Comparative Regional Ethnography

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The point of departure for this course is the thematic courses the student has taken during the BA program. Central perspectives and debates from these courses are made relevant with respect to two specific regions. The course emphasizes variation in cultural and social forms and will be organized to encourage a comparative perspective on the two regions. Weight will be placed on how enduring traits in cultural and social form relate to historical and natural preconditions, while at the same time offering the student an introduction to critical perspectives on the theoretical preconceptions than underlie the bounding of regions.

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

  • Provide an overview of central traits in cultural and social forms in two ethnographic regions
  • Be familiar with essential features of anthropological comparison

Skills

  • Apply insights into sociality, materiality, meaning and power in a regional comparative perspective
  • Discuss socio-cultural realities in the regions in the light of imperialism, colonialism, globalization and other historical contingencies

General competence

  • Reflect upon theoretical challenges in cross-cultural and regional comparison
  • Apply anthropological concepts and perspectives apposite in regional comparison
  • Discuss and compare regional characteristics in an independently authored text
  • Be familiar with the main features of qualitative method and be able to reflect on them
  • Be able to read and write text within specific professional genres

ECTS Credits

15 ECTS

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Access to the Course
This course is open to students at UiB
Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and workshops

4 hours per week

7-9 weeks, approx.30 hours in total

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
None
Forms of Assessment

One week take home exam. 3000 words (+/-10%)

The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught.
The exam can be submitted in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.

Grading Scale
Grading A-F
Assessment Semester

Assessment in teaching semester and the following semester.

Students with valid absence as defined in UiB's study regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extension of the submission deadline by emailing studieveileder.sosantr@uib.no.

The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired.

Reading List
The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 Decemeber for the spring semester.
Course Evaluation
All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.
Programme Committee
The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses.
Course Administrator
The Department of Social Anthropology at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.