Course Objectives

Aims:

• Apply the subject’s perspective, and theory from the introductory course, to a particular area concerning childhood.
• Study childhood from an interdisciplinary as well as a historical, aesthetic and interpretative social science perspective.
• Provide insight into theories and methods in recent childhood research.
• Provide insight into how childhood differs depending on time and place, and is shaped differently in diverse cultural and historical contexts.
• Provide an insight into how childhood has changed in the transition from traditional to modern societies and cultures.
• Provide insight into current issues and problems associated with children in family, school, work, nature, media and sport.

Course Description

The themes of the course:

• Different perspectives and theories that provide answers to the questions: What is a child? What is childhood?
• Changes in the nature of childhood historically in relation to the family, school and work during the last two centuries in the West.
• Disciplining, socialisation and children’s learning in a social science and historical perspective
• Children and childhood as portrayed in the history of ideas and art, especially in poetry, visual arts, media and contemporary culture more generally.
• How children, childhood and identity are constructed and how children themselves are active participants in nature and outdoor activities and sports in various contexts.

Learning Methods

Teaching is in the form of seminars, 3 hours per week in the spring semester. The seminars require active participation from the students in the form of prepared presentations and participation in discussions. Attendance at the seminars is not compulsory; however, student participation in the seminars is strongly recommended.

Assessment Methods

Students must submit a mid-term paper based on the syllabus material which counts for 20% of the final grade. For the final assessment the student will hold a trial lecture of 40-45 minutes’ duration for one of the courses, and he /she will be orally examined in the other course (the student will choose which course he / she will hold a lecture in, and which an oral examination). This assessment counts for 80% of the final grade of the specialisation course. The topic for the trial lecture is chosen by the department. When registering for a particular course students must give notice as to what type of assessment they wish to receive for each course.

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