Masters Degree Programme in Documentation Science. Two years - 120 credits (ECTS)

Gjelder fra høst 2006, med forbehold om godkjenning i Universitetsstyret.

I  Presentation of degree

1. Contents
The Masters Degree in documentation science offers two different programmes. 

A. The programme in documentation theory is based upon the Bachelors programme or equivalent education. This programme is course-oriented and offers the opportunity to specialise in different fields of research. The programme consists of two modules: the first provides required theory and methodology, project proposal, and specialisation (1 year), the second focuses on the Masters project (1 year). 

B. The programme in document administration is based upon the Bachelors programme in documentation science or equivalent education. This programme is oriented towards the administration of documents, particularly in the management of archives, libraries, museums (ALM), public institutions and private organisations authorised for document care (the administration and recognition of different types of documents, for example, calligraphy, prints, digital documents, including multimedial documents and websites), and three-dimensional documents (such as sculptures, artefacts, utensils, etc.).

2. Head of programme
The Department of Faculty Board

3. Disciplines involved
Documentation science

4. International exchange
Parts of the programme may be studied abroad (1 - 2 terms), preferably within the established exchange agreements. The courses have to be at Masters level and to be approved for equivalence. The students will be guided in their choices of institutions, accommodation, and study programmes. Exchange students are eligible for scholarships in the Nordplus and Erasmus agreements.

5. Part-time studies
The programme is open to part-time students, although tailor made schedules cannot always be provided for this group.

6. Forms of tuition and assessment
Tuition consists of lectures, seminars, project work, and supervision. Teaching will be organised in both seminar gatherings and web-based interaction throughout the whole programme. Assessment will partly be by portfolios graded pass/fail, and partly by submitted papers and projects that will be graded from A – F.

7. Course evaluation
The students have the opportunity to assess their tuition in all courses twice a term.
- approx. in the middle of term through consultation with or written report to the tutors involved or the course administrator.
- at the end of term by filling in manually or electronically an approved evaluation form.

II    Programmes

A.   Documentation theory

1. Description
Major subjects in this Masters programme are:
- advanced theory and methodology concerning the relations of documentation science to its primary disciplines: humanities, social sciences, and technology
-  theoretical and practical studies of forms of documentation (science, art, journalism, politics, etc.)
- state-of-the-art studies in, for example, institutions of documentation and document administration (libraries, archives, museums, mass media, internet, public administration, private enterprise and other organisations), development of documentation (writing, image, sound, and multi-medial documents), or document reception

2. Objectives
Based on the Bachelors programme in documentation science or equivalent education, this Masters programme aims to:
- develop the student's skill in planning, conducting, and critically evaluating a research project in documentation science
- provide the student with expertise in particular research areas in documentation science
- enable the student to apply the competence, theory, and analytical methods of documentation science to different sectors of society
- to qualify the student for work in institutions of documentation, the ICT-sector, and information and documentation services (ICT-functions) in organisations and enterprise
- to qualify the student for the PhD-programme in documentation science

3. Admission request
A Bachelors Degree in documentation science (minimum 80 ECTS of specialisation in documentation science) or equivalent education (for example a Bachelors Degree in media science, communication science or library and information science). 

To be admitted to the Masters programme, the student must have achieved at least the grade of C or better on average in the courses in the Bachelors programme. Students with a Cand. Mag. Degree must have achieved at least the grade of 2.7 or better on average in the relevant courses.

4. Programme structure
This programme consists of the following compulsory courses, which need to be studied in the correct order to ensure the necessary progression: 

First  semester (Autumn) 

DOK-3012 Theory and Methodology (30 ECTS) 

Second semester (Spring) 

Three courses of specialisation of 10 ECTS each 

Third semester (Autumn) and Fourth semester (Spring)
Masters project (60 ECTS). Research seminars will be arranged regularly.

5. Masters project
The Masters project counts for 60 ECTS. The project can be conducted individually or in a group of no more than three students.

6. Programme progression in Documentation Theory 

Sem.	10 ECTS	10 ECTS	10 ECTS
1 (A)	DOK-3012 Theory and methodology
2 (S)	DOK-3041 The history of the book: from codex to hypertext	DOK-3042 Parts and totality in document analysis	DOK-3043 Document, sign and cultural meaning
3 (A)	Masters project and research seminars  DOK-3940 Masters project in documentation science or DOK-3941 and DOK-3942  Masters project in documentation science – combination
4 (S)

Theory and Methodology  This course is common for all students and consists of two components:

1. Studies of theory in documentation science and corollary disciplines (media and communication science, library and information science). 

2. Studies of different schools and orientations of research with emphasis on methodological problems concerning empirical surveys in documentation science.    Specialisation  These courses offer in-depth studies of a special field of documentation science, which may provide the basis for the Masters project. Students may also attend equivalent courses abroad, provided that equivalence is granted in advance.   

Masters project and research seminars
The Masters project is a comprehensive work of research in documentation science, in which the student demonstrates his or her competence to conduct consistent and critical research in theoretical or empirical problems. The Masters project may be completed in two ways: Either as a single project (DOK-3940) of 60 ECTS or as a combination of two Masters courses (DOK-3941 and DOK-3942) focusing on two aspects of the same scientific subject/problem of 30 ECTS each. The research seminars, where students in their third and fourth semester present their project proposals, include all Masters students and staff. 

B.   Document administration

1. Contents
This Masters programme consists of two major subjects:
- documentation theory, document administration, and topics of research concerning the different ALM institutions, including document mediation
- project work in methodology, field work and practical training in an ALM or equivalent institution, and the Masters project

2. Objectives
This Masters programme aims to:
- qualify the student for professional work and management in document administration in private enterprise and public sector
- enable the student to apply his or her competence, theoretical knowledge, and analytical strategies to professional R and D
- provide the student with professional skills in planning, conducting, and critically evaluating research projects in documentation science
- qualify the student for admission to the PhD-programme in documentation science

3. Admission requirements
A Bachelors Degree in documentation science (minimum 80 ECTS of specialisation in documentation science) or equivalent education (for example a Bachelors Degree in media science, communication science or library and information science) 

In order to be admitted to the Masters programme, the student must have achieved at least the grade of C or better on average in the courses in the Bachelors programme. Students with a Cand. Mag. Degree must have achieved at least the grade of 2.7 or better on average in the relevant courses.

4. Participating disciplines
This programme consists of the following compulsory courses, which need to be studied in the correct order to ensure the necessary progression: 

First semester (Autumn) 

DOK-3050 Document theory (20 ECTS) 

DOK-3051 Document administration I (10 ECTS) 

Second semester (Spring) 

DOK-3052 Document administration II (10 ECTS) 

DOK-3053 ALM-studies (20 ECTS) 

Third semester (Autumn) 

Masters project: DOK-3054 Field work/Practical training (9 weeks) 

including a course in research methodology (30 ECTS) 

Fourth semester (Spring) 

DOK-3950 Masters project (30 ECTS).
Research seminars are organised regularly.

5. Masters project
The Masters project counts for 30 ECTS. The project is conducted individually based upon the field work and practical training over nine weeks in an institution of document services. 

6. Programme progression in document administration

Sem.	10 ECTS	10 ECTS	10 ECTS
1 (A)	DOK-3050  Document theory		DOK-3051  Document administration
2 (S)	DOK-3052   Document administration II	DOK-3053    ALM-studies
3 (A)	DOK-3054  Masters Project/Field Work
4 (S)	DOK-3950   Masters project in document administration

Document theory
This course concerns theories of document theory and analysis in different sectors of society.  The course focuses on case studies.    Document administration  The courses discuss theories of document administration, which concerns the administration of hard copies and digital documents, the definitions of an institution of documentation, the vision/utopia of a "world brain”, the advancement of digital bases of documentation and their organisation. Furthermore, the courses focus on methods of document administration with an emphasis on digital procedures, which comprises classifications, indexation, annotations, search systems, portals, etc.   

ALM-studies
These courses focus on the most important traditions of the nature of documents and their administration in archives, libraries, and museums with an emphasis on comparative analysis and the aims, methods, organisation, and management of the different institutions. The studies also include the various forms of document mediation: the personal mediator and his role in the age of digitalisation, exhibitions of documents of diverse nature, digital presentations, portals, and the role of document mediation in education and research.   

Masters project
The Masters project, which runs for two terms, starts in the third semester. The semester starts with a comprehensive course in methodology and project planning (the development of a project proposal) and ends with the field work and practical training in an ALM-institution. The Masters project is completed by submitting the project and defending it verbally in an exam that also discusses the relevant syllabus.