Study plan - Interdisciplinary Master in Mental Health and Substance Use Work

Master’s Programme in Interdisciplinary Mental Health and Substance Use Work is a practical, clinical, and research-oriented programme focusing on collaboration with individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, and addiction challenges, and on understanding these issues as contextual phenomena. This includes an approach to individuals, their families, and their networks that emphasises their life situations, experiences, and resources. Through the programme, students acquire competence related to conditions at the individual, group, and societal level that may influence recovery processes, everyday life, and social participation in various arenas. The programme is based on health and social science approaches to mental health, substance use, and addiction work.

During the first 60 ECTS credits, students acquire research-, practice-, and experience-based broad knowledge within mental health and substance use and addiction. This includes different perspectives and understandings of mental health, substance use, and addiction. Service frameworks and the need for increased focus on human rights, participation, and opportunities for development within specialised and municipal health, care, and welfare services targeting individuals with mental health, substance use, and addiction problems are emphasised. Students acquire knowledge and skills related to relational competence and practice-oriented professional development, as well as reflecting on interdisciplinary and interagency cooperation and collaboration. This part includes a 6-week practical training period.

Students acquire knowledge, skills, and general competence within the field of mental health and the field of substance use and addiction, both separately and in relation to one another.

The first 60 ECTS credits are divided into the following four courses:

TPHR501. Perspectives on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Addiction

TPHR502. Prevention, Treatment, and Care

TPHR503. Ethics, Relations, and Collaboration

TPHR504. Professional Development and Practice

The first 60 ECTS credits (continuing education) qualify candidates for work/various roles/tasks within specialised and municipal health, care, and welfare services targeting individuals with mental health, substance use, and addiction problems. The programme is approved as a specialisation for nurses and social educators.

The final 60 ECTS credits (master’s addon) build upon the knowledge foundation from the continuing education in mental health, substance use, and addiction work. Here, the focus on research and methodological knowledge is strengthened, as well as on planning and conducting research projects. This part of the master’s programme facilitates in-depth work on topics of interest for each student, related to the content they wish to explore in their master’s thesis.

The final 60 ECTS credits consist of:

MAMET1PHR – Philosophy of Science, Ethics, and Methodology

TPHR590 – Master’s Thesis

Completion of the master’s programme qualifies graduates for practical, clinical, and research/professional development work within mental health, substance use, and addiction in municipal health, care, and welfare services, the specialised health services, and interdisciplinary specialised substance use treatment (TSB).

Completion of the programme may qualify students for admission to the Ph.D. programmes Health, Function, and Participation and Responsible Innovation and Regional Development (RESINNREG) at FHS, HVL. The programme may also qualify for other national and international doctoral programmes. The programme is rooted in Chapter 3 of the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Act and is designed in accordance with the requirements of the Norwegian Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning.

The first 60 ECTS credits comply with the National Regulation for Interdisciplinary Continuing Education in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Addiction Work.

Suitability Assessment
The programme is subject to suitability assessment pursuant to §12-3 of the Universities and Colleges Act. The purpose is to identify whether students may pose a possible risk to vulnerable groups they encounter during their studies or future professional practice. The ongoing suitability assessment involves a holistic evaluation of the student’s academic and personal qualifications to practice the profession and occurs throughout the programme. If there is justified doubt regarding a student’s suitability, a special assessment must be conducted. If a student is found unsuitable, they may be excluded for a period and will not receive a diploma.

Admission

A bachelor’s degree qualifying for the professional titles: social worker, social educator, child welfare educator, nurse, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist, or

• Another bachelor’s degree in health and social sciences, psychology, or educational sciences
  and
• At least one year of relevant professional experience within mental health, substance use, and addiction work after completing the degree.

Ranking follows §43 of the Regulations for Admission to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. No additional points for practice experience are awarded.

Additional Requirements for Master’s AddOn (60 ECTS)

• Continuing education at the master’s level corresponding to 60 ECTS credits in mental health and substance use work, or an equivalent programme. The following continuing education programmes, or equivalent, are among those eligible for admission to the addon:
• Continuing Education in Mental Health and Substance Use Work, Campus Stord/Haugesund, HVL (from 2018)
• Continuing Education in Mental Health Work, Campus Førde, HVL (from 2016)
• The first 60 ECTS credits of the Master’s in Mental Health and Substance Use Work, Campus Bergen, HVL (from 2017)
• Continuing Education in Substance Use Issues and Substance Use Work, Campus Sogndal/Førde, HVL (from 2017)
• Interdisciplinary Continuing Education in Psychosocial Work with Children and Young People, Campus Stord/Haugesund and Førde, HVL (from 2020)

Other interdisciplinary continuing education programmes at the master’s level totalling 60 ECTS credits may be assessed individually. Ranking: Applicants are, totalling 60 ECTS credits, ranked in accordance with § 43 of the Regulations for Admission to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. No additional points are awarded for work experience when applying to this programme.

Learning outcomes

A candidate who has completed the qualification shall have the following overall learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The Candidate...

• has advanced knowledge of how mental health, substance use and addiction problems can be understood from different perspectives and within various contexts
• has in-depth knowledge of key concepts, theories, models and working methods in the practice of mental health, substance use and addiction work, particularly recovery-oriented approaches that can promote social participation in various arenas
• has in depth knowledge of political guidelines, organisational frameworks, and ethical and legal considerations in encounters with people experiencing mental health, substance use and addiction problems, as well as their families and networks
• has in depth knowledge of communication and interaction processes in relational and interdisciplinary mental health, substance use and addiction work
• has in depth knowledge of philosophy of science, research methods and research processes in general, and specifically as they relate to the field of mental health, substance use and addiction work

Skills

The Candidate...

• can apply and further develop existing knoowledge, and contribute to the development og new research-based, practice-based and experience-based knowledge within mental health, substance and addiction work
• can analyse and relate critically and reflectively to research, theories, methods and interpretations relevant to mental health, substance use and addiction work
• can retrieve relevant knowledge for mental health, substance use and addiction work and critically evaluate sources
• can carry out an independent research or development project under supervision and in accordance with current research ethics guidelines
• can disseminate their own research and development work and master the forms of expression used in the field

General Competence

The Candidate …

• can critically analyse and discuss relevant professional and ethical issues within mental health, substance use and addiction work
• can analyse and critically discuss needs and priorities in knowledge development, welfare policy and professional development
• can use their knowledge and skills to contribute to innovation, co- creation and research-based professional development relevant to mental health, substance use and addiction wor
• can communicate professional issues, analyses and conclusions orally and in writing to both specialists and the general public
• can disseminate their own research and development work and master the forms of expression used in the field

Content

The programme is organised as a parttime, session-based course of study over part-time, session-based course of study over four years, combining online and on-campus ears, combining online and oncampus teaching.
The first part of the master’s part-time, session-based course of study over four years, combining online and on-campus -time, session-based course of study over four years, combining online and on-campus gramme corresponds to the interdisciplinary continuing education in mental health, substance use, and addiction work. The second part includes philosophy of science, methodology, as well as a project assignment within depth work on a relevant theme and the completion of the master’s thesis. The programme consists of 15ECTS courses until the student begins the master’s thesis. The final course is the master’s module, which accounts for 45 ECTS credits.

Normal parttime study progression is 15 ECTS per semester. It may be possible to offer accelerated progression with 30 ECTS per semester (fulltime). The second part of the programme has teaching in Bergen, but arrangements will be made for teaching in Sogndal and at other campuses if there are sufficient applicants and available study places. The programme is well suited for applicants from across the region.

The master’s programme consists of:
The first 60 ECTS credits. These correspond to the Interdisciplinary Continuing Education in Mental Health and Substance Use Work. This part complies with the National Regulations for Interdisciplinary Continuing Education in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Addiction Work. It includes four courses, each worth 15 ECTS credits, taken over four semesters. The practical placement comprises a total of six weeks and is included in the final course.

The courses are:

• TPHR501 – Perspectives on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Addiction
• TPHR502 – Prevention, Treatment, and Care
• TPHR503 – Ethics, Relations, and Collaboration
• TPHR504 – Professional Development and Practice

The final 60 ECTS credits – Master’s addon Together with the interdisciplinary continuing education mentioned above, or equivalent continuing education within mental health, substance use, and addiction work, these credits amount to 120 ECTS in total. This part focuses on philosophy of science, ethics and methods, thematic in depth studies within mental health, substance use, and addiction work, project planning, and the master’s thesis.

The courses included are:

• MAMET1PHR – Philosophy of Science, Ethics, and Methodology
• TPHR590 – Master’s Thesis MAMET1PHR is taken in the first semester (autumn), while the master’s course extends over the next three semesters (spring – autumn – spring).

Practice

The practice placement is carried out in accordance with §21 of the National Regulations for Interdisciplinary Continuing Education in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Addiction Work.

The placement focuses on relational work and professional development within mental health, substance use, and addiction work, or equivalent fields.

The practice placement lasts six weeks and is mandatory. Absence exceeding 10% results in the placement not being approved.

If the placement is assessed as not passed, the entire practice period must be repeated before the student may continue in the programme. The student must complete a new practice period the next time it is offered, according to Chapter 10 of the   Regulations relating to programmes of study and examinations at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Practice is included in the course Professional Development and Practice (course 4). See the course description for details.

Teaching

The programme uses a high degree of student active learning methods, and students are expected to take shared responsibility for their own and their fellow students’ academic development and learning.

Through student active teaching and working methods—such as assignments and presentations individually and in groups—students develop their professional competence and practise analytical and critical thinking skills. Students participate in supervised reflection groups designed to foster ethical and critical reflection. To support the development of academic skills, students work with various forms of written assignments. Furthermore, they will gain training in practical skills through skills training and practice.

In the online portion of the programme, arrangements are made for students to follow parts of the sessions digitally and participate in digital meetings with group work and discussions. Online learning activities are also provided between sessions.

Throughout the programme, students participate in seminars where they present individual or group work and receive feedback from peers. Relevance to the field of practice is emphasised throughout the programme, and collaboration with practice settings is particularly highlighted in courses involving professional development and practice. This ensures that the programme reflects current issues in the field and supports students in developing analytical and practical skills. Various contributors from research, practice, and user organisations participate in the teaching.

A large portion of the teaching during on-campus sessions is mandatory, as student active methods require student participation. The attendance requirement is 80%. This includes participation in reflection groups, seminars and presentations, skills training, and writing the reflection assignment. Practice has a 90% attendance requirement and associated mandatory learning activities. See individual course descriptions for more details.

Independent study is essential for students to acquire theoretical knowledge and further develop analytical and critical competence.

Students are offered supervision in the work with individual and group assignments. In the first part of the programme, one hour of supervision is provided for the project/professional development assignment. Supervision is also included as a mandatory learning activity during the master’s thesis work in the second part of the programme.

A central component of the master’s programme is the master’s thesis. Working on the master’s thesis requires students to work independently on an assignment over time. Before starting the master’s thesis, the student and supervisor must prepare and sign a supervision agreement in accordance with the institution’s regulations.

Assessment

Students will encounter various forms of assessment.

Assessment includes all formal examinations in the programme and is outlined in the course descriptions. All mandatory learning activities must be approved before the student may sit for the exam in the relevant course.

The programme includes a 6-week practice placement. To pass the placement, the student must achieve the learning outcomes and meet the 90% attendance requirement. This requirement cannot be waived due to illness.

Other assessment forms used in the programme include individual written assignments, oral examinations, home examinations, project assignments, and the master’s thesis (either as a monograph or as an article with a commentary).

Required progression

To support student progression and achievement of learning outcomes, requirements for study progression are enforced.

All mandatory coursework requirements must be approved before students may sit for the examination in each course. The content and extent of mandatory coursework are specified in the course descriptions.

To submit the master’s thesis in course TPHR590, the courses TPHR501, TPHR502, TPHR503, and TPHR504 must be passed, and the mandatory coursework requirements in MAMET1PHR must be approved.

Internationalization

Arrangements will be made for student exchange during the practice placement in the fourth semester. Additionally, exchange opportunities related to the master’s thesis will be facilitated. Students choosing exchange as part of their master’s thesis may complete part of the semester or the entire semester abroad. Students who go on exchange for part of the semester will be assigned a supervisor both at HVL and at the host institution.