, regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation with both specialists or the general public.

5. Can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes related to marketing and innovation, regional economics and innovation, or management and innovation.

Content

In the master progamme you can choose between three profiles - Regional economics and Innovation (profile 1), Marketing and Innovation (profile 2) or management and innovation (profile 3). The profile Regional economics and Innovation is taught at campus Haugesund, the profile Marketing and Innovation is taught at campus Sogndal and the profile Management and innovation is taught at campus Bergen.

Practice

In the second term the program offers a course with 10-week internship (full time workdays) in a startup firm or other relevant firm with R&D projects, entrepreneurial projects. During the internship, the student will interact closely with the entrepreneurial team/research team/manager. Furthermore, the student shall perform entrepreneurial tasks, such as market studies, investor analysis, pitching for investors, technology testing and prototyping, development of business models and other relevant tasks for the firm. Through practicebased learning, the student experience real entrepreneurial tasks and commercialization of technology and as such develop entrepreneurial competences and skills. We organize the internships in close collaboration with regional clusters and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Student entrepreneurs with an own business idea, may work and have internship in their own student firm

Teaching

Teaching and learning methods are a mixture of traditional lectures, class discussions, case analysis and practical seminars (company presentations). Self-study group work are also important in order to benefit from course readings and assignments.

Assessment

The study programme includes a variety of assessment methods, where both individual and group-based assessments may be used. The specific assessment form for each course is stated in the respective course descriptions. For the master’s thesis, a midway seminar is included, where all students present the progress of their thesis work, followed by an adjusting oral examination.

In the final semester of the programme, students must complete a 30 ECTS master’s thesis. The thesis is to be written in pairs. It must be an independent scientific work in which students demonstrate critical thinking, contextual awareness, knowledge of relevant literature, research design, and analytical skills. These competencies must be applied within the subject areas covered by the programme. The central theoretical perspectives used in the thesis must correspond to core theoretical areas within the study programme. Writing the master’s thesis individually is only permitted as part of special accommodations for students with documented needs, primarily for medical reasons. To obtain such an exemption, students must apply and submit the required documentation.

Required progression

Students must have completed 50 ECTS credits of the coursework component of the programme, incl. method courses in order to be eligible to start the working process with the master thesis.

Internationalization

In the second semester, we offer two different exchange opportunities:

You may undertake a study stay at the University of California in the United States, where the exchange is combined with an internship in a company of your choice in the San Francisco area, or at other partner institutions in Europe and South Korea.

You may also follow the internship programme at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, with a focus on social entrepreneurship.