Gender and Sexuality in a Global Context

ECTS Credits

15 ECTS

Level of Study

Bachelor

Teaching semester

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen

Objectives and Content

The course aims to give in-depth, critical knowledge of a problematic, tradition or body of work within interdisciplinary gender studies as a transnational field. The module offers a contextualised, theoretically informed approach to reading critical theory, while also developing close reading skills through attention to the form and language of the selected texts. Students are encouraged to read widely to develop their awareness of historical and contemporary political, aesthetic, theoretical and cultural debates in a global context, and may expect to cover a wide range of texts from gender studies, queer and feminist theories, postcolonial theory, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, history and philosophy.

The aims and objectives of the course are:

- To critically examine a diverse range of material with the attention to the tradition out of which they have emerged and from which they may diverge.

- To explore the socio-political and theoretical formation of gender, sexuality, otherness and difference in a global context.

- To improve on critical thinking skills by engaging with key contemporary theorists, whose focus may include gender, sexuality, class, disability, race and nation, and by gaining a better understanding of the histories that inform the present moment of globalization.

- To develop skills that are transferable to other modules and essential to future employability, including: teamworking, argumentation, time-management, presentation and project management

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

The candidate...

has knowledge and understanding of the historical, political and cultural contexts of a specific field of research, tradition or body of work within interdisciplinary gender studies in a global context;

is able to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts, issues and conceptual framework to the study of gender and sexuality in a global context.

Skills:

The candidate...

can apply key concepts, issues and conceptual frameworks within gender studies to other theoretical and cultural contexts and analyze them in a global context;

can demonstrate a capacity to collate, synthesise andevaluate critical and theoretical resources, and is able to apply critical reading skills to this material

General competence:

The candidate...

has developed and consolidated an ability to work in collaboration with others and to communicate clearly, coherently and effectively in group situations;

is able to produce written pieces of work that follow stipulated criteria and that are fluent and critically engaging;

has developed confidence in public speaking and in presenting to peers, and nurtured an ability to assess one¿s own needs

Required Previous Knowledge

The equivalence of one semester's work in courses with a gender and/or critical diversity perspective

(30 ECTS)

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Basic knowledge of gender studies (i.e. KVIK100, KVIK101, KVIK102 or the equivalent).

Students should have good working knowledge of English.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

None

Access to the Course

Qualified students apply for admission within January 7th, and will receive an answer within January 15th.

Number of places: ca 25

Teaching and learning methods

The course is taught via a combination of lectures and seminars, normally 3-4 hours over 12 weeks.

If less than five students are registered to a course, the department might reduce the teaching, please see the department's guidelines regarding this on My UiB. For courses where this is a possibility the students will get information about this at the beginning of the semester, and before the deadline for semester registration 1.February/1.September.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

None

Forms of Assessment

7-day take-home exam. 3-4000 words excluding references.

Examination Support Material

N/A

Grading Scale

The grading scale is A-F.

Assessment Semester

The course will be taught the spring semester 2020.

Reading List

The curriculum comprises around 1000 pages. The readings will be revised every year depending on the specific focus of the course.

Course Evaluation

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

Programme Committee

The Program Board for Gender Studies is responsible for the course

Course Coordinator

Centre for Women's and Gender Research

Course Administrator