Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences - master

120 credits, taught in Norwegian. Contact: Department of Mathematical Sciences and Technology (IMT), www.umb.no/imt

The Master\'s degree programme in mathematical, physical and computational sciences gives the necessary qualifications to understand the physical nature in which we live and which society needs for operations and innovations within technology, industry and research. The programme includes topics which are important for maintaining and developing a sustainable society.Upon completion of the programme, the candidates are qualified to enter the private sector, mid-size to large production companies, engineering companies, entrepreneurial companies, consultancies, IT-companies and reseach related businesses. The candidate may also work in public operations or institutions such as hospitals, schools, universities or university colleges. The programme gives the relevant qualifications for positions in public management, governmental management, municipal and county management. The degree also qualifies the candidates for applying for doctoral degree studies at universities and colleges in Norway and abroad.

Admission requirements
A Bachelor\'s degree in natural sciences with 80 credits of specialisation in mathematics, physics, statistics or informatics. Up to 10 credits in mathematics may be replaced by programming courses in informatics. The distribution of mathematics, physics and informatics courses may determine the possible specialisations.

Internationalisation, studies abroad and exhange agreements
The courses are international. English textbooks are used, as used by foreign institutions. The students are encouraged to complete part of the programme abroad. The lecturers are active in international forums, and enjoy research collaborations with international colleagues (publication, study trips, guest lecturers). The programme has the same structure and specialisation requirements as natural science programmes abroad.UMB has close contacts with foreign institutions and the students may complete part of the programme abroad. The students are encouraged to go abroad for part of the programme. The programme schedule allows the students to take one of the first two semesters abroad.

Students from partner universities may complete part of this programme. Some courses are given in English and some courses are given in English upon request. The majority of courses are given in Norwegian. The specialisation: Computational Biology is given in English.

Related studies
This programme is related to the last part of UMBs 5-year Master\'s programme in Technology, Environmental Physics and Renewable Energy. The Master\'s programme in Mathematical Sciences is also closely related to equivalent programmes at other Norwegian and foreign universities.

Learning goals
Upon completion of the programme, the candidate shall have acquired the academic qualifications necessary to become key employees in businesses where the application of physics, mathematics, informatics, statistics and modelling or technical problem solving plays a vital role. The candidate should also be able to acquire further knowledge. The candidates should be able to work independently and in cooperation with others. The candidate should understand the physical foundation for the theoretical modelling of a problem, the foundation for sensory/data collection and be able to use mathematics and computer science for analysing, interpreting, modelling and presenting data. The candidate should be able to present his/her knowledge and results in a structured, concise and well written/ spoken manner. The candidate should be able to plan, conduct data gathering and data analysis; collecting, evaluating, processing, and interpreting data. The candidate has been trained in using and analysing mathematical models for different processed in physics, biology, technology and other applied sciences represented at UMB. If having written a theoretical thesis; the candidate should be able to build and test advanced theoretical models of natural processes. This is to be done using modern computational tools. The candidate is to be able to judge, appreciate and argue on academic topics. The candidate shall understand how basic knowledge of mathematics, physics and informatics can be used to understand and describe nature, and to use and develop technology.

Teaching and evaluation methods
The following teaching methods can be used: 1) Lectures and presentations of important course material and discussions of especially interesting topics. 2) Demonstrations of central topics and methods. 3) Practical assignments. Work with ideas, methods and skills. 4) Group work on topics, methods, project assignments. 5) To teach through the presentation of project assignments and semester assignments. 6) Laboratorywork. 7) Participation in seminars, interdisciplinary and/or where invited experts introduce/orient. 8) Field trips and potentially class trips. Biology especially uses field trips.Some courses have a written examination, while others have an oral examination. A number of courses require the student to complete a semester assignment, or other continuous assessment. In the final part of the programme, the students will do an independent assignment that shall show their understanding, reflection and maturity. This project is assessed during the process by the superviser. The candidate is required to present his/her thesis work to the superviser, fellow students and others. Finally, the thesis is assessed with a final oral dissertation.

Programme content
The programme offers three specialisations: - physics, computational biology, - applied mathematics. All students must take 60 credits in mathematics, physics, statistics, informatics or related courses on 200 or 300 level. Of these, a minimum of 30 credits must be completed on the 300 level and a minimum of 15 within the chosen specialisation. MATH290 is compulsory for the specialisation in applied mathematics. All students must complete a Master\'s thesis of 60 credits, and a special curriculum of 5, 10 or 15 credits.

Student advising

Evaluation