Regulations and curriculum for the master's programme in informations technology (information studies), 2018

1: Preface

In pursuance of Act No. 261 of 18 March 2015 on Universities (the University Act) with subsequent amendments the following regulations and curriculum are stipulated for the Master’s Programme in Information Studies at Aalborg University.

2: Basis in Ministerial orders

The Master’s programme is organised in accordance with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Order no. 1328 of November 15, 2016 on Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes at Universities (the Ministerial Order of the Study Programmes) and Ministerial Order no. 1062 of June 30, 2016 on University Examinations (the Examination Order). Further reference is made to Ministerial Order no. 111 of January 30, 2017 (the Admission Order) and Ministerial Order no. 114 of February 3, 2015 (the Grading Scale Order) with subsequent changes.

3: Campus

The programme is offered in Aalborg and in Copenhagen. 

4: Faculty affiliation

The Master’s programme falls under Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Aalborg University.

5: Study board affiliation

The Master’s programme falls under Study Board of Communication and Digital Media

6: Affiliation to corps of external examiners

The Master’s programme is associated with the external examiners corps on Communication and Experience Design

7: Admission requirements

Admission to the Master’s Programme in Information Studies is reserved for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Digital Media with specialization in Information Studies (Informationsvidenskab) or another relevant bachelor’s degree or professional bachelor’s degree. A relevant bachelor degree is defined as a degree from a bachelor’s programme whose central subject areas ensure competences to an extent equivalent to not less than 60 ECTS points within the disciplinary area of information studies (communication theory, philosophy of science and epistemology, ICT, learning and organisational theory, programming methods, design and humancomputer interaction).

Due to the rules of the ministerial “dimensioning of admissions”, the admission of a student to the MSc Programme in Information Studies at Aalborg University Copenhagen only applies to Aalborg University Copenhagen and not Aalborg University, Aalborg. The same restriction applies to students admitted to the MSc Programme in Aalborg, which means that they are solely admitted to the MSc Programme in Aalborg.

Applicants with a legal right of admission (retskrav)

• The Bachelor’s Programme in Communication and Digital Media with specialization in Information Studies (Informationsvidenskab) from Aalborg University will provide access for students to be admitted to the Master’s Programme in Information Studies.

Applicants without legal right of admission

• The following bachelor’s programmes from Aalborg University may provide access for students to be admitted to the Master’s Programme in Information Studies: Informatics; Medialogy; and IT.
• The following bachelor’s programmes from other universities may provide access for students to be admitted to the Master’s Programme in Information Studies: Information Science; and Information Science and Cultural Dissemination.
• The following professional bachelor’s programmes may provide access for students to be admitted to the Master’s Programme in Information Studies: Web Development; and E-concept Development.

Applicants who do not fulfil the conditions stipulated in subsection 1 may be accepted on condition that the Study Board considers that the applicant possesses comparable educational qualifications, on the basis of an assessment of the case in question. In such cases, the Study Board may call in the applicant for an interview.

For further information, visit www.uddannelsestjekker.aau.dk (only available in Danish)

8: The programme title in Danish and English

The Master’s programme entitles the graduate to the designation Cand.it. i informationsvidenskab. The English designation is: Master of Science (MSc) in Information Science (Information Studies).

9: Programme specifications in ECTS credits

The Master’s programme is a 2-year, research-based, full-time study programme. The programme is set to 120 ECTS credits.

10: Rules concerning credit transfer (merit), including the possibility for choice of modules that are part of another programme at a university in Denmark or abroad

The Study Board can approve successfully completed (passed) programme elements from other Master’s programmes in lieu of programme elements in this programme (credit transfer). The Study Board can also approve successfully completed (passed) programme elements from another Danish programme or a programme outside of Denmark at the same level in lieu of programme elements within this curriculum. Decisions on credit transfer are made by the Study Board based on an academic assessment. See the Joint Programme Regulations for the rules on credit transfer.

11: Exemptions

In exceptional circumstances, the Study Board study can grant exemption from those parts of the curriculum that are not stipulated by law or ministerial order.  Exemption regarding an examination applies to the immediate examination.

12: Rules for examinations

The rules for examinations are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures - published at this website: https://www.studieservice.aau.dk/Studielegalitet/

13: Rules concerning written work, including the Master’s Thesis

In the assessment of all written work, regardless of the language it is written in, weight is also given to the student's formulation and spelling ability, in addition to the academic content. Orthographic and grammatical correctness as well as stylistic proficiency are taken as a basis for the evaluation of language performance. Language performance must always be included as an independent dimension of the total evaluation. However, no examination can be assessed as ‘Pass’ on the basis of good language performance alone; similarly, an examination normally cannot be assessed as ‘Fail’ on the basis of poor language performance alone.

The Study Board can grant exemption from this in special cases (e.g., dyslexia or a native language other than Danish).

The Master’s Thesis must include an English summary (or another foreign language: French, Spanish or German upon approval by the Study Board). If the project is written in English, the summary must be in Danish (The Study Board can grant exemption from this). The summary must be at least 1 page and not more than 2 pages (this is not included in any fixed minimum and maximum number of pages per student). The summary is included in the evaluation of the project as a whole.

14: Requirements regarding the reading of texts in a foreign language

The curriculum of the education will be in English, just as the courses of the education is provided in English, for which reason fluency in English is a precondition of completion of the education.

15: Competence profile on the diploma

The following competence profile will appear on the diploma:

A Candidatus graduate has the following competency profile:

A Candidatus graduate has competencies that have been acquired via a course of study that has taken place in a research environment.

A Candidatus graduate is qualified for employment on the labour market based on his or her academic discipline as well as for further research (PhD programmes). A Candidatus graduate has, compared to a Bachelor, developed his or her academic knowledge and independence so as to be able to apply scientific theory and method on an independent basis within both an academic and a professional context.

16: Competence profile of the programme

The Master’s Programme in Information Studies is a research based experimental full-time programme that provides students with a basis for the execution of professional work functions and qualifies for admission to PhD studies.

The overall objective of the Master’s Programme in Information Studies is to educate graduates who are capable of adapting and developing ICT solutions that have been considered in relation to a wide spectrum of solutions and variables, including their adaptation to users and the organisational contexts into which they will enter. The Master’s Programme in Information Studies builds on and supplements the knowledge and skills that students have acquired in the course of the preceding bachelor education. The object of study for Information Studies is ICT systems, their theoretical basis and their integration in human and organisational practices. Particular emphasis is given to communication, learning and knowledge processes in relation to ICT.

The graduate of the Master’s programme

Knowledge

Through the Master’s Programme in Information Studies, students will acquire knowledge of:

• theory and method as regards the understanding of human practice in relation to the use of ICT
• theory and method as regards the development and design of ICT
• theory and method as regards categorisation and formalisation in relation to the design of ICT
• theory, methods and concrete ICT based tools for ICT based data collection and analysis
• theory, methods and concrete ICT based tools for managing learning, knowledge and other types of content through ICT systems
• theory of science related to the discipline
• the correlation between the theory of science related to the discipline, scientific method and choice of theory in scientific studies within the field of informatics; on this basis they will be able to reflect on the knowledge of the discipline and identify scientific issues
• the competence requirements of the discipline in relation to professional work.

Skills

Through the Master’s Programme in Information Studies, students will acquire skills in:

• assessing, choosing and applying relevant strategies, methods and ICT based tools for collecting, processing and handling data in order to identify human practice in relation to the usage and development of ICT
• assessing, choosing and applying relevant strategies and methods for developing ICT to and with specific user groups
• using formal models for developing and communicating system development and system design
• developing and applying new methods for examining human practice in relation to the usage and development of ICT
• communicating knowledge and solutions founded in the field of informatics, including research, development and design results to peers and laymen
• engaging in critical dialogue on research, development and design results with peers and laypeople
• working in practice with a basis in the field of informatics, including being capable of identifying research and development needs on the basis of the theory and methods of the discipline
• organising and undertaking scientifically based studies on the basis of informatics.

Competencies

Through the Master’s Programme in Information Studies, students will acquire competences in:

• managing complex and unpredictable work, research and development situations that require new solutions within the field of informatics as regards the study of human practice in relation to ICT and the development of ICT
• independently initiating and engaging in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration on studying human practice in relation to ICT and the development of ICT, with a professional approach
• working independently and engaging in disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration on the planning of informatics-related studies and research projects, with a professional approach
• taking an analytical, reflective and critical approach to the study of human practice in relation to ICT and the development of ICT
• taking an analytical, reflective and critical approach to ICT tools for data collection and analysis as well as managing learning, knowledge and other content
• identifying own learning needs and structuring own learning on the basis of problem based learning (PBL) and other types of learning in relation to the field of informatics.

17: Structure and Contents of the programme

The Master’s Programme spans four semesters (1st to 4th semester). Students become co-creators of their own academic profiles by following their particular interests within the field of Information Studies in the following ways: by choosing elective courses from a range of options on the 1st and 2nd semesters and by choosing specific problem formulations, theory and method within the thematic frame in the project modules on the 1st and 2nd semesters. On the 3rd semester the students may choose between “Information Studies in Practice”, and a focus on Social Analytics . On the 4th semester the students choose the focus of their Master’s thesis. The Programme may include a study placement abroad.

The Master’s Programme in Information Studies is compiled of modules and structured as a problem based and project organised study programme consisting of obligatory project modules, obligatory study subject modules and the obligatory Master’s thesis. In addition, the programme comprises two elective modules.

Obligatory modules, with certain options cf. section 9, subsections 2 and 3.

⁹th semester choice:

or

*is only offered at Campus CpH

Elective modules, of which students must select two*

*Students may choose electives offered by the Study Board of Communication and Digital Media (see the appendix Elective modules for Master’s programmes under the Study Board of Communication and Digital Media), or apply to the Study Board for permission to substitute one or both of the elective modules with electives offered by other study boards at Aalborg University or other universities. Under all circumstances, elective modules must always represent a total of 10 ECTS credits. The elective modules listed are offered as determined by the Study Board. This means that not all elective modules will be offered every year. The Study Board may decide to cancel planned modules.

The 1^st semester of the programme comprises a 5 ECTS credits module in “Professional Inquiry”, a project module of 15 ECTS credits in “User Practice, User Analysis and Pilot Studies”, a 5 ECTS credits study subject module “ICT Based Data Collection and Analysis” and a 5 ECTS credits elective module.

The 2^nd semester of the programme comprises a project module of 20 ECTS credits in “Development and Design of ICT”, a 5 ECTS credits study subject module “ICT for Learning, Knowledge and Content Management” and a 5 ECTS credits elective module.

The 3^rd semester of the programme offers a choice; the students either chose a project module of 25 ECTS credits in “Information Studies in Practice” or the Social Analytics modules: “Digital Collaboration”, “Data Preparation and Understanding”, “Data Analytics and Visualization”, “Social Analytics in Context”. A 5 ECTS credits study subject module in “Research Methodology” is mandatory.

In the 4^th semester of the programme, the student will, under supervision, prepare a Master’s thesis within the disciplinary area of the programme.

General examination provisions

Projects, theme studies etc., may be prepared in collaboration by groups of up to six students. Master’s theses may be prepared in collaboration by groups of up to three students. In the examination of projects, theme studies etc., the following examination format will normally apply:

A project examination on the basis the written work, whether this was written individually or in collaboration with others. The project report/written work will be considered the shared responsibility of the group. Accordingly, students will be examined and assessed on the basis of the entire project report. One combined grade will be awarded for the project report and the oral performance. At oral group examinations, the examination must be conducted in such a way that individual assessment of each individual student’s performance is ensured, cf. the Examination Order, section 4, subsection 2.

The project examination takes the form of a conversation between the examiners and the student(s) on the basis of the project report of the semester.

Where rules have been stipulated regarding the volume of written work, one page will correspond to 2400 characters, including spaces. The stipulated number of pages only includes the actual body text of the report; title page, preface, table of contents, bibliography, abstract and appendices will not be calculated. However, notes will be included in the calculation of total pages, whereas illustrations will not be calculated. Total page number must be stated on the title page.

The stipulated time intervals for oral examinations will include voting and announcement of result.

The study elements on which the individual examinations are based are rated as proportions of an annual full-time equivalent, this being calculated as the annual work of full-time student, including holidays. An annual full-time equivalent is 60 ECTS.

In order for a student to graduate from the programme, each examination must be passed with a no less than grade of 02 or a ‘pass’ grade. A weighted average will be calculated for the examinations assessed according to the 7-point scale, on the basis of the ECTS weight of each individual examination. So the average is defined as the sum of individual grades, each multiplied by the ECTS of the examination in question, divided by the sum of the ECTS-points of the examinations included in the average.

Examinations assessed as pass/fail will not be included in this calculation. The average grade with one decimal digit will be stated on the examination certificate.

18: Overview of the programme

The Master’s Programme in Information Studies consists of obligatory project modules, obligatory study subject modules and the obligatory Master’s thesis. The students have two options on the 3rd semester. In addition, the programme comprises two elective modules.

Electives

Students may choose electives offered by the Study Board of Communication and Digital Media (see the appendix Elective modules for Master’s programmes under the Study Board of Communication and Digital Media), or apply to the Study Board for permission to substitute one or both of the elective modules with electives offered by other study boards at Aalborg University or other universities. Under all circumstances, elective modules must always represent a total of 10 ECTS credits. The elective modules listed are offered as determined by the Study Board. This means that not all elective modules will be offered every year. The Study Board may decide to cancel planned modules. The list is down below: 

19: Additional information

The Study Board displays and maintains more detailed information on the programme, including examination, on its website.

20: Commencement and transitional rules

These regulations were recommended by the Study Board of Communication and Digital Media and approved by the dean. The regulations will take effect from 1 September 2018 and apply to all students who have commenced their Master’s studies on or prior to this date.

Previous regulations will apply to students who have commenced their studies before 1 September 2018. The Study Board of Communication and Digital Media and/or the Faculty of Humanities will determine when the last examinations will be held in accordance with these regulations.

21: Amendments to the curriculum and regulations

Minor editorial changes have been made in connection with the digitisation of the study Curriculum.