Conceptualizing Global Challenges: Theoretical Advances

Studiepoeng, omfang

10 ECTS

Studienivå (studiesyklus)

Master

Undervisningssemester

Spring

Mål og innhald

This course builds on GOV351 Understanding Global Challenges, where students gained foundational knowledge of how global challenges are being addressed from a politics and governance perspective. Through group projects and written assignments, this theory course teaches students how to apply selected theoretical lenses to conceptualize and critically examine real-world problems in the realm of global challenges, how to justify the choice of a particular theoretical approach, and how to discuss its limitations.

The course is organized as project-based learning with student-driven investigation of selected global challenges through our different theoretical lenses. To test the students´ enhanced and deep understanding of theory, and also to prepare for the MA thesis, the graded assignment is an academic essay. In addition, students will produce a non-graded assignment in the form of either a student-led seminar with a 2-page handout, a policy brief for a blog, a curated book review, or a poster for the global to provide contents for the global challenges day at end of first year.

Læringsutbyte

Knowledge

The student knows

• how to organize and conduct research in groups
• how to develop and present lectures
• how to reason with interdisciplinary perspectives

Skills

The student can

• apply analytical/theoretical frameworks/approaches to specific global challenges in independent research 
• can discuss and assess the relevance of academic and professional contributions to the field concerning different policy problems
• can communicate and discuss advanced and professional arguments with different audiences
• can provide practical applications of theory through written and oral presentations and in discussions with relevant actors in public policy and administration 

Krav til forkunnskapar

GOV351, GOV352, GOV353, GOV354

Studiepoengsreduksjon

Ingen

Krav til studierett

The course is open for students who have been accepted to the Master's program in Politics and Governance of Global Challenges. Exchange students may be accepted upon application.

Arbeids- og undervisningsformer

Lectures, student-led seminars; final conference

Obligatorisk undervisningsaktivitet

A non-graded assignment: student-led seminar where students prepare and present either a policy brief for a blog, a curated book review, or a poster (or similar assignments of student choice) at the global challenges day.

Vurderingsformer

Written essay, approximately 6000 words.

Karakterskala

A-F

Vurderingssemester

Assessment in teaching semester. Students who have a valid document of absence or fails the exam may take a new exam in the following semester.

Litteraturliste

The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Emneevaluering

All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.

Programansvarleg

The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses. 

Emneansvarleg

Course coordinator and administrative contact person can be found on Mitt UiB.

Administrativt ansvarleg

The Department of Government at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.