Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has:

• A good overview of the main features in Norwegian history before ca. 1800
• A broad knowledge of important historical events of the period, and the causes
• An understanding of the methodology that is used in the different fields of historyAn understanding of how historical knowledge is established.

Skills

The candidate has the ability to/knowledge of:

• Criticize, comment on, and edit texts and documents in accordance with the general rules of criticism used in historical studies
• Critically analyse historical data, sources and literature, and draw independent conclusions on the basis of such materials
• Organize complex historical information in a logically consistent manner
• Information retrieval and search tools.

General competence

The candidate can/has:

• Communicate academic content, both orally and in writing
• Work independently with a given problem
• Analyse a topic from several angles
• An awareness of, and respect for, perspectives that have different national, cultural and historical origins
• A critical awareness of the relations between past and current events and processes.

Course Description

The course is research-based in that the teaching staff normally consists of active researchers. Research source material may be used by the subject teachers as examples in lectures or academic exercises.
The course will deal with the following themes:

• Heathendom and Christianity ca. AD 800-1100
• King Sverre - the man and the kingdom
• Witch persecutions with an emphasis on the period 1550-1700

Teaching and Learning Methods

The instruction is mainly given in the form of seminars, but students will also have access to lectures and audio files posted online. The seminar teaching is mandatory. External candidates may be exempted from mandatory attendance subject to agreement in which the student in question submits a specified number of assignments.

Assessment Methods

The assessment consists of:

• A submitted assignment which will be assessed on a pass/fail basis
• A final 3-hour written examination

The submitted assignment must achieve a passing mark before the student will be permitted to sit the final examination; students who are given a failing mark on their submitted assignment will be given the opportunity to resubmit the assignment.

Grading: A letter scale (A-F) is used where A to E represent a passing grades, and F a fail.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean