Introduction

The history of ideas is concerned with the intellectual movements that throughout history have had an enormous influence on people’s actions, thoughts and self-expression. This one-year study program at Telemark University College (TUC) is based on texts drawn primarily from the fields of philosophy, politics, religion and aesthetics. The study program also examines non-textual examples of human expression (e.g., images).

Target Group and Admission Requirements

Target group

The study program is designed for students who wish to acquire a broad knowledge of the history of ideas within the main cultural areas, and thus achieve a better understanding of contemporary ideological assumptions.
The study program is suitable for those who wish to acquire competence in the history of ideas with the aim of teaching in schools or other forms of dissemination. It may also be suitable for teachers seeking continuing education.

Admission requirements

General admission requirements. Since much of the syllabus material is in English, it is necessary to have reading skills in the language.

Aim of the Programme

Students will gain insight into how central trends in ideas have developed within the main cultural spheres. They will develop skills in interpreting texts and other forms of expression, such as images, in the light of ideological contexts. This will be done by studying material from, for instance, philosophical, political, religious and aesthetic contexts. It is also a main objective that students acquire knowledge of texts and expressions that convey ideas from different historical contexts so they will gain a good understanding of principal ideas in the contemporary world.

Insight into the history of ideas will provide a better understanding of the many ideas movements encountered in the humanistic disciplines; consequently, the History of Ideas study program will be of interest to most humanities students. At the Department of Humanities & Cultural Studies, the one-year study program in the History of Ideas may be combined with different subjects within the framework of the Department’s Bachelor’s degree: for instance, students may combine the one-year study program with history studies or literature and language studies. The study program is also relevant for students who, after completing a BA degree, wish to continue their education in the Department’s Master’s study program (and possibly a PhD study program) in cultural studies. The History of Ideas study program may also provide the basis for further studies in the history of ideas at other colleges and universities (dependent, however, on any special requirements at other educational institutions).

The one-year program in the History of Ideas provides a good foundation for teaching in the program subject ‘History and Philosophy’ in secondary schools; it will also be useful in other educational contexts. The breadth of knowledge that History of Ideas encompasses will moreover be of advantage within the cultural sphere, in sectors such as journalism, media relations and publishing.

Learning outcome

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

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of

• Key trends in the history of ideas from antiquity to our own times
• Historical periodization and the ideas that characterize individual periods
• Central texts and expressions that convey ideas from different historical contexts and periods
• Key persons of great importance in relation to the history of ideas

Skills

The candidate can

• Analyse, interpret and discuss the different types of material of importance in relation to the history of ideas from varying historical contexts
• Identify the historical conditions for specific currents of ideas in our own times
• Identify different positions and constellations of ideas in given material
• Use information and search tools effectively

General competence

The candidate has the ability to

• Communicate academic content orally and in writing, both in a structured way
• Work independently with specific questions
• Orient himself/herself in perspectives from different cultural and historical contexts

Curriculum and structure

Code Course title Credits O/V *) Credits pr. semester   S1(A) S2(V) S3(A) S4(V) 3363N From Antiquity to the 1600s 15.00 O 15       3364N The Age of Enlightenment 15.00 O   15     3365N The Romantic Age 15.00 O     15   3366N Modernity 15.00 O       15 Total: 15 15 15 15 *) O - Mandatory course, V - Optional course

All four courses are compulsory as part of the one-year study program in the History of Ideas. If students wish to take the full one-year study program, the normal progression is one course per semester in accordance with the schedule above; however, there are also other alternatives. More information about the study program’s content may be found in the individual course descriptions.

All the courses are independent study units with final examinations. In other words, depending on the student’s interests, single History of Ideas courses may be studied which may then be included in other study programs dependent on current regulations.

Internationalization

TUC has close cooperation and exchange agreements with foreign universities and colleges, mainly in North America and Europe.

The college has agreements with the following institutions in North America: The University of Alberta - Augustana Faculty (Canada), Luther College (Iowa, USA), Augustana College (South Dakota, USA), Franklin College (Indiana, USA) and the Pacific Lutheran University (Washington, USA).

Studies abroad at institutions in Scandinavian and European countries can be arranged through NORDPLUS (Scandinavia) and ERASMUS (Europe). TUC has agreements with the following institutions: The University of Aarhus (Denmark), The University of Southern Denmark (Denmark), Södertörn University (Sweden), The University of Gdansk (Poland), Universidad de Alicante (Spain) and Universidad de Girona (Spain).

Many of these institutions offer courses related to the history of ideas which humanities students may be able to include in their BA degrees. Students may, in consultation with the study counsellor and course instructor, study abroad for one semester or one academic year at selected institutions and have this period of study incorporated into their Bachelor’s degree at TUC. The study counsellor, course instructor or staff members who work with internationalization at TUC will be able to provide information concerning which institutions at any given time offer courses in the history of ideas.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Working with specific texts and other types of expression that originate from the historical eras being studied constitutes an important part of the study program. The curriculum material will be thoroughly reviewed in the digital lectures which will be available on the internet; this will make it easier for students to work with the texts independently. Working with the overview and related literature that places the various types of historical expression in perspective will also constitute an important part of the study program.

Much of the contact between teachers and students will take place as digital dialogue in the learning tool ‘Fronter’. For personal guidance, email may be used. Other digital communication channels will also be relevant.

Assessment Methods

Students will be assessed through written home assignments and a college examination. The assessment methods will evaluate the extent of knowledge, skills and general competence that the student has acquired (cf. ‘learning outcomes’ above). The college examination will use a graded system from A to F, where E represents the lowest passing grade, while the written home assignments will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis. For more information, please refer to the individual course descriptions.

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