Objectives  
1) To build further on the business knowledge students already possess.
2) To enable students to formulate and solve business problems in theory and in practice at an advanced level.
3) To create an understanding of the subject area’s eclectic nature, develop proficiency in constructive use of business administrative theory, while also developing an active attitude towards the business administration processes.
4) To further develop students’ insight into the foundations of ideas, theories and methods used in business administration.

Requirements
Students must have had at least 3 years previous study (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in a related field.

Study Plan
The first semester aims to advance students’ theoretical knowledge. The emphasis will be on introducing new and more complex theories.  There will also be an introduction to relevant philosophical, ethical and environmental themes.

In the second semester students choose between various minors (advanced elective courses). This gives an opportunity to study subjects of special interest to individual students. The choice of minors and specialisation courses, which follow in the third semester, must be seen together as some minors are a prerequisite for some specialisation courses.

In the third semester the students concentrate on their chosen specialisation.  In addition they now lay the foundation for their master thesis in the compulsory course focusing on scientific theory and the method as chosen by the individual students to be used in their thesis.

The fourth semester is spent writing and completing the thesis.

Compulsory courses first semester (three courses required):
Business Analysis  (10 ECTS)
The course has the following aims:

o To broaden and deepen knowledge about theories, models and techniques for strategic management control
o To provide the course participants with skills to use theories as a tool to analyze the challenges in the practice of business administration
o To provide knowledge to work with the management control systems, evaluation and development of such systems in different contexts
o To provide an understanding of challenges related to strategic management control though written case assignments, practical seminars and enterprise presentations.

Topics covered: Enterprises and their management control systems are studied in the course from a theoretical and practical strategic perspective. The point of departure in the course is the so-called “relevance lost” literature where a substantial critique of the traditional management control systems is raised. To meet the present-day challenges, enterprises have to put much of the focus on strategic control and understanding how management control systems can be designed so they will allow implementation of the strategies formulated.    

The course consists of the following parts:
o The relevance lost critique to management control
o Strategic tools in theory and practice: balanced scorecard and strategic cost management
o Development of management control systems
o Strategic work and use of strategic tools in practice

Economics (10 ECTS)
The aim of the course is to give students an introduction to modern commerce and market economics and game theory terms that are used to analyse businesses behaviour and adaptation. Possible equalisers in the business environment and where business operates will be explored. In addition, incentive programs will be discussed. 

Topics covered: The course will be threefold. In the first part, students are given an introduction to game theory terminology. In the second part, game theory will be applied to analyse business behaviour and equality in markets based on statistics and dynamic game theory models. In the third part, game theory is applied to analyze incentive schemes within companies.

Philosophy, Ethics and Environmental Issues (10 ECTS)
This course will contribute to increasing student awareness in regard to a philosophical, ethical and environmental approach to problems. Through active class participation students will develop a knowledgeable foundation and systematic work methods. Emphasis will also be placed on the students’ capability for independent critical thinking. The students will develop the skills of identification, analysis and solving the problems, current and futuristic, with which economists are confronted.

Topics covered:
o Ethical problems faced in economy and administration
o The ethical importance of decisions and strategic choices
o Social and environmental responsibility
o Various trends in the field of ethics
o Theory of justice and global economy
o Norms and values in modern society
o Ecological philosophy

Compulsory course third term:
Scientific Theory (10 ECTS)
The aim of the course is to give a thorough introduction to 20th century scientific theory, with an emphasis on economic science. Students are given tools to use the theory in practice and in particular towards their Master’s Dissertation.

The course is divided into two parts:  Scientific Theory: A broad range of questions relevant for choice of method in business related studies are discussed. The distinction between quantitative and qualitative method is a central aspect.  Method: This part will be individually adapted and focuses on the method chosen by the students for their master thesis.

Examples of Major courses (third term):

International Perspectives and Marketing (10 ECTS)
The purpose of the course is to give students an overview and understanding of the global environment faced by business firms as they compete in an increasingly complex international marketplace. The course does not replace, but rather supplements, the technical, functional area courses.

Perspectives: 
o Group Dynamics
o The Triad (Europe, Asia, America)
o Culture in the Triad
o Marketing in the Triad
o Radical Change and Benchmarking

Marketing:
o The Global-Market Philosophy
o Dimensions of Exporting, Franchising Strategies
o Global Marketing Research: Conceptual Issues and Techniques
o Corporate Strategy and Global Marketing

Relationship Marketing (10 ECTS)
This is an in-depth course and candidates should have completed basic marketing courses.  After completing the course, students should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the theoretical and conceptual frameworks, strengths and weakness, and how the concepts are put to use in practice.

Contents:
o A core theoretical and conceptual course.
o A comprehensive in-depth introduction into the field of Relationship Marketing and a thorough analysis of origins and underlying theoretical frameworks.
o How the field has developed over the last thirty years - debate and dissent
o Case-studies - what shape and form the conceptual frameworks take on within different industries or lines of business.

Examples of Major courses (third term):

Accounting in an Institutional and Organizational Context (10 ECTS)
General description: This course aims at analyzing the organizational and institutional contexts which partly determine how accounting is shaped, performed and used. An orientation is given of basic concepts and models in organization theory, institutional theory and decision-making theory – all of which have explained the emergence and use of certain models of management accounting. The course also highlights challenges for harmonization in accounting and auditing.

The course aims at building the knowledge and competence by exploiting three approaches: a theoretical, practical and analytical. The following topics are central to the theoretical part of the course:

o Accounting in an organizational and institutional context
o Decision making
o Variations of organizing and control
o The circulation of management ideas
o Organizational change and organizational reforms
o An emergent Audit Society
o Global harmonization in accounting and auditing

The practical part of the course contributes to evaluation and interpretation of practice. An excursion to the enterprises is an important part of the course in this respect. There will also be presentations from enterprises. The analytical part consists of student work with assignments and project work.

Investments and International Finance (10 ECTS)
This unit provides students with a deeper insight into the relevant theory, methods and practical solution techniques in investment analysis, theoretical knowledge and practical insight into the use of currency and debt instruments for the purpose of risk management in the firm, and knowledge about the firm's alternatives as regards financing

The unit is designed to qualify the graduate for a career within the banking and insurance industries, in financial institutions and firms where risk management and investment decisions are important tasks.  The main topics are investment analysis, risk management, securities and international finance.