Master in Technology - Chemistry and Biotechnology - master

300 credits, taught in Norwegian. Contact: Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, www.umb.no/ikbm

The Master in Technology programme in chemistry and biotechnology will give the students qualifications to solve environmental and pollution issues and develop healthier food and safer drugs. The majority of the production plants in Norway need chemical and techical competence. Biotechnology is a rapidly expanding field, in areas like research, agriculture, pharmaceutical industry, bio-economics and food industry.Upon completion of the programme, the candidates may apply for a number of positions requiering qualifications in science, chemistry and biotechnology, e. g. positions in the industry, research and councelling. The students may also apply for admittance to doctoral degree programmes in chemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics and related subject areas.

Admission requirements
Higher Education Entrance Qualification and specific courses within science and mathematics from upper secondary school is a requirement. Acceptance to the higher level is open to students with a 3-year Bachelor\'s degree in Technology/relevant education of at least 180 credits. This has to include at least 27 credits (ECTS) of Mathematics (including Math 3, from an engineering college). Applicants with relevant background for the specialisation can normally complete the programme in two years. For applicants with an educational background only partially relevant to the specialisation, the study period may exceed two years. The study programme is taught in Norwegian and applicants who do not have Norwegian as their native language must document sufficient Norwegian skills (Bergenstesten) to be admitted.

Internationalisation, studies abroad and exhange agreements
The study programme has an international content and level. A substantial part of the course literature is in English.Students may choose to take compulsory and elective courses abroad at approved universitites within the normal study period. These courses may be integrated into the programme on agreement with the student advisor.

Students from partner universities may complete parts of the programme. Some courses are given in English upon request. However, the majority of the courses are given in Norwegian only.

Related studies
The study programme is related to similar study programmes in technology at NTNU, UiS and UiT and will lead to the same degree. It is also related to the Bachelor\'s and Master\'s programmes in Chemistry and in Biotechnology at the UMB.

Learning goals
A candidate who has completed this education is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in competence, knowledge and skills: Competence: - Has an objective understanding of scientific literature, and can give both oral and written presentations of scientific fields and results. - Is able to reflect over central ethical and scientific challenges, regarding others and his/her own work. - Can contribute to innovative processes within the field of study and related fields. Knowledge: - Has in depth knowledge to the study fields\' terminology and theories, and is able to use these. - Knows how to analyse scientific problems in chemistry and biotechnology, reflecting the history, traditions, distinctive character and position of the field of study in the society. - Has good competence in chemistry and biotechnology, and is prepared for research, teaching and other employment needing chemical and biotechnological competence. - Has specialised in one of the fields of study; bioinformatics, environmental chemistry, inorganic analytical chemistry, molecular biology or organic analytical chemistry og natural sources chemistry. Skills: - Is able to analyse scientific data, and work independently in laboratories. - Can perform surveys independently; collect, edit and analyse data, as well as evaluate and present methods and sources of error, before giving an objective conclusion.

Teaching and evaluation methods
The programme includes the following teaching methods: 1) Lectures. 2) Lectures given by the students in connection with presentation of their semester assignments. 3) During the work on their Master\'s theses, meetings are arranged where the students present their work. 4) Demonstrations. 5) Group work in relation to topics, methods, computer-models. 6) Exercises taken from previous examination papers or other relevant exercises. 7) Analyses in laboratory. 8) Participation in seminars. 9) Excursions and study trips.Some courses have a written examination, while others have an oral examination. Most courses have continous evaluation, in which the achievement in multiple elements (e. g. assignments, laboratory work, seminars) are combined in the final grade. Grades (A-F) are mostly used, but also passed/failed in some courses. Assessment of completed assignments (with high relevance for the profession) is considered to be a very natural assessment method, and will still be used extensively. In the final part of the programme, the students will do an independent master thesis, that show their understanding, reflection and maturity. An external examiner evaluates the thesis in an oral examination.

Programme content
There are four specialisations for the Master\'s programme in technology, chemistry and biotechnology. All include a broad chemistry and biotechnology profile. The chemistry specialisation is tied to natural product chemistry and radio and environmental chemistry. The molecular biology specialisation gives broad knowledge in molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and biochemistry. The bioinformatics specialisation focuses on statistics, programming and bioinformatical methods. There are three years with common courses for all specialisations, and two years of master courses.

Spesialisation requirements
80 credits (ECTS) in chemistry (general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry). 80 credits (ECTS) in biotechnology (cell biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics). 80 credits (ECTS) in technology (mathematics, physics, informatics, statistics and economy/social sciences).

Student advising

Evaluation