Programme description
Would you like to acquire counselling expertise for work in schools or in other public/private organisations? Are you interested in learning different forms of counselling? Would you like to be able to take part in system-level development work? In this programme of study, you will learn about educational welfare counselling and careers advice, and get to work on innovation in a field of counselling that you have special interest in.
‘Counselling and Innovation’ (Counselling 2) is a master’s degree programme of study rooted in educational welfare. The teaching takes place in video classrooms/via computer, with the exception of a compulsory start-up session at campus Bodø. The online sessions require active participation during the daytime teaching. Students attending this course will get assignments to work with between classes. Assignments will be given both as individual tasks and group tasks
Teachers and school counsellors may apply to the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training for a substitute/grant scheme in order to study Counselling and Innovation. The application deadline is 1 March. Select ‘Other Programme of Study’ in the search portal. (In addition, you must apply for admission to Nord University).
Career opportunities
The programme of study qualifies candidates for school counselling work and for other counselling/guidance work in the public and private sectors.
Based on recommended national qualification requirements, completed ‘Counselling and Bildung’ 30 credits and ‘Counselling and Innovation’ 30 credits may qualify candidates for school counselling, given that one has at least a bachelor’s degree and knowledge of the school.
Sessions
The programme of study spans two semesters and has a total of 8 study sessions. The first study lasts for 3 days and takes place at Nord University in Bodø. The other sessions last for 2 days and are conducted online via computers/video classrooms. The start-up session and the programme of study as a whole have an 80% attendance requirement.
Categories
- Teacher education*. (30 extra credits).
- Bachelor’s degree in educational subjects or bachelor’s degree with specialisation in educational subjects. General teacher/primary and lower secondary teacher education students on four-year courses of study who have completed and passed three years of their education. (20 extra credits).
- Bachelor’s degree in social education, social work or child welfare. (10 extra credits).
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology or social anthropology, or bachelor’s degree with specialisation in one of these subjects.
Applicants with bachelor’s degrees similar to the categories mentioned may gain admission after special assessment.
Ranking based on weighted average of the admission criteria. Extra points are given as indicated.
*General teacher, primary and lower secondary school teacher, pre-school teacher, kindergarten teacher, subject teacher education, bachelor’s degree including 1-year programmes in educational theory and practice or programmes of study that provide similar qualifications.
Knowledge
Upon completion of the programme of study, the candidate will
- have extensive knowledge about traditions, perspectives and relevant issues within the fields of educational welfare counselling and careers advice
- have specialised insight into social and cultural inequality, human rights and the needs of different groups in multicultural society
- have good knowledge about Norwegian education and working life, and the gender dimension in educational/professional choices
- have thorough knowledge about forms of work and collaboration within the fields of educational welfare counselling and careers advice
- have advanced knowledge about how an organisation’s counselling work can be coordinated internally and in relation to external partners
- have advanced knowledge about theories and methods in system-oriented work and innovation within the field of counselling
Skills
Upon completion of the programme of study, the candidate will
- be able to apply their counselling knowledge independently when meeting diversity and people in vulnerable life situations
- be able to adapt their counselling to individuals and groups so that it promotes human growth and reflected career choices to the greatest extent possible
- have advanced skills in building relationships and inclusive communities as well as being able to provide help in the event of crises and psychosocial problems
- be able to analyse system conditions in an independent manner and discuss and plan innovation within the field of counselling
- be able to find and critically apply research relevant to a specific piece of innovation work
- be able to update and convey their knowledge about educational welfare counselling, careers advice and innovation within the field of counselling
General competence
Upon completion of the programme of study, the candidate will
- be able to discuss, in a socially critical manner, the development of educational welfare counselling, careers advice and the relationship that exists between these forms of counselling in the Norwegian school system
- be able to apply bildung perspectives when discussing Norwegian school counselling, including various practices at individual and system levels
- be able to critically reflect on their own counselling using research-based knowledge
- be able to find ethically sound courses of action and forms of collaboration in their own counselling work
- be able to independently discuss professional ethics and research ethics issues related to innovation work
- be able to contribute to innovation and innovative processes in the field of counselling
No tuition fees for students within EU/EEA/EFTA. Costs for semester registration and course literature apply.
In addition to semester fees and course literature, students are expected to provide their own laptops with good quality webcams and headphones. In relation to the online sessions, students are required to participate from a quiet venue with a good/stable internet connection.
Teachers and school counsellors may apply to the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Trainingfor a substitute/grant scheme in order to study Counselling and Innovation. The application deadline is 1 March. Select ‘Other Programme of Study’ in the search portal. (In addition, you must apply for admission to Nord University).