Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

• Key themes of scholarly theory
• Key research methods in the humanities and social sciences, and of the relationship between theory and method
• Theoretical and methodological issues within the educational sciences.

Skills

The candidate can:

• Evaluate scholarly works in the light of scholarly theory and research methodology
• Evaluate relevant methods for different research objectives in the light of the multiplicity of methods in the humanities and social sciences.
• Apply relevant scholarly theories and research methods to their own work.
• Evaluate and apply scholarly theories and research methods in the context of the educational sciences.

General competence

The candidate can:

• Disseminate their own and others’ research in accordance with high ethical and academic standards.
• Reflect on the role of scholarship in society and in schools.

Course Description

This course addresses the humanities and social sciences from the perspectives of the educational sciences, and scholarly theory and method. Based on a selection of topics, which will be specified in the semester plan, candidates will gain insight into key theoretical and methodological issues within these areas of scholarship. Taking scholarly works as its starting point, the course will place an emphasis on methodology. Throughout the course, theory and method will be linked to school subjects and positioned in the wider context of the educational sciences.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course includes lectures, seminars and tutorials. The course requires a high degree of effort on the part of the student, for instance, students will be expected to make presentations and give responses to the work of other students.

The student will complete a specialization assignment, and a research question will be chosen in consultation with the teacher. During the course of the teaching, work on the assignment will be thematically organized in various ways.

Assessment Methods

The course includes two assignments which are specified in the semester plan; these will be assessed on a pass / fail basis. Both assignments must receive passing marks before final assessment is given.

The final assessment is a specialisation assignment comprising approximately 4000 words that will be assessed with a letter grade, and count for 60% of the course grade.

A final 6-hour written examination will be assessed with a letter grade, and count for 40% of the course grade.

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