The course is connected to the following study programs

  • Bachelor's Programme in History
  • Advanced Teacher Education level 8-13, 5-year Master's Programme

Teaching language

English

Recommended prerequisites

Recommend pre-requisites for students in history, humanities in general, and social sciences and Erasmus students: 40 credits

Course contents

The course introduces the students to (a) the relationship between history as an academic discipline and the use of history, (b) the use of history in politics, nation-building and identity formation, as well as (c) various types of history use, as for example in education, commercialization and entertainment, in art and religion. The students will learn to analyze and discuss the use of history both within and outside educational institutions and museums, and in a broader social context.

Students also get to know theories relevant to the study of history use, as for example theories related to the formation of national and cultural identity, the phenomena of "imagined communities" and "invented traditions", as well as theories of communication and media.

Learning outcomes

After the completion of the course, the students shall

Knowledge

  • have gained theoretical and empirical insight into how history has been and still is used to a) build national, regional, local, transnational, and other identities; b) to define, achieve, and legitimize political goals; c) to shape values, norms, and institutions; and d) to build brands as well as sell products and services.
  • have knowledge of key academic debates related to history use, in particular around conflicts, wars, and histories of oppression and resistance and their aftermath, including the Second World War and European overseas colonialism.
  • be familiar with various aspects of the relationship between historical research and historical (scientific) debates on the one hand, and history use in schools, media, memory cultures and popular culture on the other.

Skills

  • be able to analyze the differences and tensions between history as an academic discipline, other public uses of history, social memories, and the construction of historical myths.
  • be able to analyze various types of historical cases, which demonstrate how mass media, educational institutions, political parties and a variety of other actors consciously or unconsciously use and influence our perception of the past.
  • be able to critically reflect on different types of memory processes based on concepts such as "historical consciousness", "history use", "collective memory" and "memory politics."
  • be able to write a scientific paper: choosing a topic; finding and engaging academic literature; asking a research question; making an argument; discussing the evidence; chaptering; building paragraphs; referencing.

General competence

  • have insight into the role and significance of history use in modern societies and in peoples’ daily lives.
  • be able to participate in discussions and debates about history use in politics, social interaction and public life.
  • apply theoretical knowledge to concrete cases in the context of school teaching, the museum, the mass media etc.
  • have gained better mastery of the basic processes of (academic) writing.

Examination requirements

Within a given deadline, each student must submit, first, an idea sketch (200-250 words) for the term paper. Once approved, each student must, within a second deadline, submit an outline of the term paper. It will be 2.000 words +/- 10 percent long and contain the following elements: provisional title; abstract (200-250 words); provisional table of contents; provisional bibliography; draft version of one or two of the paper’s sections. These draft papers will be discussed in small groups. Further information will be posted on Canvas when the semester starts.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, and self-study. Further information will be given in Canvas. Expected workload: 270 hour.

Evaluation

The instructor responsible for the course, in consultation with the student representative, decides on the method of evaluation, and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about the evaluation method chosen will be posted on Canvas.

Offered as Single Standing Module

Yes, if there are places available.

Admission Requirement if given as Single Standing Module

Higher Education Entrance Qualification.

Assessment methods and criteria

Final paper (total of 4.500 words +/-10 percent, not counting the footnotes/in-text citations and bibliography); final paper is written individually. Students may write their exams in English or Norwegian.
Graded assessment.

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
HI-137 – Uses and abuses of History 10
Last updated from FS (Common Student System) June 30, 2024 4:44:06 PM