UT-114 Culture and Development
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Course Leader:
- Arnhild Leer-Helgesen
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Bachelor's Programme in Planning and Communication
- Bachelor's Programme in Global Development Studies
- Global Development Studies, 1-year Programme
Teaching language
EnglishCourse contents
The course provides a basic introduction to social science perspectives on culture. We emphasise the complexity of the concept of culture and how it is a focal entry point for understanding how people think and act, and how cultural understanding affects the organization and development of society. The concept of culture can be seen in the context of a number of other key social science concepts such as identity, power, mobility, diversity, and communication.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:
-
explain and use different approaches to the concept of culture
-
recognise how historical developments and processes of colonisation and decolonisation shape perceptions of modernity, otherness and knowledge
-
explain relations of culture and power related to diversity, domination, resistance, discrimination, universalisation and cultural relativism
-
study cultural identity as relational and discuss key markers of cultural identity in complex societies (gender, ethnicity, class, “race”)
-
identify and discuss cultural processes and consequences of mobility and globalisation
-
describe how religion influences discourses, structures and everyday life
-
identify and explain with examples how cultural symbols and signs impact communication
Examination requirements
Participation in compulsory group work and/or seminars. More information will be available in Canvas.
Teaching methods
Lectures and group work. Estimated workload is 270 hours.
Evaluation
The study program coordinator and the student representative determine the evaluation form, and whether the courses/subjects are to be assessed mid-way or upon completion (cf. the quality system, chapter 4.1. Information about the course/subject will be published in Canvas).
Assessment methods and criteria
Portofolio assessment with individual written assignments. More information will be given in Canvas and in lectures. Graded A-F.
Reduction of Credits
This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:
Course | Reduction of Credits |
---|---|
UT-103 – Social Anthropology | 5 |
UT-103 – Social Anthropology | 5 |
UT-103 – Social Anthropological Perspectives on Culture, Nature and Society | 5 |
SV-113 – Population, Culture and Migration | 5 |
SV-203 – Global change and communication | 5 |
SV-203 – Cultural Analysis and Communication | 5 |
SV-203 – Cultural Analysis | 5 |