Siviløkonom

Siviløkonom, literally "civil economist", is an academic degree issued within the field of business administration and economics and a professional title in Norway (with corresponding titles in Denmark and Sweden, see below under "See also"). The title is protected and can only be used by persons having met certain qualifications as directed by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. It is mainly offered by eight institutions after the completion of a Master of Science in Business Administration. It is important to recognize, due to heavy misuse when translating educational backgrounds into English, that a Siviløkonom is not the equivalent of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) as it does not emphasize management but is rather a theory based science degree.

Master of Science in Business Administration programs entitling the Siviløkonom in Norway are:
* Bodø Graduate School of Business (HiBø) (Bodø)
* Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH) (Bergen)
* Norwegian School of Management (BI) (Oslo)
* Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Ås)
* Molde University College (Molde)
* Trondheim Business School (HiST) )Trondheim)
* University of Agder (Kristiansand)
* University of Stavanger (Stavanger)

Additionally, the title can be granted to candidates with foreign education meeting certain criteria, through application to the NHH. Due to changes in the Norwegian educational system, granting of the title based on foreign education will be phased out on 12/31/2008, and can through that date only be granted to persons who started their qualifying education prior to 1/1/2003.

History

Traditionally the siviløkonom degree was only offered at NHH in Bergen, and was originally a two year, then three year program. In 1975 it became a a four year business administration degree at the level equivalent to a cand.mag. degree. NHH had a monopoly on awarding the degree until 1985 when the Norwegian School of Management BI and the Bodø Graduate School of Business was allowed to offer the degree. After the quality reform all institutions of higher education were allowed to issue the title to all master graduates, and the requirements for the degree increased from four to five years of study.

ee also

* Civilekonom for the corresponding Swedish title
* Civiløkonom for the corresponding Danish title