Critical Perspectives on Technology and Society with Bachelor Thesis

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course will provide an in-depth study of a topic related to the relationships between information technology, society and culture. The course conveys both broad theoretical perspectives and in-depth study of a specific area.

The specific research focus and themes of the course may vary, and may, for example, be aesthetic, historical, gender-critical, ethnographic, media-critical or philosophical.

Students will develop the ability to reflect critically on how technology affects and is influenced by society and how new cultural dimensions are expressed. They will learn and be able to use theoretical concepts and perspectives.

The thesis provides training in applying current theoretical perspectives to an area of specialization.

The course offers guidance in rules and norms for academic writing.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge...

  • of the central problems in the interaction between information technology, society and culture
  • of academic argumentation, discussion, and presentation

Skills

The candidate can...

  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge on a topic from Digital culture
  • Give a critical analysis of technology in a social and cultural context
  • Write analytical texts in academic writing

General competence

The candidate can...

  • Independently gain in-depth knowledge in a research area
  • Write analytical texts following rules and norms for academic writing

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
60 ECTS in digital culture or similar.
Recommended Previous Knowledge

The course should be taken as the last course in the bachelor programme, after all the other digital culture courses and other electives.

The course builds upon knowledge and skills taught in DIKULT106 or equivalent basic knowledge of technology and society.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Full overlap with course previously numbered DIKULT206.
Access to the Course
The course is open to all students with the right to study at UiB.
Teaching and learning methods

The teaching is seminar-based and it is expected that students will take active part in discussions in class discussions, and presentations in an online forum as part of the teaching program.

All students must present texts from the syllabus and lead discussions about the texts in seminars. In addition, they will present their own assignment during the semester and give feedback to fellow students on their assignments.

If fewer than five students are registered to a course, the department might reduce the teaching, please see the department's guidelines regarding this on Mitt UiB. Regarding a course where this is a possibility the students get information about this at the beginning of the semester, and before the deadline regarding semester registration 1.February.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Attendance is mandatory for everything the course covers. Course participation is approved by the course supervisor. If the absence exceeds 25%, the student cannot take the exam.

There is mandatory guidance in the form of at least two guidance meetings where the student meets prepared with a self-written draft. The first meeting will take place at the start of the assignment writing. The last meeting will take place in connection with the submission of the final draft.

There is a mandatory requirement for an oral presentation of the assignment.

The mandatory assignments are valid in the teaching semester.

Forms of Assessment
Evaluation is based on the essay (bachelor thesis) of 5000 words (not counting references) on a self-chosen problem within the area of ¿¿specialization from the teaching.
Grading Scale
Grading scale A - F. An explanation of the scale can be found on Mitt UiB.
Assessment Semester
Spring
Reading List

The course responsible creates a joint list for the subject with articles, books and possibly videos and other non-written material. The student selects additional sources for the thesis. The sources can be in Norwegian or English, and by agreement also in other languages.

The sources should correspond to around 1,000 pages of text, and the main emphasis should be on academic texts. The student can also use other sources that are relevant to the project.

The list of compulsory and recommended reading list, as far as this is known in advance, is available on Mitt UiB before the start of the semester and is continuously updated as needed. The books will be available at Akademika before the start of the semester, or downloadable as e-books.

Course Evaluation
Evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the University of Bergen's quality assurance system.