Higher Eduacation Ordinance

For a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education the student shall demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to work autonomously as a subject teacher in the specialisation for which the qualification is awarded. The student shall also demonstrate knowledge and skills for other forms of teaching for which the degree, pursuant to the applicable regulations, qualifies him or her.
   
Knowledge and understanding
For a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education with a specialisation in teaching in the upper-secondary school the student shall:
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as specialised insight into current research and development work.

For a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education the student shall also
- demonstrate the knowledge of didactics and subject didactics including methodology required for teaching and learning in the specialisation or specialisations for which the qualification is awarded as well as for professional practice in other respects and also show awareness of adult learning
- demonstrate specialised knowledge of the theory of knowledge and qualitative and quantitative research methods as well as the relationship between the disciplinary foundation and proven experience and its significance for professional practice
- demonstrate the knowledge about children´s development, learning, needs and circumstances required for the specialisation for which the qualification is awarded
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of social relationships, conflict management and leadership
- demonstrate knowledge of the organisation of the school system, relevant regulatory documents, syllabus theory and different educational and teaching and learning perspectives as well as knowledge of the history of the school system, and
- demonstrate specialised knowledge of assessment and grading.

Competence and skills
For a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education the student shall
- demonstrate a specialised capacity to create conditions in which all pupils can learn and develop
- display the capacity to benefit from, systematise and reflect critically and autonomously on personal experience, the experience of others and relevant research findings and thereby contribute to professional development and the formation of knowledge in the subjects, subject areas and subject-based teaching and learning
- demonstrate the capacity to take advantage of the knowledge and experiences of pupils to stimulate the learning and development of every pupil
- demonstrate the capacity to apply the didactics and subject didactics including methodology required for teaching and learning in the specialisation or specialisations as well as the professional practice for which the qualification is awarded
- demonstrate the capacity to plan, implement, evaluate and develop teaching and educational processes individually and together with others in order to stimulate the learning and development of every pupil in the best way possible
- demonstrate the capacity to identify and, in cooperation with others, meet pupils’ special educational needs, including special educational measures for pupils with neuropsychiatric disorders
- demonstrate the capacity to observe, document and analyse their pupils´ development and learning in relation to educational objectives and to inform and cooperate with pupils and their caregivers
- demonstrate the capacity to communicate and instil core educational values, including human rights and the fundamental democratic values
- demonstrate the capacity to prevent and restrain discrimination and other forms of harassment of children
- demonstrate the capacity to respect, communicate and instil a gender equal and equal rights perspective in educational processes
- demonstrate the capacity to communicate and reflect on issues relating to identity, sexuality and relationships
- demonstrate communicative capacity in listening, speaking and writing to support educational processes
- demonstrate the capacity to use digital aids assuredly and critically in educational processes and to take into account the significance of the role of different media and digital environments in this respect, and
- demonstrate the capacity to acquire during educational processes skills that are valuable for professional practice.
   
Judgement and approach
For a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education the student shall
- demonstrate self-awareness and the capacity for empathy
- demonstrate the capacity to adopt a professional approach to pupils and their caregivers
- demonstrate the capacity to make assessments in educational processes on the basis of relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects with particular respect for human rights, especially children´s rights according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and sustainable development, and
- demonstrate the capacity to identify the need for further knowledge and to develop his or her own skills in pedagogical practice.

A degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education with a specialisation in teaching in the upper-secondary school   can on advanced level be reached with accordance to Qualifications ordinance annex 2 - Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education or Ordinance (SFS 2011:686) about supplementary pedagogical education that leads to a degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education.

Qualifications ordinance annex 2:

A Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education with a specialisation in teaching in the upper-secondary school is awarded after the student has completed the courses required to gain 300 credits, or when required, 330 credits.

For the award of a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education studies in the following areas are required: courses in the subjects and subject-based teaching and learning that are relevant for teaching school subjects for which a syllabus or curriculum has been laid down, core education subjects for 60 credits and a placement in a relevant subject and position for 30 credits.

For the award of a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education with a specialisation in teaching in the upper-secondary school, the programme shall comprise subject courses and courses in subject-based teaching and learning for 225 credits, or when required 255 credits, and study of two teaching subjects. The subject courses and courses in subject-based teaching and learning shall include 15 credits for a subject-related placement. Studies shall include at least one specialisation for 120 credits in a relevant subject or subject area and one specialisation for 90 credits. When Swedish, Social Science or Music are included, however, 120 credits in subject areas relevant to these subjects are always required.
Specialisations are offered in a limited number of subject combinations.

Courses in core education subjects shall be linked to future professional practice and comprise the following:

• history of the school system, its organisation and conditions as well as core educational values, including fundamental democratic values and human rights
• syllabus theory and subject-based teaching and learning
• theory of knowledge and research methodology
• development, learning and special needs education
• social relationships, conflict management and leadership
• assessment and grading, and
• evaluation and development processes.

For a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education with a specialisation in teaching in in the upper-secondary school   the student shall have completed a independent work (thesis) of at least 30 credits or two such works of at least 15 credits each in one or two of the subjects that is studied within the specialisation.

The combination of subjects allowed in a Degree master of Arts/science in secondary education is stated in the Qualifications ordinance, annex 4, subject combinations.

Supplementary pedagogical education

In accordance with the Ordinance on supplementary educational programmes leading to the award of a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education, a student who has completed supplementary pedagogical education may be awarded a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education, "Ämneslärarexamen" (SFS 2011:686, Section 9). The Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Upper Secondary Education referred to in Section 9 encompasses subject studies in two teaching subjects and is conducted on a second-cycle level (SFS 2011:686, Section 14). To receive their degree, the

1.    student must have completed supplementary pedagogical training,
2.    the course requirements include subject studies of 210, or in some cases 240 higher education credits in two teaching subjects, the subject studies should include a specialisation of 120 higher education credits in a relevant subject or field of study and a specialisation of 90 higher education credits. However, when Swedish, Social Sciences or Music are included, the requirements are 120 higher education credits in the subject fields that are relevant to these subjects, and
3.    for the student to have completed at least one individual thesis of at least 15 higher education credits as part of the course requirements (HEO, Appendix 2; SFS 2011:6868, Sections 6, 14).

A student who has completed supplementary pedagogical education is eligible for a Degree of Master of Arts/Science in Upper Secondary Education. A degree that includes subject studies in two teaching subjects is awarded at second-cycle level. 

That which is stated in Appendix 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) regarding specialisations being offered in a limited number of subject combinations does not apply to the degrees of Master of Arts/Science in Secondary Education referred to in the first paragraph (SFS 2011:686).